Toolbox Talk - Noise
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Overview A toolbox talk is designed to be an informal way of communicating and consulting with employees about a health and safety issue in your workplace. The talk should last 15-20 minutes, depending on the interaction of the employees. It is designed to be delivered by a supervisor or health and safety representative. There are two handouts to be distributed during the talk. Tips for a successful toolbox talk
Read through the toolbox talk before you deliver it so you are familiar with the material. The toolbox talk should include all the information you need to respond to any questions.
Hold the talk in your work area. Decide on the best time – perhaps first thing in the morning or immediately after lunch when the workday will be least interrupted and the work area is relatively quiet.
Ensure you have enough copies of handouts and a copy of your workplace noise map (if you have one).
Start the talk on a positive note. Welcome your staff and let them know the format for the meeting, that you have got them together to give them information about an important workplace safety issue.
Invite people to participate and share stories and experiences.
Reference: WorkCover Corporation, South Australia, SafeWork Incentive 3: Implementing a tool box talk.
KEY MESSAGES – Tool Box Talks
Tool box talks are practical
Tool box talks are brief
Tool box talks should encourage interaction and participation
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1. Employers are obliged to eliminate or control noise in their workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers must first seek to eliminate or engineer out the source of noise before using hearing protection. 2. Employers must consult with employees in developing risk controls and monitoring their effectiveness. 3. If an employer uses hearing protection to reduce exposure to noise they must clearly identify by signs and labeling of plant when and where hearing protection is to be used. 4. Employers must know what levels of noise their workers are exposed to. If they are uncertain if the noise is to loud, they must measure noise levels considering:
The duration of exposure
The sources of the noise
The systems of work
Other relevant factors
Levels must be measured without hearing protection
5. Written records of noise levels must be kept. 6. Noise levels must be checked:
If there are changes to plant or systems of work
If a person reports hearing loss due to exposure to noise
After an incident involving exposure to noise
If risk controls do not adequately reduce noise to a level below the exposure standard
After receiving a request from a health and safety representative
7. Employers who provide hearing protectors to employees must conduct audiometric tests:
Within 3 months of the employee commencing work in relation to which the hearing protectors are required
Anytime when reasonably requested to do so by the designated work group or health and safety representative
At least every 2 years
8. If an employee displays a hearing loss of greater than 15db at 3000hz, 4000hz or 6000hz the employee must be provided with an audiological examination. 3
9. Designers are obliged to design plant and equipment so that sound levels are as low as reasonably practicable. 10. Manufacturer and suppliers must provide information about sound levels of plant and equipment.
KEY MESSAGES – The Legal Stuff
Employers MUST consult with employees about suitable risk controls
Employers must not rely only on hearing protection to reduce noise
Employers must monitor noise levels in the workplace
Employers must regularly test employees hearing where noise is a problem
References Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2004 Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2007 Chapter 3 (Part 3.2) http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/WorkSafe/Home/Laws+and+Regulations/Acts+and+ Regulations/
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Hearing loss - how will it affect me? Hearing loss will prevent you from enjoying life fully and participating in the things you love. You will miss the subtlety of a joke; find talking on the phone difficult and hearing many other sounds which give our lives richness and depth. Part 1: What is noise induced hearing loss? What causes hearing loss How noise damages your hearing How your life can be affected by hearing loss Part 2: Are we a noisy workplace?
Typical noise levels
Noise levels in your workplace
How much noise can you be exposed to before you might experience hearing loss?
Part 3: How can we reduce noise levels? How employers must go about fixing noise problems Part 4: Hearing Protection – Is it enough? The good and bad about hearing protectors How to get adequate protection from hearing protectors What employers must do if they provide hearing protectors
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Part 1 : The affects of noise induced hearing loss Hearing loss is caused by:
Age Exposure to loud noise over time Exposure to very loud noise for short periods
How does noise damage our hearing?
There are nerve cells in the inner ear and continual exposure to noise over a long period of time, or exposure to very loud noise for short periods may cause these cells to die and not respond to sound. These cells will NOT re-grow; once they are gone, they are gone.
Hearing loss caused by noise exposure can happen gradually and often people don’t notice it is happening.
Hearing loss affects us by:
Making conversation hard to understand – it may start to sound muffled, especially high pitched letter like S, K, P & T.
Making it harder to use the telephone.
Making us less confident in social and work situations.
Causing people to lose enjoyment in listening to the TV, music and other forms of entertainment.
Causing accidents by preventing people from hearing warning signals like car horns, or traffic noise. KEY MESSAGES – Affect of hearing loss
Hearing loss is permanent
Hearing loss reduces our quality of life
Hearing loss happens subtly and usually over time
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Part 2: Are we a noisy workplace? If you have a noise map of your workplace, refer to that to identify noisy areas. To get an idea of noise levels, provide everyone with a copy of the handout – “Common noise sources and their typical sound levels.” Discuss the different noise levels of different equipment on the handout. Do you know the noise levels of equipment in your workplace? Is there any equipment on the handout that is similar to what is at your workplace? Question:
If you don’t have noise measurements, how could you know if your workplace is too noisy?
Answer:
Some signs that noise levels may be in excess of the standard are:
If you have to raise your voice to communicate over approx 1 metre.
If you have temporary reduction of hearing or ringing in the ears.
If visitors comment on the noise.
How much can noise can a person be exposed to before it may start to damage their hearing? ‘Decibels – dB(A)’ is the unit used to measure noise.
A daily noise dose which exceeds an average of 85dB(A) over 8 hours, may put employees at risk of permanent hearing damage and employers must take action to reduce noise levels. Refer to handout – common noise sources and their typical sound levels – identify what type of noise level is 85dB(A).
The limit for a one off loud noise before hearing may be damaged is 140 dB(C). Refer to handout – common noise sources and their typical sound levels – identify what type of noise level is 140dB(C).
What does this mean? – (the technical stuff)
The daily noise dose is the level of noise a person is exposed to over an 8 hour day.
If employees work longer than 8 hour shifts, the noise dose limit is lower.
For every 3 decibels the noise level increases, the time a person can be exposed is halved.
Where two or more noise sources are near each other, add 3 decibels to estimate the noise exposure of the operator.
KEY MESSAGES – Are we a noisy workplace?
Employers MUST act if the daily noise dose exceeds 85dB(A) over eight hours
Working more than 8 hours reduces the noise level you can be exposed to
Adding 3 decibels halves the exposure time
Employers must monitor noise levels in their workplace 7
Part 3: How do we reduce noise? The law prescribes how workplace noise must be controlled. The OHS Act (Vic) 2004 requires employers to a) Eliminate risks to health and safety so far as is practicable b) To reduce those risks so far as is practicable The following order must be followed to identify ways to control excess noise. Employees must be consulted when developing controls.
ELIMINATION
Discontinue the noisy process
SUBSTITUTION
Use quieter plant or processes
ENGINEERING
Engineer out noise at the source through isolating the noise or people e.g. sound barriers
ADMINISTRATION
Limit the amount of time employees are exposed to noise through job rotation
Implement policies and procedures to guide your noise reduction program
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Provide effective hearing protection devices and audiometric testing for your employees
Train employees in using hearing protection
KEY MESSAGES – How do we reduce noise?
Employers must consider ways to eliminate noise before opting to use hearing protection.
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Part 4: Hearing Protection – Is it enough? Hearing protectors can protect against hearing loss, but to do so they must:
Be properly selected to provide protection against the noise levels you will be exposed to
Fit properly
Be in good condition, with no deterioration or visible damage
They must be cleaned regularly and inspected for damage
Stored in an area where they will not get damaged or dirty
Replaced regularly
If an employer uses hearing protection to reduce exposure to noise they must clearly identify with signs and labeling of plant when and where hearing protection is to be used. What is best - ear-muffs or disposable ear plugs?
This depends on your workplace and how you will use your hearing protection. Ear plugs can be used in conjunction with ear muffs.
Ear plugs and ear muffs perform much the same in terms of sounds reduction BUT ear muffs will reduce higher frequencies to a much greater extent. For example ear muffs rated as reducing noise levels
by 28 dB(A) may reduce higher frequencies by up to 40dB(A).
Ear plugs must fit properly. They need to be rolled in between the fingers, compacted and inserted just inside the ear. (Demonstrate)
Ear plugs may be dropped and are more likely to get dirty. It is a good idea to attach them to a cord worn around the neck.
Ear muffs must clamp around your ears and you should squeeze out excess air to get the correct fit. (demonstrate)
KEY MESSAGES – Hearing protection, is it enough?
Hearing protectors are the least preferred method of protection against noise
The removal of hearing protectors, even for a short time, can significantly reduce their effectiveness
If hearing protectors are used, an employer must have employee’s hearing tested within 3 months of commencement and every 2 years
Employers must consider ways to eliminate noise before opting to use hearing protection
Ear muffs may be better than ear plugs
Reference: WorkSafe Victoria (2006), Noise problems at work – guide for assessing and fixing. 9
KEY MESSAGES – Tool Box Talks
Tool box talk are practical and relevant
Tool box talks are succinct
Tool box talks encourage interaction and participation
KEY MESSAGES - The Legal Stuff
Employers MUST consult with employees about suitable risk controls
Employers must not rely only on hearing protection to reduce noise
Employers must monitor noise levels in the workplace
Employers must regularly test employee hearing where noise is a problem
KEY MESSAGES – Affect of hearing loss
Hearing loss is permanent
Hearing loss reduces our quality of life
Hearing loss happens subtly and usually over time
KEY MESSAGES – Are we a noisy workplace?
Employers MUST act if the daily noise dose exceeds 85dB(A) over eight hours
Working more than 8 hours reduces the noise level you can be exposed to
Adding 3 decibels halves the exposure time
Employers must monitor noise levels in their workplace
KEY MESSAGES – How do we reduce noise?
Employers must consider ways to eliminate noise before using hearing protection 10
KEY MESSAGES – Hearing Protection, Is it enough?
Hearing protectors are the least preferred method of protection against noise
The removal of hearing protectors, even for a short time, can significantly reduce their effectiveness and result in inadequate protection
If hearing protectors are issued, an employer must have employee’s hearing tested within 3 months of commencement and every 2 years
Ear muffs may be better than ear plugs
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