Stress Awareness Month is a useful reminder for employers to address workplace noise, which can cause lack of concentration, fatigue and anxiety, says CMS Danskin Acoustics.
An annual campaign organised by the Stress Management Society, Stress Awareness Month falls in April. Highlighting the initiative, The Health and Safety Executive has called on employers to look at how they can prevent work related stress.
“Workplace noise is particularly an issue in manufacturing facilities, engineering workshops, warehouses and where power tools are used,” says CMS Danskin Acoustics’ Technical Manager Andy Hayes, an Associate Member of the Institute of Acoustics.
“Reverberation is a key issue. High reverberation leads to the persistence of sound in a space after the original sound source has stopped. Reverberation amplification can substantially elevate a room’s sound pressure level. Long reverberation times cause sound energy to persist and overlap, leading to increased loudness and reduced acoustic clarity.
“Without proper control, the ‘echo’ effect can increase noise levels by up to 10 decibels (dB) which is perceived by the human ear as a doubling of loudness. So, addressing reverberation is a key technique in reducing noise levels, consequently reducing stress and anxiety,” he adds.
Andy Hayes points to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Noise at work’ guidance. Recommendations include installing sound-absorbing materials, treating walls and ceilings to reduce reflected sound and using acoustic enclosures and barriers to block direct sound.
CMS Danskin Acoustics has invested in research and development to produce sound absorbing materials that can dramatically reduce the reverberation time in echo prone locations.
Its Plant Room Acoustic Wall Lining Panels are suitable for industrial applications. They can be used on walls and ceilings. 25mm panels are rated absorption Class C, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm are all rated absorption Class A, whilst providing a Reaction to Fire classification A2-s1,d0 (EN 13501-1:2018). The noise absorption co-efficient for the panels is tested to BS EN ISO 354:2003. They consist of borosilicate mineral fibres impregnated with a suitable resin binder and are faced with Type E alkali glass cloth.
For high-noise environments of 80dB(A) or higher, if the noise source cannot be quietened or located away from areas where people spend time, reverberation control should be part of a comprehensive noise control plan that should also include maintenance, employee training and the use of hearing protection.
CMS Danskin Acoustics’ recent projects include addressing the acoustic requirements for a new energy centre to house specialist heating plant within a Nottingham hospital.
CMS Danskin Acoustics manufactures and sources acoustic insulation products advising on all matters relating to acoustic and vibration control materials and noise reduction strategies, including floors, ceilings and walls, to combat airborne, impact and reverberation noise.