VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL Acoustics - the Dept. of ...

130 CHAPTER 8. NOISE ON THE WORK FLOORVoice normal loud very loud shouting extremeLevel (dBA) 50 70 85 90 100satisfaction + ± - - - - - -Risk slight nuissant small risk average risk important riskinconvenience of deafness of deafness of deafnessTable 8.1: Qualitative assessment of the noise level on the work floor.The lower action value : L EX,8h = 80dBA or a peak value of 112 Pa.The upper action value : L EX,8h = 85dBA or a peak value of 140 Pa.The limit value : L EX,8h = 87dBA or a peak value of 200 Pa. Thisvalue may not be exceeded under any circumstances. Attention : thisvalue must be measured taking into account to the damping of themeans of hearing protection. This is different from the work methodin the previous guideline where hearing protection was not taken intoaccount.In the context of the risk analysis and based onthe formulated preventionmeasures, the employer examines if employees canbe exposed to risks relatedtonoiseduringtheirwork. Ifitisshownthatemployees canbeorareexposedto risks related to noise, the employer assesses and if necessary measures thelevel of exposure of the employees to this noise (the employer can potentiallyattract an internal or external prevention advisor to do this). The employerchecks if the action and limit values are exceeded. A qualitative estimationof the noise levels can be performed in a simply but effective way: one has aconversation over a distance of one meter between source and receiver. Thedegree with which the voice must be raised gives an indication of the soundlevel (see Table 8.1).When the upper action values are exceeded, the employer proceeds to theforming and execution of a program of technical and organizational measuresto limit the exposure to noise to a minimum. A few possibilities that aredescribed in the legislation :1. Alternative working methods that lead to less exposure to noise.2. The choice of the appropriate tools, with regard to the work that needsto be performed in order to produce the least noise as possible.3. An adequate prevention and education of the employees to teach themhow to use tools correctly in order to limit the exposure to noise to aminimum.