Hearing loss is considered the most common of all industrial diseases. Therefore, if you run a wood processing plant near a city, it is critical to put in place control measures to keep noise levels at acceptable levels. Plant operations near residential zones expose the community to unprecedented noise levels, and the health consequences cannot be downplayed. However, controlling noise in industrial plants is not as simple as offering ear plugs and ear muffs to employees. The effects of noise pollution go beyond the factory, and so you must approach noise control holistically. This article highlights environment noise management strategies you have at your disposal.
Acoustic Controls -- Milling machines, drilling bits, and sanding equipment among other equipment produce excessive and hazardous noise levels. The noise levels are dangerous to employees and the human population living in the surrounding community. Therefore, acoustic controls are the most obvious go-to noise control measure for most industrial plants. One of the most common acoustics is wall padding from fibrous material. The padding acts by absorbing excess noise coming from the machines, thereby preventing possible noise transmission through the wall of the factory to the outside.
Administrative Controls -- Most plant managers will do all they can to install the best acoustic materials inside the factory --from soundproof walls to specially designed soundproof ceilings. While these measures are essential, factory noise control should not stop there. Administrative control can go a long way in protecting both employees and the community from the adverse effects of noise pollution. For example, if a single worker can get a job done using a single milling machine, then there is no need to crank up several machines for the same project to save a few minutes. It will lead to unnecessary noise levels that can be avoided through proper administrative controls such as standard working procedures.
Engineering Controls -- You can have the best acoustic materials and robust administrative noise control measures, but these measures will not help if industrial machines are not maintained. For instance, if the table saws are not lubricated regularly, they will creak and clunk, much to the agony of your employees. If the machine parts are worn out and need replacing, waiting longer than necessary will only lead to noise pollution inside the factory environment. Therefore, ensure that all machines receive regular maintenance as well as repairs to keep noise levels within acceptable levels.
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