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#1 Posted : 07 December 2006 12:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Oliver
Following the reduction of noise action levels, does the 2m rule still apply or will this distance have to reduced aswell??????

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#2 Posted : 07 December 2006 13:09:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mart
The 2m rule was nothing more than a guide. Specific assessment is required.
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#3 Posted : 07 December 2006 13:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tabs
It's not even a good rule :-) it is what experienced people tend to say - but it is quite unreliable.

Look at the hearing loss - v - age and you will see that the 'rule' would be invoked much earlier by a 50 year old, than a 21 year old.

In theory, the 21 year old could be in danger of hearing loss...

Buy a reasonably priced sound level meter and use that to indicate whether a full survey is required.
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#4 Posted : 07 December 2006 13:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter Leese
It's what the HSE used to say. Of course it is unreliable but it can be quite useful as a little pointer in layman's terms to illustrate noise levels.

I use a distance of 1.5m as a guide now when I discuss noise levels.
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#5 Posted : 08 December 2006 10:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Oliver
I know its only a guide. I didn't become a Chartered member by pulling a xmas cracker.

However, personnel working on some sites (construction) don't carry £100's or £1000's worth of noise meters with them and so it is quite a usefull guide for a trades person.


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#6 Posted : 08 December 2006 10:08:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Oliver
Thanks Peter,,,,,,,, and I thought this forum was for harmless discussion.

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#7 Posted : 08 December 2006 10:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter Leese
Paul, I know exactly where you are coming from, I feel the same way when posting on this forum. I'll have to remember the Christmas cracker one, I'm laughing as I type this.

Have a good christmas
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#8 Posted : 08 December 2006 11:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Robb
To make matters worse this 'guide' is still included in the new guidance on the 2005 regs and states that the 2m rule is likely to indicate 85dB and if youy apply a 1m rule it is likely to indicate 90dB.

My Cirrus 812 has just gone in the bin.
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#9 Posted : 08 December 2006 12:49:00(UTC)
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Posted By Davelfc
Paul,

Like this Xmas cracker aswell giving Merv a bit of competition in the written humour stakes.

I am of the same opinion as previous If I to am in, and if I have too raise my voice to someone one metre away then I have a look at additional controls, can we screen or move the process where it can be enclosed or other noise reduction or do we practically just have to rely on the usual ear protection, more easily controlled when we have cladded and partitioned for obvious reasons.

David Smeatham HSE master on HAVS & Noise I have heard him speak a couple of times very practical man. Not wishing to quote of course when I last heard him speak he was also saying similar as a practical initial assessment and then if it is a problem then additional monitoring will be required, especially in changing environment such as construction.

Hope above helps

still laffin! at the Xmas Cracker might use that one at the next safety review meeting, might even put in as an agenda point.



Dave
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#10 Posted : 08 December 2006 12:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Oliver
thanks all for the comments,

as you say, with the inclusion of the measurements still provided in the new guidance, it prompted me to raise this question as even normal speech can reach 80dB very easily.

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#11 Posted : 08 December 2006 13:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By Al Beevers
Paul,
If you're looking for a good way to quickly check noise levels, I remember reading in SHP (October '06 I think) about a device called "oi!".

It just made a noise at exactly 80dB. Press it in a room, and if you can't hear it's pitch, then the noise levels in that room are over 80dB. Simple. Cost was a few quid.

Al.
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#12 Posted : 08 December 2006 13:24:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter Leese
If you are really lucky you'll get one in a Christmas cracker. Usually you have to sit on them to make a noise .........
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#13 Posted : 08 December 2006 17:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tony Brunskill
Its a rule of thumb and mentioned in the guidance but to fail to safe you should increase the distance not decrease it.
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