Noise reduction
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The Department of Employme and Productivity has issued booklet on how noise affects t1 worker, the dangers to hi caused by excessive noise ar what can be done to bring abo noise reduction. The booklE Noise and the Worker is availab from HM Stationery Office.
It is pointed out in the bookl that noise may interfere wi working efficiency by inducir stress and disturbing co centration (especially whe the work is difficult or high skilled) or by hindering commur cation between workers. It m, be a cause of accident, and special importance, it ny damage workers' hearing.
The booklet refers to tl assumption that if workers a exposed for 8 hours a day, days a week, to a continuo steady noise of 85dB or mor it is desirable to introduce programme of noise reductio It observes that high frequenci are more dangerous than lc frequencies at the same pressu level; for example, a soul pressure level of 80dB is n considered harmful at frequenci below 1,200 cycles per secor but should be avoided frequencies above that level.
Impulsive noise, such hammering or riveting, may angerous at levels about 10dB wer than those of steady noise, ld this is also the case with noise containing intense pure ines or energy in narrow bands, ich as the whine of a rotating lachine running at high speed. The booklet adds that the 'St steps in the programme to )mbat excessive noise are to wry out a noise survey and to )tain specialist advice. HM ictory Inspectorate or local rthorities will always be ready tell managements about -ganizations able to give such lvice.
Management and workers still nd to accept noise as part of le job, the booklet emphasizes. us is because either the harm[1 effects are not appreciated
• it is thought that nothing in be done about them. There still much to be learned about le precise effects of noise, id scientific research is being tdertaken to obtain data on le subject.
sued by: Department of Employent and Productivity, 8 St. imes's Square, London, SW1.