For Training purpose only

1. Name of facilitator:
Syed Neyaz Ahmad
Safety Engineer / Trainer (PMC)
Location:
Fujairah U.A.E.
Date:
15.11.2022

2. What is noise?
• Excessive sound disturbing one’s communication or
working, is called ‘NOISE’ which measured in db (decibel)
• a sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that
causes disturbance.

3. In what situation Ear protection is needed?
In areas, where sound pollution is more than 85 dBA.

4. Effect of excess sound
• Can cause permanent hearing loss.
• Exposure to excessive noise raises your hearing threshold
• Noise pollution can cause hypertension,
high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss,
sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects.
• Sound becomes unwanted when it
either interferes with normal activities such as sleeping,
conversation, or disrupts or diminishes one's quality of life.

5. Effect of excess sound
Can affected Psychological, Audio Metric & Behavioral such as:
Psychological effect:
• Change in heart rate & blood pressure
• Loss of sleep due to nervousness
• Digestive upsets
• Ring in air
Audio Metric Effect:
• High noise which can load to total hearing loss
Behavioral Effect:
• Persons get irritation
• Lower workers efficiency / making joke
• Start speaking loudly

6. HAZARDS
Some of the following things used on site
can be harmful to your hearing:
• Compressors,
• Breakers,
• Circular saws,
• Concrete mixers,
• Chainsaws,
• Generators,
• Vibrating rollers &
• Excavators.
 Even if you are not using the noisy piece of equipment, you could be affected by someone using it
close by.
• Look out for noise hazard signs on site and obey them.
• It’s not only on site that you have to remember to protect your hearing but after work also noisy
clubs, hi-fis, etc.

7. Precautions
We are allowed to work during specified hours (you will have been told at the induction).
• Do not attempt to work outside these hours without permission.
• Turn off all vehicles and plant when not in use.
• If you feel an item of plant or a vehicle is more noisy than usual, report it.
• If you need to use noise screens to prevent noise escaping, please do so.
• If you receive a complaint from a member of the public, be diplomatic
and take them to see Site Management.
• If you are approached by an Environmental Health Officer, be
co-operative and take them to see Site Management.

8. Precautions
1. Use a less noisy process if possible.
2. If shouting is necessary in order to be heard, wear ear protectors.
3. Keep compressor covers closed when in use.
4. Ensure breaker mufflers are correctly fitted.

9. Precautions
When should ear protection be worn?
1. Don’t keep machinery running unnecessarily.
2. Ensure you don’t expose workmates to your noise.
3. Move noise source away from work area or move work area away from noise.
4. If possible, shield noisy processes.
5. Work behind a wall or some other
sound-absorbing material.

10. Precautions
• Selection of proper machineries
• Regular & preventive maintenance of machineries
• Providing absorption linings (strawboard etc.)
• Providing isolation in machine like: spring, pads, rubber etc.
• This sound absorbing elements can bring down a noise 5 – 10 db
• Ear plug: noise reduction rating 31 decibel

11. Ear Protection
Name two precautions you can take with machinery to reduce noise.
1. Don’t use cotton wool for ear protection, it is not effective.
2. Ensure ear plugs are a good fit and correctly inserted.
3. Regularly clean reusable ear plugs.
4. Use disposable ear plugs once only.
5. Clean your hands before touching all types of ear plugs.

12. What should not be used Instead of ear plugs?
1. Ear muffs should fit the head all round the seal.
2. Ensure that ear muffs are worn the correct way round.
3. Ensure muff seals are always in a serviceable condition.
4. Don’t alter pressure of ear muffs by bending head band.
5. If you have difficulty in wearing ear muffs, report it.

13. Ear Protection
Acceptable noise level for human ear:
• 85 decibels
• Your ear can stand a maximum of 85 decibel as an average
noise level over a day, before it is damaged by the noise.
• Anything above 85 decibels can damage your hearing.
• Normal conversation is typically situated in the 60-70 decibel range.
• Decibel is also known as dB or dB(A)
• Employees, contractors or visitors could be exposed to
noise levels at or in excess of 85 decibels (db) as measured
on an a-weighted scale at any time during a work shift are
managed in an appropriate manner

14. What is acceptable noise level?
• Normal conversation is about 60 db,
• A lawn mower is about 90 db,
• And a loud rock concert is about 120 db.
• In general, sounds above 85 are harmful,
• Depending on how long and how often you are exposed
to them and whether you wear hearing protection,
such as earplugs or earmuffs.

15. QUIZ
Noise Hazards in Office / Workplace Safety
A normal conversation produces a noise level of-
A.30 dB
B.60 db..
C.65 dB
D.70 dB

16. QUIZ
At what level can sound become distracting at workplace?
A. 40 decibels
B. 55 decibels
C. 65 decibels..
D. 80 decibels

17. QUIZ
A noise level of ______ can trigger stress reactions.
A. 90 decibels
B. 80 decibels..
C. 100 decibels
D. Noise cannot trigger stress

18. QUIZ
What form of noise is more disturbing in an office – Steady or Transient?
A. Steady i.e. continuous, long term, low
B. Transient i.e. sudden, sharp, conversational..

19. QUIZ
Effects of noise on a worker can include -
A. Stress & fatigue
B. Low morale
C. Low job satisfaction
D. Frequent illnesses
E. All of the above..

20. QUIZ
The four design elements that can reduce noise at workplace include-
A. Ceiling, furniture, sound-masking systems, carpeting..
B. Walls, electronics placement, ceiling systems, carpeting
C. Floor area, carpeting, walls, systems furniture

21. QUIZ
The noise level in an open office should not exceed-
A. 30 dB
B. 45 Db..
C. 60 dB
D. 75 dB

22. QUIZ
Do audio headphones protect from workplace noise?
A. Yes
B. No..

23. QUIZ
How can noise be minimized in open office settings?
A. Follow cubicle culture instead of open office plans
B. Provide acoustically designed spaces for private meetings and telephone calls
C. Provide partitions/cubicles designed to absorb sound
D. Options B and C..
E. Option A and B

24. QUIZ
A coworker disrupts the environment by walking in and out of the room noisily.
What’s the right way to deal with the issue?
A. Complain to your manager
B. Post office courtesy signs like “Please be quiet, people are trying to work”
C. Politely mention to the co-worker that you have trouble working when
distracted by noise
D. Option B and C..

25. QUIZ
There is noise coming from renovation project in the building.
What should office management do to reduce its adverse effects on employees?
A. Relocate staff if noise level exceeds 65 dB
B. Provide sound reducing systems if noise exceeds 65 dB
C. Provide sound reducing systems if the noise level stays under 65 dB but is still
distracting
D. Allow employees to work from home for a year
E. Both a and c can be applied..