Chapter 2 . . .

Personal Daily Noise Exposure Level

The equivalent continuous A weighted sound level over an 8 hour period is called personal daily noise exposure level, according to the Noise at Work Regulations, 1989.

This is used for assessing noise exposure in the work place.

Personal Daily Noise Exposure Level . . .

In the regulations recommended level for occupational noise is a personal daily noise exposure level of 85 dB (A). i.e. 1st action level is 85 dB (A) This is taken as the industrial first action level for occupational noise. The second action level is 90 dB (A).

Personal Daily Noise Exposure Level . . .

Above the second action level (90 dB (A)) it is possibly hazardous and ear protection (muff or plugs) must be provided to the workers or change their work shifts.

Earmuffs

Ear defenders on a safety helmet

Personal Daily Noise Exposure Level . . .

A 12 hour LAeq,T value of 75 dB (A) is the common limit for construction site noise. Above this level site operations can be stopped by legal action.

Example
What is the maximum time for which an employee may spend in a particular work shop where the noise level is 106 dB (A) without using ear protection if his noise dose is not to exceed an equivalent continuous noise level of 90 dB (A) over the period of 8 hour work shift? Assume that for the rest of the shift the employee is subjected to a constant sound level of 85 dB (A).

Answer

For L=106 dB (A) => I1

= 1010.6 x I0

Let t be the required time.

Answer . . .

Example
The noise of a construction site is caused by the following. Source dB (A) Duration (hrs)

Compressor 89
Excavator 85

8
2

Truck
Pump 76

78
7

Calculate the equivalent continuous sound level over a 12 hour working day of a worker exposed to the above noise levels.

Answer
Equivalent continuous sound level,

= 10 x 8.804 = 88.04 dB(A)

Noise exposure from single discrete events

In many situations the total noise exposure over a period of time is made up from a number of different individual events such as passing of an air craft over head or a train near by or a short bursts of machinery noise.

Noise exposure from single discrete events

The measurements of noise from different events will be made over different durations. For comparison of different types of events it would be convenient if the equivalent continuous sound level is averaged over the same duration. For convenience that duration is taken as 1 second.

Noise exposure from single discrete events To access such transient sound levels an index called sound exposure level LAE is defined as follows,

Where to reference duration t2 t1 stated time interval (actual duration of sound) t2 t1 = T

Noise exposure from single discrete events

; t0 = 1s LAE = LAeq,T + 10logT

Example
Sound levels of the following types of trains which pass a railway station are as follows.
Type of train LAeq dB (A) Duration (s)

Express Slow Freight

85 78 76 22

12 18

During the 24 hour period of the day, if 8 fast trains, 20 slow trains and 3 freight trains passing the station. Calculate the Equivalent continuous A weighted sound level over a 24 hour period.

Answer
Equivalent continuous sound level,

LAeq = 58.09 dB (A)

Noise Pollution
Noise The unwanted sound is called noise. The effects of noise on human life are; 1) Annoyance to daily life 2) Physiological effects 3) Social effects

Noise Pollution . . .
1) Annoyance to daily life

Noise disturbs - concentration - speech - rest - sleep

And also noise causes stress.

Noise Pollution . . .
2) Physiological Effects

The environmental noise such as aircraft noise affects the growth of children.
Prolonged exposure to excessive loud noise will result in permanently elevated blood pressure. The most distinct physiological effect is the loss of hearing.

Noise Pollution . . .
Noise Induced Hearing Defects

a) Temporary Threshold Shift b) Permanent Threshold shift

a) Temporary Threshold shift When a person of normal hearing is exposed to intense noise (above 70 75 dB) for a length of time his or her threshold of hearing is temporarily raised.

Noise Pollution . . .
As a result the person suffers a temporary loss of hearing sensitivity called Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS). This loss of hearing sensitivity is regained after a period (16 hours or more) in a quite environment. That is the recovery from temporary threshold shift takes 16 hours or longer.

Noise Pollution . . .
b) Permanent Threshold Shift

People working in extremely high noise environments for long hours have a risk of permanent damage to their hearing if the recovery is incomplete. This is referred to as Permanent Threshold Shift.

Noise Pollution . . .
In the case of someone exposed to intense occupational noise each at work for many years (15 - 20) the threshold shift becomes permanent if temporary threshold shift has not recovered over night before the next exposure. This permanent damage to hearing may often be indicated by signs of dullness of hearing together with tinnitus often exposure to noise.

Noise Pollution . . .
3) Social Effects

The demand for land use is reduced near roads with heavy traffic, busy airports or noise factories. Transport noise also affects the growth of cattle and poultry. It is said that is decreases milk and egg production.

Noise Criteria In Sri Lanka

L

Reference book:
Acoustics and noise control
2nd edition B J Smith, R J Peters and S Owen

Practical schedule
3 Practical 2 - Outdoors 1 Industrial visit Assignments: Three (3) in-class assignments, each carry 10 marks. 3 for performance 7 for assignment