Pollution Control
Consultancy and Design

Occupational Noise
 

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Opus Operandi


We adhere to the old, good, simple
and quite often forgotten business philosophy that the most effective form of advertising is to satisfy our clients.
 

Our strength


We not only pinpoint,
we also effectively resolve
engineering problems.
 

Pollution Control Consultancy and Design (PCCD) provides outstanding occupational noise surveys:  our surveys, unlike most of the others readily available now,
do not only finger possible problems, but also effectively resolve them by developing or helping you to develop thorough administrative and/or engineering noise reduction programs.
   


Our engineering noise reduction programs (modification of noisy equipment and/or modification of buildings and/or enclosures accommodating noisy equipment) are based
on state-of-the-art measurements of
sound intensity,
which, unlike common measurements of sound pressure, allow to precisely locate and rank
all noisy parts of mechanical plants (worn-out bearings, vibrating panels, cooling fans,
gear boxes, supporting structure).
   
For details, please download (print out):  
our brochure relating to occupational noise. 


Our occupational noise services include:
1. noise measurement and assessment with factory-/NATA-calibrated, Class 1:
  -   Brüel & Kjær (B&K) Real-Time Sound Analyzers type 2250 and 2270; and

  -   Svantek unique Real-Time Sound Analyzer - Dual-channel Acoustic Dosimeter type SV 102A: 


2.

verification of compliance with the statutory criteria;
3. complete, apt and cost-effective engineering noise reduction program, based on state-of-the-art
measurements of the sound intensity, that may include:
 -   design of noise barriers, enclosures and silencers;
 -   design of noise barriers, enclosures and silencers;
 -   modification of buildings, rooms and/or enclosures accommodating noisy equipment;
4. accurate (based on noise frequency spectra) selection of appropriate personal hearing protectors
in areas where engineering noise reduction is impractical or cannot be implemented immediately;
5. formal written report that, in full, includes:
-   discussion on occupational noise criteria;
-   complete results of noise measurements, including octave band and/or
    third-octave band spectra of noise;
-   plotting of sound energy contours (isopleths of LAeq) over the "factory floor";
-   detailed discussion of measurement results;
-   administrative and/or engineering noise reduction programs; and
-   selection and/or verification of appropriate personal hearing protectors
    (in New South Wales, it is only a temporary measure).
 
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, which commenced in New South Wales
on 1 September 2001, provides in Clause 49 - Chapter 4 - Part 4.3 - Division 4:
 
in Section 49 (1), that:
  "(1)  An employer must ensure that appropriate control measures are taken
if a person is exposed to noise levels that:
    a.  exceed an 8-hour noise level equivalent of 85 dB(A); or
  b.  peak at more than 140 dB(C).
  Maximum penalty: Level 4."
  (Level 4 - 250 penalty units)
 
and then in Section 49 (2) (c), that:
  "(2)(c) the measurement is to be made on the assumption that the person is not wearing
any device to protect himself or herself from noise."
It is very powerful (e.g. in cases of workers' compensation claims) and it means,
that in New South Wales:
i. personal hearing protectors (earplugs and earmuffs) are not longer enough,
in legal terms, to protect your employees from excessive noise; and therefore
ii.   you must reduce the excessive noise (noise exceeding the legal limits) by
administrative and/or engineering noise control.


http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fullhtml/inforce/subordleg+648+2001+FIRST+0+N#ch.4-pt.4.3-div.4

 NSW Occupational Health and Safety legislation and policy (WorkCover site)



See also:

environmental noise - noise control in buildings - sound intensity - sound power