NIOSH Evaluates Noise Exposures at a Metal Walkway Manufacturer

Production employees for a company that manufactures metal walkways and mezzanines were consistently overexposed to noise, according to a NIOSH evaluation of the facility. NIOSH visited the facility in September 2022 at the employees’ request, according to a health hazard evaluation (HHE) report that recently became available on the agency’s website. Some employees operated machines such as reticulators, which perforate metal. All production employees were required to wear hearing protection and were included in a hearing conservation program.

Some workers’ foam earplugs did not fit properly, according to the report, and others were dirty, which could affect their ability to attenuate noise. NIOSH recommended that the company train employees on proper techniques for fitting earplugs, such as rolling the foam inserts into a cylindrical shape, and conduct fit testing for the hearing protectors.

All personal noise measurements were above the NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 85 dBA. The reticulator operators had exposures that sometimes exceeded 100 dBA. Octave band analysis revealed that much of this noise was likely generated by vibration, according to the report. NIOSH recommended the implementation of engineering controls in the reticulator area, such as mounting equipment on isolation pads to reduce vibration, enclosing noisy areas, erecting noise barriers, and installing booths for operators. Other recommendations included performing regular maintenance on the machines and considering noise when purchasing new equipment.

For more information, download the report (PDF) from the NIOSH website.

Related: Read “How to Mitigate Conveyor Noise” in The Synergist.