Do you have a day of work? Do you work in a noisy environment? If so, you may want to measure the noise level in your workplace. As a general rule of thumb, if you have to yell at your colleague who is only 6 feet away from you, know that the noise level is too high. In other words, the noise level should not be higher than 85dB. A noise level higher than this is not good for your hearing. Below are 5 methods that can help you measure the noise level in your workplace.

1. Sound level meter

You can buy a sound level meter in the market. With the help of this meter, you will be able to measure the noise level in a few seconds. You can also use an android app for the same purpose.

2. Field calibration

For most environmental and occupational noise level monitoring laws, a requirement is field calibration. Noise measurement equipment, such as a sound level meter, should be calibrated before and after each use.

For calibration, you may wish to use the appropriate acoustic calibrator which can be installed over the meter’s microphone. Please note that this part of the meter is fragile and can be damaged due to misuse. If it is damaged, the meter will give inaccurate measurements.

3. windshield

This is an important accessory as it reduces the influence of the wind while taking measurements. The windscreen actually protects the microphone capsule from moisture and accidental bumps.

4. Stay away from the noise source

To use a sound level meter, be sure to hold the meter at arm’s length and ear level. Also, when you measure the noise of the machine, we suggest you stand at least 3 feet away from the machine. Its height should not be more than 1.5 meters. Standing too close to the noise source is not a good idea.

5. Good practice

It is a good idea to ask your workers questions to learn about work activities and practices as well as the duration of the activities. Aside from this, you may want to take notes on the job position of each worker.

Be sure to wait a few minutes to get the correct measurement. You should write down the measurements given on the screen of the noise meter. Lastly, you may want to use the highest value of the measures. Be sure to round off readings. For example, 83.7 dB can be rounded to 84 dB.

Too much noise

Please note that prolonged exposure to the nose can lead to permanent damage to our hearing. Therefore, it is important that the level of damage is based on the noise level and the length of time you were exposed to the noise.

So, if you have been looking for a way to measure the noise level in your workplace, we suggest you get in touch with a good expert. Hopefully, you will be able to measure and control the noise level.