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Noise in the Workplace
by: Chris Hampton
The Cause:
Machinery, people and the
environment all contribute to noise in the workplace.
Machinery, such as copiers,
printers, fax machines, fans, air conditioner, computers, phones and
many other types of specialized equipment are a source of noise in
the workplace.
People, added to the above by
talking, typing, moving around and moving things around in doing
their work are another cause of noise in the workplace.
The environment also contributes to
the noise by reflecting and amplifying noise off of hard surfaces
like walls, windows or ceilings. Vehicular traffic noise and other
worksites nearby also add to the din.
The Facts:
Machinery noise is low frequency.
Low frequency noise can cause reduced efficiency and even make us
sick. Over time, it can do damage to internal organs, if the
amplitude is high enough. Sometimes, noise problems in air
conditioning or air conditioning ductwork can cause the sickness
rate to soar.
People noise is usually a higher
frequency. Depending on the volume and pitch, this can sometimes be
extremely annoying. The louder others get, the louder we get -
setting off an out of control spiral of noise.
Add to this the environment - box
like walls, ceilings and windows. The sounds just get louder and
louder by reflecting off the hard surfaces. This creates more
sickness, annoyance and reduced efficiency.
The Solution:
Reduce or eliminate the noise,
either at the source or after the fact.
It would be hard to eliminate
people and still run a business. Usually, there is little we can do
to reduce the noise that machines make.
There are many ways to accomplish
noise reduction. The best, or course, is to build the structure with
noise reduction in mind. Short of that, we can do a lot to make it
better.
Methods:
There are three major methods of
sound reduction and control.
Masking is the use of sound to
cover up the unwanted or annoying noise.
Absorption is the use of sound
absorbing or sound energy conversion material to lessen noise.
Deflection is the use of sound
reflective material to direct the excessive noise away.
Find out more at:
Arizona Acoustic Art
http://www.azaart.com
Gilbert, Arizona
inquiries@azaart.com
About The Author
Chris Hampton has 25 years
experience in the sound and vibration industry and being hearing
impaired knows the importance of sound and noise control and
conditioning. |
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