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Measuring Noise
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#1 Posted : 29 September 2007 13:46:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jason G
Just a quick question about noise.

Task - To measure the noise levels for someone using a machine at different times in the day and use the HSE daily noise exposure calculator.

My question is, what reading would one put in the noise level column as although the sound level remains pretty constant most of the time, it does blip much higher at various intervals? So to recap, should I record the reading it is most of the time, an average of the readings, or should I record the peak noise level in the noise level column of the HSE exposure calculator?

I hope that made sense!
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#2 Posted : 29 September 2007 16:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Adrian Watson
Jason,

Use the Leq. This is the sound pressure level with the same energy content as the time varying noise measured over the period.

Regards Adrian
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#3 Posted : 29 September 2007 17:51:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Jason

Because the dB scale is logarithmic, peaks can have quite an effect on the Leq; you would be better using an integrating meter than trying to estimate by eye.

Paul
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#4 Posted : 01 October 2007 08:47:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Youel

I am not in any way being funny but if you are asking such questions should you not also appraise your own competence to undertake noise assessments noting that should something back fire the assessor etc is likely to be liable
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#5 Posted : 01 October 2007 11:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Alan Hoskins
From the information given, a noise dosemeter worn throughout the working day would seem to me the best approach to assessing this activity.

Alan
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#6 Posted : 01 October 2007 11:46:00(UTC)
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Posted By PeterL
Hi Jason,

Alan is right you need to assess the TWA for the individual and the only way you can acheive this is to measure noise for their full shift, quiet times as well as those involved in the use of equipment need to be assessed to get a true reflection of an individuals noise dosage.

Pete
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#7 Posted : 01 October 2007 13:19:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jason G
Thanks to everyone for their responses
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#8 Posted : 01 October 2007 16:20:00(UTC)
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Posted By JasonGould
Slightly off topic but I find it quite spooky that two Jason G's exist here in the safety world.

You evil doppelganger :)

Just kidding
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