Sounding out construction site noise levels
January 1st 2006

International construction company Laing O'Rourke and occupational health and environmental safety specialist 3M have joined forces in a three-month survey of construction site noise.

The companies carried out noise assessments on 10 sites throughout the UK. Tests were to determine: levels and type of noise generated, typically who was exposed to high or continued levels of noise, whether processes or procedures could be improved or introduced to reduce noise at source, which hearing defenders provided sufficient protection to comply with the new exposure action levels, and the time it took to reach these levels. The last two factors were determined using a hearing protection equipment selector tool developed by 3M.

Vikki Nash of 3M says "Even if workers are aware of the importance of wearing PPE, this research has highlighted that safety products that are uncomfortable or time consuming to fit do not encourage use. For instance, standard disposable earplugs which are typically provided often take longer to roll and install correctly than the time of the individual noise exposure itself, whereas a more practical solution would be 3M 1310 banded earplugs or 3M 1450 helmet-mounted ear muffs that require minimal fitting."

More articles from 3M UK PLC: