Noise Test / Noise Testing
K2 Environmental is able to provide a range of noise tests to determine occupational noise exposure levels. The emphasis is on employee noise exposure testing and monitoring, however environmental noise levels can also be measured.
Sound level measurements or noise tests are made using dosimeters and other electronic equipment. K2 can monitor the equivalent continuous workplace noise level, which is generally used to quantify an acceptable level of continuous noise.
Why Perform Noise Testing?
Noise testing can determine what a persons exposure to noise is and if it represents a health hazard.
Measuring workplace noise levels (noise test) and workers' noise exposures is an important part of a workplace hearing conservation and noise control program. It helps identify work locations where there are Workplace noise problems, employees who may be affected, and where additional noise measurements need to be made.
How do you identify noise problems in the workplace?
The first step is to determine whether or not workplace noise is a potential problem.. A walk-through survey helps in making this decision. The indicators of potentially hazardous noise level include:
- noise is louder than busy city traffic,
- people have to raise their voice to talk to someone at one metre (1meter) away,
- at the end of work shift people have to increase the volume of their radio or TV to a level too loud for others, and
- after working for a few years at that workplace, employees find it difficult to communicate in a crowd or party situation where there are other sounds or many voices
What is a Noise Test?
Measurements are taken with a sound level meter (SLM). The SLM consists of a microphone, electronic circuits and a readout display. The microphone detects the small air pressure variations associated with sound and changes them into electrical signals. These signals are then processed by the electronic circuitry of the instrument. The readout displays the sound level in decibels. The SLM takes the sound pressure level at one instant in a particular location.
To take measurements, the SLM is held at arm's length at the ear height for those exposed to the noise. The SLM must be calibrated before and after each use
Workplace noise test is done in accordance with ASNZ standard 1269, the noise level exposure of each person shall be reported as
- Eight- hour equivalent continuous A- weighted sound pressure level (L Aeq,8h) or A- weighted noise exposure (E A,T); and
- the peak sound level pressure(L peak)
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