An Interview with Clare Forshaw, UK Hearing Conservation Association
12th May 2022
Clare Forshaw is the Founder and Director of the UKHCA and in this interview, she explains that just because we are used to construction noise, it is no excuse to ignore it. There are so many ways to think about reducing noise exposures; it all depends on what is making the noise, the way it impacts the site and what options work best for everyone. Noise is harmful and it is often avoidable.
Clare has answered the following FAQs to help site managers make more informed decisions about noise control and hearing protection on site:
Not necessarily. Understanding noise levels is important in order to identify high noise sources, but the key thing is to know which ones are causing the big problems and therefore need the greatest attention.
If new equipment is brought in it might be useful to measure the impact this has on overall noise levels, however it is not essential to measure if there are things you can do to reduce the noise and the impact it has on the area. Understand high noise sources and try and reduce those, designing out, isolating the noise through enclosures etc. After these measures you may still need to use hearing protection.
Ask your hire company for information on noise emissions and lower noise alternatives. The Hire Association Europe has done a lot of work with its members to get better information on noise levels for customers. If you are hiring in your tool and plant, ask your supplier about noise control options or alternatives. Good hire companies make a point of telling you about what PPE you should be considering when taking a product on hire.
It’s important to note however, that whilst the manufacturers’ noise level data can be used to help you select quieter tool options, you cannot solely rely on this information as it is not representative of what happens on site, due to things like tool wear, blunt bits and reflecting surfaces. You might, therefore, still require noise monitoring on site.
Noise data supplied with plant and equipment can give you an initial indication of where noise may be a problem, however if you do need a proper noise survey, then a qualified and competent professional should be used to help you understand noise sources and potential exposures. Be aware of the difference between environmental noise measurements and personal and static measures done for worker exposure levels.
You can but this is not a properly calibrated piece of kit with the appropriate settings. It is only an indicative measurement. The best thing to do is remember the rule of thumb, if you need to raise your voice to be heard by a colleague or other people present in the area then it is too loud!
The best thing to start with is designing it out. There can be a lot of time spent designing and scheduling work packages so there may be information here that could be used to help inform where and when noisy work tasks are likely to occur and where you can look to focus methods of reducing noise.
Understand high noise sources and try and reduce those, designing out, isolating the noise through enclosures etc. It’s worth noting that the noise control barriers you use to protect the neighbours will also have a positive impact on the workforce. The closer you position acoustic barriers to the noise sources, the better protected both workers and nearby residents will be, so everybody wins!
Loud noise can impact many people on or around a site from where it is produced. If someone is using a stone cutter then it is not just exposing them to noise, but also those in the area around them. You should look to discuss with them what can be done to reduce the noise at source, provide barriers between the noisy work and other workers on site or try to plan work away from the noise source.
A useful control measure is distance – the further away you can move from the noise source the lower your exposure. You may consider labelling plant with a “safe working distance” sticker to show a distance beyond which you don’t need to wear hearing protection.
That is true, but you can purchase active noise signs that light up at different noise levels. So, when the noise increases, the sign indicates noises levels going from a “green” (safe) levels up to a “red” (high noise) level so hearing protection and or controls should be focussed in these areas. See RVT’s Noise Level Warning System.
There are many different types of hearing protection available, and it is often hard to choose the right type for you and your team. Hearing protection should be chosen dependent on the nature of the job (movement, hot / sweaty), the individual and their preferences or health needs and how long they need to wear it – not just the highest protection factor!
You should always be able to hear safety warning signs or alarms. In high noise levels, PPE enhances the ability to hear warning signals as the ears are no longer overloaded. However, if the PPE provides over-protection for the environment (i.e., noise levels inside the protectors <70dB(A)), this will make hearing warning signals more difficult. If overprotection and ability to hear is a problem, then you could look to use filtered or level dependent type active hearing protection. This allows certain low noise levels through but prevents the transmission of higher harmful noise levels. You can also now get hearing protection that connects to a radio system or Bluetooth, so you can communicate with colleagues but still protect your hearing.
Download a copy of the original FAQ document in bullet point format.
Download RVT’s Best Practice Noise Control Whitepaper.
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