Exposure to noise, whether sudden or over a long period of time, can have a number of physical and psychological effects on a worker. Possible repercussions include stress, tinnitus and in the worst cases, permanent hearing loss. In the food and drink manufacturing industry, with heavy machinery and processes naturally creating a louder workplace, this could increase the likelihood of accidents. The Health and Safety Authority highlights this, stating that high noise levels can make it more difficult to hear approaching dangers and that concentration can also be affected. Information will be processed less efficiently, reflexes may be slower and risk taking will increase. 

Employer responsibility

Under the General Application Regulations 2007, actions must be taken by the employer when the level of noise exposure is between 80 and 85dB. Then, the employer must inform every protected worker of the noise measurement results, the measures being introduced to reduce noise levels, and whether hearing protection must be provided. When the level is above 85dB, the employer must identify the reasons for the excess noise and put a programme in place to reduce it and put up clear signs that indicate the heightened noise in the area. Measurement of noise must be repeated at appropriate intervals. This is more important if there is any significant change in work patterns or equipment. 

Many companies rely on specialist consultants to monitor noise, but increasingly health and safety professionals are bringing this capability in-house in order to be more proactive and alleviate worker concerns as quickly as possible. Being able to clearly demonstrate that noise levels are well within exposure limits through accurate data is vital.

Staff operating on the shop floor often want reassurance that the jobs they are doing and the environment they are working in is not potentially damaging their hearing. Noisy processes include homogenisation, bottling lines, blast chillers and pneumatics and also the cleaning in place (CIP) process, where stainless steel vessels are cleaned using tens of thousands of litres of water. 

Monitoring solutions 

Measuring noise exposure doesn’t have to take a lot of time, or cost the business a lot of money through the use of external resources. A successful noise-monitoring programme can be carried out on-site by trained health and safety managers, using either a sound level meter or a noise dosimeter. 

Sound level meters

A sound level meter is a hand-held device, ideal for short-term measurements. When using a sound level meter, measurements must be started at the beginning of a task, representing workers’ actual exposure. This process should be repeated for both ears, for all duties employees perform, making it possible to calculate an accurate record of daily exposure.

If individual working patterns are complex, or if the work carried out means it is not practical or safe to conduct noise monitoring with a sound level meter, dosimeters can be used. These are small, shoulder worn devices that will collect individual exposure data. 

Dosimeters

Dosimeters are suitable for personal exposure monitoring and can be worn by employees for their entire working shift. Data is instantly recorded and can be downloaded to detail the time history of the noise exposure, highlighting where high exposures occur throughout the day. Workers can also log the times of jobs performed, allowing the employer to instantly see the operations that require more effective noise controls. 

Modern noise dosimeters can also record the actual audio, allowing the sound to be played back to determine the basis of the noise exposure, i.e. if it was from a particular machine. 

Monitoring solutions enable employers to identify heightened noise areas in the working environment and the different tasks that could also lead to increased levels. Noise monitoring provides concrete data, highlighting key paths for change. Ensuring workers operate without excessive exposure to noise is imperative to the welfare of its workers and the company’s overall success.