Rank: Super forum user 
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I’m about to recommend to my senior management we bring in a specialist to conduct some noise measurements. The working area in question is generally very quiet 99.9% of the time, but they do use some equipment which make noise, but very infrequently as in it can be counted in minutes per week.
I have until now, not been concerned about noise exposure as it is always so quiet, however I have noticed that some of the equipment have manufacturers noise levels of around 90 to 100 dB and some just over (which is more than I thought). These are generally available tools running off air etc but only used for 30 seconds to a minute at a time randomly a couple of times a day. Now I will obviously look to see if some tools are better than others. I’m aware of the health surveillance requirements etc.
However, I then realised it is possible for their exposure to be over the peak levels for a very brief period, not the daily / weekly personal noise exposure levels (once the testing has been done I will know for sure). If this turns out to be the case, how may I control this taking into account I will already have looked at the tools etc. The men move about and no fixed work stations. The concern I have is that if we end up needing hearing protection they will all effectively be wearing hearing protection for the other 99.9% of the day where it is quiet. This is concerning me as this has the potential to increase other H&S issues. I guess what I’m asking is how people physically control noise exposure for something like a single hammer blow (which say around the upper exposure action value), but only say twice a day at random times.
The user knows they are going to do it, but impractical to warn the rest of the workforce (Hay lads I’m going to hit something with a hammer put your hearing protection on -if you see what I mean).
Interested if anyone has any practical ways to deal with this Peak issue potential problem.
Chris Edited by user 26 April 2018 14:50:35(UTC)
| Reason: Wrong ref to exposure value corrected
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Rank: Forum user 
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The simple and probably most cost effective way would be ear plugs and suitable warning signs in place.
Is there nowhere else to relocate the equipment and users from others that do not do hammering work?
The other thing that could be purchased is sound dampening screens/ absorption walls. More costly but they do work. We have them in our depot.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Can you create a noisy workshop enclosure which is a hearing protection area and which is sound-insulated from the rest of the workshop?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thanks Doug32 and Kate
Unfortunately, they all do a little hammering / air tool work so segregation and barriers / enclosures will not work. The legislation allows averaging day / week for general noise, but effectively peak can be just a one-off occurrence which you have to deal with. I guess I have to hope the survey shows we don’t actually reach peak action values.
On a side note for this subject, you can get noise assessment software for phones, which I know are not accurate, but may give me an indication (and then a comparison to the real assessment). I know others have mentioned I phone ones in the past, but is there one for android, that anyone has used and gives a reasonable indication only ?
Chris
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