Industrial noise
763780
210847635
2008-05-07T17:37:42Z
Kozelka
6466384
'''Industrial noise''' is usually considered mainly from the point of view of environmental health and safety, rather than nuisance, as sustained exposure can cause permanent hearing damage. Traditionally, '''workplace noise''' has been a [[hazard]] linked to heavy industries such as [[ship-building]] and associated only with noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Modern thinking in [[occupational safety and health]] identifies noise as hazardous to [[worker safety and health]] in many places of employment and by a variety of means.
[[Noise]] can not only cause [[hearing impairment]] (at long-term exposures of over 85 [[decibel]]s (dB), known as an [[exposure action value]]), but it also acts as a causal factor for [[stress (medicine)|stress]] and raises systolic [[blood pressure]].
Additionally, it can be a causal factor in [[work accident]]s, both by masking hazards and warning signals, and by impeding concentration.
Noise also acts synergistically with other hazards to increase the risk of harm to workers. In particular, noise and dangerous substances (e.g. some [[solvent]]s) that have some tendencies towards [[ototoxicity]] may give rise to rapid [[ear]] damage.
[[A-weighting|A-weighted]] measurements are commonly used to determine noise levels that can cause harm to the human ear, and special exposure meters are available that integrate noise over a period of time to give an [[Leq]] value (equivalent sound pressure level), defined by standards.
==Industrial noise reduction==
When two identical industrial noise sources are side by side producing a recorded noise at 100 [[dB(A)]] the reduction in noise from shutting off one of the noise sources is about 3 dB resulting in 97 dB(A).
When one doubles the distance from a noise source the recorded noise level is reduced by 6 dB. This is also called the ''Rule of 6''. This is based on the fact that the equation to calculate noise attenuation at a distance <math>D_2</math>, knowing the SPL at distance <math>D_1</math> is given by <math>10log_{10}\left[\left(\frac{D_2}{D_1}\right)^2\right]</math>, where ''D'' is the distance. If the distance is doubled, the equation simplifies to <math>20*log(2)</math> which equals 6.02 (or approx. 6)
==See also ==
*[[Earplug]]
*[[Earmuffs]]
*[[Noise health effects]]
*[[Noise control]]
*[[Noise mitigation]]
*[[Noise pollution]]
*[[Noise regulation]]
*[[Protective clothing]]
*[[Noise (environmental)]] - Noise nuisance
*[[A-weighting]]
*[[ITU-R 468 noise weighting]]
*[[Weighting filter]]
*[[Equal-loudness contour]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.osha.gov Occupational Safety & Health Administration]
[[Category:Noise]]
[[Category:Noise pollution|Industrial noise]]
[[Category:Occupational safety]]
[[Category:Industrial hygiene]]
[[de:Gewerbelärm]]
[[pl:Hałas]]