What are the best ways to mitigate noise hazards?

Netizen Pan Xingfeng: I'm a netizen who is concerned about noise exposure at work. My mother works in a very noisy environment, and although there are earplugs available in the factory, she usually doesn’t wear them due to the nature of her job. I’m wondering if there are other effective ways to reduce the risk of noise-induced harm. For example, what can be done after work to protect hearing? Thank you for your time and looking forward to your reply.

Expert Reply

Li Xiaokuan (Researcher, Professional Committee on Noise and Vibration Control, Chinese Occupational Safety and Health Association):

Since the specific noise levels in the workplace are not mentioned, and the reason why your mother isn't wearing earplugs is unclear, it's difficult to provide a targeted answer. However, I can share some general advice on noise protection.

Noise doesn't just affect hearing directly; it can also cause long-term stress and health issues over time. The key to protecting hearing is understanding the noise exposure level over an 8-hour workday. This is measured as the equivalent sound level, which represents the average energy of the noise. You can use a sound level meter or calculate it by considering different noise levels at different times.

According to international standards, the maximum safe exposure limit is 85 dB(A), which ensures that more than 90% of workers won’t suffer from noise-induced hearing loss. If the noise level increases by 3 dB(A), the exposure time should be halved. The highest allowable level is 115 dB(A).

To assess the noise situation in the workplace, both the environmental noise and the actual exposure of the employees need to be evaluated. If certain areas exceed the safe limits, noise control measures such as sound insulation, sound absorption, or vibration reduction should be implemented.

Measuring individual noise exposure helps determine the right type of ear protection needed. Employees should be aware of the risks and consistently use ear protectors when working in loud environments. Additionally, strategies like shift rotation, job rotation, and adjusting work processes can help reduce overall exposure time.

When it comes to controlling noise pollution, there are three main approaches: reducing noise at the source, controlling the transmission path, and using personal protective equipment. The last one is the final line of defense when the first two are not feasible.

I recommend that your mother check the noise conditions in her workplace to see if there's a risk of hearing damage. She should also ask her employer about any noise-reduction initiatives. If the noise level is above the standard, she must use earplugs correctly and try to avoid loud environments outside of work.

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