The document discusses noise prevention in factories. It covers types of noise, noise measurement, research findings on noise and hearing loss, a case study analyzing audiometric test results of factory workers, Malaysian laws on noise exposure limits, noise mapping, and engineering and administrative controls for noise prevention. Recommendations include reducing noise at the source, enclosing noisy machinery, limiting worker exposure through schedules and protective gear, and monitoring worker hearing through regular audiometric tests.

1. Noise Prevention in Factories
Ir. Gan Chun Chet
Aug 2009
Noise Prevention in Factories 1

2. Introduction On Noise
• Prevention Of Noise Problem In Factories
• Reference Material :
Factory And Machinery Act 1967, Noise
Regulation 1989
• Other Supporting Data :
- Research Results From A Foreign
Company
- Noise Study In A Factory, With Data
Based On Audiometric Test Results
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3. Introduction On Noise
• Severity Of The Problem
- Damage To Hearing Ability, Causing
Hearing Impairment On The Ear
• Cause Of Problem
- Noise
• Remedy
- Noise Prevention
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4. Types of Noise
• Noise Travel Into
Our Ear
- Propagation Of
Sound Wave To
The Ear Can
Damage Our Ear
- Long Exposure
To Noise At Noisy
Areas Effect Us
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5. Types of Noise
• Type Of Noise
Source (Point, Line,
etc.)
• Types Of Noise
- Very Strong
Pressure Fluctuation
- Repetitive Or
Cyclical Noise
- Pulsation Noise
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6. Noise Measurement
• Noise Unit Of Measurement Is In Decibel
(dB)
• The Weighted Sound Level Unit Is dB(A)
• Sound Level Is The Noise Level
• Noise Is Unwanted Sound
• Equipment To Measure Noise Inside Plant
– Noise Dosimeter
• Audiometric Test (Using Tone) To Find
Out A Person Hearing Level
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7. Research Findings (by a Foreign
Company)
• Following Are Some Research Finding
From A Foreign Company
• Normal Hearing Level With Age
• Hearing Loss Due To Exposure With Age
• Hearing Ability Of Maintenance Personnel
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8. Research Findings (by a Foreign
Company)
Noise Prevention in Factories 8

9. Research Findings (by a Foreign
Company)
Noise Prevention in Factories 9

10. A Real Case – A Factory in
Malaysia
• The Following Is A Real Case Of Workers
Hearing Ability With Age
• Different Graphs Plotted With Years Of
Employment And Age
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11. Real Case (Main Data)
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12. Real Case (Main Data)
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13. Real Case (Main Data)
• Cluster Of Dense Population Observed On
Sample Group
• Subject Age Group
Densely Populated Area 36 To 50
Second Dense Area 16 To 30
• Audiogram Distribution Found That Most
Of The Sample Workers Noise Receptivity
Level Are The Region Of 5 To 34 dB
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14. Real Case (Less than 10 years
service)
• Sample Of Workers With Service
Employment 10 Years Or Less Were
Separated From The Main Sample Group.
• Hearing Receptivity Was Plotted Against
Age Of Sample Workers. Similar Pattern
Corresponded To Main Sampling Group
Was Observed
(Sampled Of Production Workers At Floor
Level)
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15. Real Case (Less than 10 years
service)
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16. Real Case (Less than 10 years
service)
• Two Cluster Group Were Observed On
The Chart. However, The Size Of The
Cluster Group Is As Follow.
• Subject Age Group
Cluster 1 16 To 30
Cluster 2 36 To 50
• Results
- Below 20 dB (Cluster 1)
- Below 30 dB (Cluster 2)
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17. Real Case (More than 10 years
service)
• Analyzing Chart For Employment With
Greater Than 10 Years, It Was Found One
Cluster.
• These Spread Over Between Age Group
Of 36 To 55 Years Old.
• The Receptivity Level Of The Cluster Is
Higher When Compare To Age Group
Between 16 To 30 Years Of Age.
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18. Real Case (More than 10 years
service)
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19. Real Case (More than 10 years
service)
• One Group
Subject Age Group
Cluster 1 35 To 55
• Results
- Below 30 Db
• Cases Of Individual Hearing Receptivity
Leaving The Cluster Group Is Also
Noticed Shown In Line “A”
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20. Real Case – Statistics
(Summary of Finding)
• Employment Less Than 10 Years
• (16 – 35 Years Old)
60 – 100 dB 3 Person
40 – 60 dB 4 Person
30 – 40 dB 11 Person
Total = 18 Person
• (36 – 60 Years Old)
60 – 100 dB 4 Person
40 – 60 dB 5 Person
30 – 40 dB 12 Person
Total = 21 Person
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21. Real Case – Statistics
(Summary of Finding)
• Employment More Than Or Equal To 10
Years
• (30 – 55 Years Old)
60 – 100 Db 4 Person
40 – 60 Db 13 Person
30 – 40 Db 18 Person
Total = 35 Person
Noise Prevention in Factories 21

22. Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(FMA)
• A Standard Threshold Shift – Average Shift Of 10 dB At
Frequencies 2000 Hz, 3000hz And 4000 Hz Relative To
The Baseline Audiogram
• A Hearing Impairment – An Impair In The Ability In
Hearing (Ask An Ear Specialist)
• Permanent Disability – Permanent Damage (Very
Serious!)
• (Consult Doctors Or Specialist! Hearing Problem Must
Not Be Taken Lightly)
• Also Refer To FMA Available In Bookstores
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23. Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(FMA)
• Factories And Machinery, Noise Exposure
Regulations, 1989
• Employees Need To Check For A Baseline Reading
(Required By Law)
• Noise Level Collected And Recorded At 500, 1000,
2000, 3000 & 4000Hz
• Required By Law Of Malaysia That The Permissible
Exposure Limit Is (Refer To Schedule)
- 85 dB(A) For 16 Hours Duration Per Day,
- 90 dB(A) For 8 Hours Duration Per Day, etc. Per
Schedule
- Nobody Shall Be Exposed To Noise Level Exceeding
115 dB(A) At Any Time
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24. Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(Noise Regulation)
• Some Examples
e.g. The Sum Of Hearing Threshold Levels
Shows An Increase Of 30 dB Compared To
Preceding Level. Very Serious Shift!
• Case : Less Than 10 Yrs Employment, 1st
Cluster 20 dB And Below. 2nd Cluster 30 dB And
Below
: More Than 10yrs Employment, Cluster 30
Noise Prevention in Factories 24
dB and Below
: Some Able To Hear Only At 90 dB!
Damaged
• Less Than 85 dB(A) Exposure Limit A Day

25. Factories and Machinery Act 1967
• Take Note Of Threshold Shift! DO NOT
Play With This!
• Reduce Noise Level (Engineering
Measures)
• Avoid Noisy Area (Admistrative Control)
• Consult Noise Consultant Or Ear
Specialist!
Noise Prevention in Factories 25

26. Noise Consultant and Audiometric
Test
• Noise Consultant Report On Condition Of
The Plant
• Report Will Identify Noisy Areas
• Recommends Remedies
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27. Noise Consultant and Audiometric
Test
• Test To Find Out The Hearing Ability Of A
Person
• Audiometric Test Result Indicates Noise
Receptivity Of A Person
• Low Frequencies Or High Frequencies
Noise That A Person’s Is Able To Hear
Are Tested
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28. Noise Mapping
• Noise Mapping By
Noise Consultant
• Look At Noisy Places
And Plot Real Noise
Level At Floor Level.
• Noise Exposure
Measurement To Find
Out The Daily
Exposure Limit Of A
Worker
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Above 90
dB(A)
85- 90
dB(A)
Below
85 dB(A)

29. Hearing Conservation Program
• Hearing Conservation
Program
- Engineering Control
(To Install Enclosure At
Rotating Equipment, To
Reduce Device Noise
e.g. Control Valve &
Relief Valve, To Prevent
Noise From Traveling Into
The Control Room)
Enclosure
Machine
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Limit noise out
of the
enclosure
Control Room
Limit noise to the
control room

30. Adminstration
• - Administrative
Control
(To Move Workers In
And Out Of Noisy
Area (Take Note Of
Threshold Shift, Very
Dangerous
• So FMA Mentioned
To Limit Daily
Exposure To Noise
By Control Of Work
Schedule, Very
Difficult To Practice),
Constant Monitoring,
Do Not Allow People
To Enter Noisy Areas,
Sign Board Of High
Noise Areas, etc.)
HIGH NOISE
AREA
- WEAR EAR
MUFFLE
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31. Cases of Over Exposure
• Limits of Audibility
• Also consult a ear
specialist
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32. Cases of Over Exposure
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33. Noise Prevention
• Prevent Exposure to Unwanted Noise
- Avoid Going Into Noisy Area
- Do Not Allow Unwanted Noise To Enter The
Ear
- Reduce Noise Source To The Acceptable
Level
- Do a noise mapping to understand the areas of
noise source and the allowable area of work
- Check you ear condition by audiometric test
Noise Prevention in Factories 33

34. Remedy
• Remedy
- Limit the noise source
- Enclosure the noisy source
- Wear Protective Ear Plugs or Muffles
- Prevent workers from going into noisy area
- Sign boards to inform workers of noisy area
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35. Conclusion
• FMA 1967 – Get it from bookstore (MPH,
Popular, etc.)
• Slides, Noise Chart and Excel File, if
required – Get it from Zul.
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36. Noise Chart
• Chart
• Identify a factory worker’s hearing ability
whether it is healthy (within the limit)
• Please also refer to test result report from
a qualify doctor
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37. 40 50
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30 dB
20 dB
20 60
10 dB
30
Worker’s Age (Year)
Normal Hearing Ability
Category 3
Category 2
Category 1
Category 1 : Very Good
Category 2 : Good
Category 3 : Caution
Noise Chart

38. Noise Records - Excel File
• Excel File
• Measure the audiometric test result and
record.
• Warning Limit (Standard Threshold Shift)
Noise Prevention in Factories 38

39. Noise Records - Excel File
Noise Prevention in Factories 39

40. Noise Records - Excel File
Noise Prevention in Factories 40

41. Noise Records - Excel File
Noise Prevention in Factories 41

42. Noise Prevention
(Own Notes)
• Introduction On Noise
• Type of Noise
• Types of Noise Measurement
• Research Findings From a Foreign Company
• A Real Case on Audiometric Test Result on Factory Workers
• The Law of Malaysia, FMA 1967 (Noise Regulation 1989)
• Noise Consultants and Audiometric Test
• Noise Mapping
• Engineering and Administration Control
• Cases of Over Exposure – See a Ear Specialist
• Noise Prevention
• Remedy
• Conclusion
• Noise Chart
• A Excel File
• An Article on A Real Case
Noise Prevention in Factories 42