Improve Safety with a Noise Level Meter

When discussing safety in the workplace many obvious dangers will come to mind. Essentially every business is aware of the dangers of electricity, water spills, machinery, and so on. But there are more hazards out there. They may not be as obvious, but they can be just as harmful.

A hazard like excessive noise can do a lot of harm to a business if not quickly addressed. Beyond the immediate risk of hearing damage to staff and customers if noise levels were to become excessive, there’s also the need to avoid falling afoul of local regulations surrounding noise. It’s here that a noise level meter, like ones available from RS Components, can be so useful to a business.

Hearing the Difference

One of the common mistakes many businesses make is failing to make safety adjustments over time. On the first day of operation a business such as a restaurant or mechanic may be relatively quiet. But if in time ahead the restaurant adds musical performances every night, or the mechanic brings in specialist equipment that is much louder than their other gear, such changes could rapidly raise the noise output on the premises each day. Running a business can be a hectic lifestyle so managers may not always recognise the impact of such changes right away – until some harm results.

When Damage is Done

It’s an unfortunate reality that it does not take much for the human ear to sustain hearing damage. Many experts contend hearing damage starts to occur once the human ear gets exposure to noise above 85 decibels, which is around the same level of sound that heavy traffic emits. Even if hearing damage can occur easily, it’s ultimately up to businesses to take charge of maintaining safety in the workplace, for the benefit of their staff and customers.

Taking the Guesswork Out of Noise Measurements

Just as it’s important for a business to be proactive about managing any changes in their noise levels, it’s necessary to have the right tool when doing it. After all, the human ear alone cannot provide a precise measurement of noise, so it’s essential a business has precision equipment that can do the task. It’s here having a quality noise level meter is so important.

The Features of a Noise Level Meter

A noise level meter will provide live readings of the sound around it. While there are a number of variables among the range that a prospective buyer should be aware of – such as whether the noise level meter is Class I or Class II (the latter is ideal for workplaces) – essentially any selection in the range can serve as a great safety tool.

A Strong and Effective Safety Plan

Although treatments such as hearing aids exist to manage hearing loss, once serious hearing damage has occurred it’s impossible to reverse. This is why it’s critical businesses with concerns about noise levels in their premises proactively manage the problem. A noise level meter is an essential tool in this area. Having a noise level meter will help ensure noise levels do not exceed beyond what is safe and permissible, and this helps keep staff and customers happy.