The hearing mechanism in the ear is sensitive enough to detect even small pressure waves. Even very loud sounds produce pressure fluctuations which are extremely small (1 in 10,000) compared to ambient air pressure (i.e., atmospheric pressure). The brain interprets the information as sound. The hearing mechanism of the ear senses the sound waves and converts them into information which it relays to the brain. Table 1 Approximate Speed of Sound in Common Materials In gases, the higher the velocity of sound, the higher the pitch will be (Remember the "Mickey Mouse" sound when people talk after inhaling helium gas?). Table 1 lists the approximate velocity of sound in air and other media. These pressure variations travel through the air as sound waves ( Figure 1). Thus, as the drum surface vibrates, it creates alternating regions of higher and lower air pressure. When the surface moves in the opposite direction, it creates a negative (lower) pressure by decompressing the air. This creates a positive (higher) pressure by compressing the air. As it moves forward, it pushes the air in contact with the surface. The drum surface vibrates back and forth. To illustrate, imagine striking a drum surface with a stick. These air pressure changes travel as waves through the air and produce sound. When an object vibrates, it causes slight changes in air pressure. Sound is produced by vibrating objects and reaches the listener's ears as waves in the air or other media. In either case, it can be hazardous to a person's hearing if the sound is loud and if they are exposed long and often enough. Rock music can be pleasurable sound to one person and an annoying noise to another. The difference between sound and noise depends upon the listener and the circumstances. As the employer, you have to pay for the test.Sound is what we hear. The test can be carried out by a health and safety expert or health and safety service. How often your employee gets tested depends on the daily amount of noise and on the individual employee. Your employees are entitled to have their hearing tested regularly. You must also inform your employees about the dangers of loud noises. Do your employees work in places where the sound level is higher than 85 dB(A)? Your action plan must set out ways to reduce risks of harmful noise. You have to draw up an action plan, as a part of your risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E). Noise levels over 87 dB(A) with hearing protection: you should immediately reduce the sound.There should be no harmful sounds in the remaining 4 hours. Noise levels of 83 dB(A): your employee can work without protection for 4 hours.You should indicate where hearing protection is needed in the workplace. Noise levels over 85 dB(A) for 8 hours: your employee has to wear protection.If your employees are exposed to noise of over 80 dB(A) daily, you must give them hearing protection. You can find more information about the definitions and provisions you need to take in Section 3. If this does not suffice or is not possible, you have to provide hearing protection (in Dutch) for your employees. getting employees to work in sound-proof cabins.placing machines in noise-cancelling enclosures.ensuring your employee is not exposed to noise for longer periods of time.If there is harmful noise in your company, you should try to reduce it. Professions with the risk of hearing damage are, for example: To clarify, if you cannot hear a person standing 1 metre away, the environmental noise is probably over 80 dB(A). This can happen if noise levels are 80 dB(A) or over. Dangerous noise levelsÄo your employees work in noisy environments for longer periods of time? This may cause hearing damage (in Dutch). Employees should comply with the measures you take. If your employees are exposed to harmful noise levels, you must take measures.
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