Noise at work is one of the main causes of hearing loss, and contributes to increases in absentee rates, higher turnover of staff and lower productivity. Thus noise at work is a costly business if not dealt with.

Reduction of noise in the workplace can be achieved through many different applications, all of which have to be considered to be cheap compared to the cost to your business if left unattended.

Workplace Health and Safety Laws in many countries around the world require that noise levels are assessed, and where appropriate steps be taken to reduce or completely eliminate the problem. And once again, the cost for not addressing any excess noise levels and not complying with the relevant laws would be high compared to the cost of getting everything fixed.

The noise level a busy road creates is around 85dBA of sound. In Australia and many other countries where legislation exists, the allowable exposure in the workplace to 85dBA is 8 hours per day. Ok you say, so what is the problem. Well the problem is that any level of sound about that has to be considered to be unacceptable noise, for example a chainsaw emits 110dBA, and a disco approximately 100dBA and a jet engine 1120dBA. At 88dBA only 4 hours exposure is allowable, and at 97dBA only half an hour. Consider all the noises created in a day in your factory or workplace, and it is almost certain that some form of noise control will be required.

There are guidelines available from many sources to assist you in determining whether you have a noise problem in the working environment. Should you conclude that proper assessment needs to be undertaken, one of the most efficient ways to go about this is to hire an acoustic consultant to undertake a comprehensive Noise Assessment.

Many manufacturers and suppliers of noise control products are qualified to undertake noise assessments. Hiring the services of an organization that is, is a very efficient way of going about things. Once the assessment has been made, the manufacturer or supplier can then recommend actions to be taken, as well as supply any acoustic control solutions – thus a one stop noise control shop.

The techniques and equipment available today to assist in noise reduction is endless: acoustic curtains, sound proof windows, acoustic foam, attenuators, and baffle silencers, to mention a limited few. Manufacturers and suppliers of noise control products will be able to supply you with equipment you can install yourself or will provide a complete service, of quote, supply and fit. Whatever suits you.

Taking all this into consideration, it is easy to conclude that making sure your workplace has taken all possible action to reduce noise levels is a sensible and costs effective step in the right direction.

For more information contact the experts at Flexshield.com, leading consultant, manufacturer, supplied and installer of noise control solutions.