1 P a g e Noise Control Guide It is the responsibility of every occupant, owner, tenant, contractor, employee & visitor and ALL users of this facility to ensure they take all reasonably practical steps to ensure both their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others at this facility. The following guide has been established for the benefit of all users of this facility and complex. Should any part of this guide conflict with the policies of a statutory authority and/or the scheme by-laws the latter shall prevail. It is the responsibility of lot owners, letting agents/building managers to make their guests or occupants, as well as occupants of holiday/short term lettings of their unit, aware of this guide. Scope Please refer to the body corporate s registered bylaws in relation to domestic noise. All persons engaging in work or maintenance on site do so at their own risk and sole responsibility. The body corporate accepts no liability for the injury or loss of hearing associated with noise. Before applying any of the instructions below, the FIRST and MOST important strategy is to ELIMINATE ALL NOISE HAZARDS wherever possible. It is ultimately the responsibility of any persons using or working in noisy areas, to ensure that they only use equipment as per the suppliers instructions, and to use protective equipment to minimise possible noise injuries. General Guide purpose: To achieve an injury and incident free site in relation to noise control. To reduce noise exposure on and around buildings to an absolute minimum level. To make health & safety an integral part of every buildings. To identify and control all potential noise control related hazards in buildings through hazard identification and risk analysis. To develop noise control measures to eliminate or reduce the factors contributing to generation of noise. To ensure all owners, occupants, workers etc are committed to minimising noise. To adopt Worksafe Standards of noise control, persons should not be exposed to noise levels which exceed: 85 Decibel over an 8 hour day, or a Peak level of 140 decibels at any time. If exposure to noise levels are higher than above then noise control measures MUST be adopted.
2 P a g e Types of Noise Pollution Typical Area or equipment levels db(a) Library 38-48 Typical office 50 60 Typical Household 55-65 Photocopier 59-71 Vacuum cleaner 68-74 Typical factory 76-82 Noisy lawn mower 87-94 Belt sander 90-97 Hand drill 95-101 High pressure spray painting 98-103 Angle grinder 95-107 Chainsaw 106-115 noise Safety Guidelines All Building complexes are to: 1. Identify plant, equipment and tasks that may produce hazardous levels of noise, being Equipment or work processes that are suspected of emitting a continuous noise level above 85 dba and/or; Equipment with a suspected impact peak noise emission of greater than 140 db (lin) Where noise can cause an interference with communication and making warnings harder to hear As a guide, if you need to raise your voice to communicate with someone about one metre away, the noise is likely to be hazardous to hearing and communication. 2. Establish a register of equipment and tasks at the complex that produce significant noise. The register is to contain information on; equipment contained on the List of Noisy Equipment.
3 P a g e the noise levels of the equipment or tasks, e.g. any previous surveys, product information. the current method of noise exposure control for each piece of equipment or task, e.g. acoustic hoods, personal hearing protectors. the task/s for which the equipment is used, e.g. grinding metal. environmental factors which may impact on noise exposure e.g. working in confined spaces, working in the open, type of surface. other equipment in use within the workplace, e.g. two or more machines located together increase the noise exposure. whether any other people are exposed to the noise from this equipment. 3. Erect safety warning signs where excessive noise levels are identified. Safety warning signs are required when noise levels are in excess of a level equivalent to 85 db(a) over an 8 hour working day. These signs are to be placed at the entrance to the noisy area and attached to noisy plant. Safety warning signs inform people that hearing protection must be worn while in the noisy area. All safety warning signs are to comply with Australian Standards. 4. Where required, arrange for noise risks assessment by measuring noise levels and noise exposure. It may be necessary to engage a service provider who specialises in the measurement of occupational noise. Such specialists include: occupational hygienists acousticians sound (acoustic) engineers 5. Develop noise control measures to eliminate or reduce the factors contributing to generation of noise. To reduce the amount of noise produced by a machine or during a task; don't introduce, or stop using, a noisy machine.
4 P a g e substitute the hazard with plant or processes that are quieter. modify plant and processes to reduce the noise. Block the Transmission of Noise by using distance, barriers, enclosures and sound absorbing surfaces. 6. Only purchase and/or hire plant that complies with noise control specifications, you must ensure that the machine complies with the Specifications for Noise Levels of Plant and Equipment A Noise Test Report, complying with the Specification, is to be submitted either with the quotation (preferable) or prior to the final installation of the machine. 7. Provide approved personal hearing protection devices if effective control of noise hazards cannot be achieved through engineering or administrative means. Hearing protectors should only be used as a last resort. or as an interim measure while control of any ongoing noise exposure is being achieved by engineering or administrative means. No person is to enter a hearing protection area during operation, unless wearing appropriate personal hearing protectors. Hearing protection used must be suitable for the noise i.e. they need to be suitable for the degree of attenuation needed Hearing protection must be fitted properly i.e. glass wearers may not be able to wear ear muffs they must not black out important safety waning signals e.g. fire alarm staff must be trained on their use, fit, care and maintenance Age & Health Restrictions Guide restricts: 1. ANY Child under 16 years old from working with, near to or within hearing of any noisy equipment. 2. Persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs from using or being around noisy equipment. 3. Any use of plant or equipment by any unauthorised or unqualified person.
5 P a g e Supervision of Children Guide prohibits: 1. Parents or other in charge of children leaving them unsupervised around an area designated for noisy plant and/or equipment. 2. Depending on others to supervise children under their care around an area designated for noisy plant and/or equipment.