BIAP Recommendation n° 09/10-3

MEASURING NOISE LEVELS AT WORK STATIONS

INTRODUCTION

In 1986, the EC Council adopted a directive (directive 86/188/EEC) on the protection of workers against the risks derived from exposure to noise during work. This directive came into force at national level on January 1st 1990 (in Greece and Portugal on Jan. 1st 1991). Respecting the directive requires being able to collect acoustical data relative to the noise produced by the machines, in order to assess the noise level which affects the operator.

OBJECT

The present recommendation presents a measuring method to assess the levels of acoustical pressure generated by machines, work station equipment and other equipment.

The operator's work station can be a open area situated in the same room as the machine or a closed cabin, either fitted on the machine or away from it.

The present recommendation applies to all types of machines and work stations -and other specified locations where workers might be submitted to noises- at which levels of acoustical pressure need to be measured.

TYPES OF ACOUSTICAL LEVELS TO BE MEASURED

The types of levels that must be measured, at each specified location and during the operation cycle of the concerned machine are:

-level of acoustical pressure (average dBA temporal level of generated acoustical pressure)

-level of acoustical pressure (average dBC peak level of generated acoustical pressure)

Remark: if the machine produces isolated noises, the level of acoustical pressure of each occurrence has to be determined, at the time of the emission and at the specified location (Lp,1s).

TYPE OF DATA THAT SHOULD BE COLLECTED FOR ACOUSTICAL RESULTS

1) dBA level of generated acoustical pressure, at the specified locations.

2) dBC average peak level of generated acoustical pressure, at the specified locations.

TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE RECORDED IN THE REPORT

Only the relevant information, taking into account the objectives of the measuring, shall be recorded in the report: the worker's daily exposure to noise (LEP,D) and the worker's weekly average exposure to noise (LEP,W).

The levels of acoustical pressure at emission (LpA) must be recorded to within 0.5 dB.