Contact us or click the links for further information on any of the following .....
Free Best Practice Guides - Noise Control, Assessment and Buy Quiet
Potentially profitable noise control, avoid wasting resources on assessment and controlling the supply side...
These 3 articles published in the Health and Safety at Work magazine over the summer of 2009 provide pragmatic advice on making the risk management process as efficient and effective as possible. They will make you think - and you'll probably change some of the things you do... You can download them below - let us know what you think.
Noise Control - it is possible to have both stealth and efficiency... 
Noise control is a mandatory requirement under the regulations - but it needn’t necessarily cost much - or even cost anything at all. This article shows that if you approach the noise control in the right way, you can not only reduce the typical assumed costs associated with noise control by up to 80%, but you can even reduce your operating costs. The same approach can also be applied to a simple and effective “Buy Quiet” purchasing policy to avoid future problems. You cannot use PPE for long term risk management unless you can prove noise control is impractical.
Download the noise control article...
Noise Assessments - too many "write only" assessment reports no-one has read lurking in cupboards...
Why do you repeat noise assessments? Also, why do you repeat noise assessments? Currently, industry wastes a fortune on assessments that are little more than unnecessary annual or bi-annual “check-box” exercises. Moreover, the majority of these assessments are inadequate as they do not meet the minimum regulatory requirements. This article provides practical guidance on best practice to minimise the resources spent on assessment whilst, at the same time, ensuring that they are both effective and of high quality.
Download the noise assessment article...
Buy Quiet Purchasing Policy - don't let your suppliers waste your money on noise control that is not best practice 
Implementing and policing a noise purchasing policy for new plant is a very cost effective element in any noise risk management programme. This article summarises the main factors involved in ensuring that buy quiet policies are both practical and effective with illustrations of the solutions to some of the common problems that can be encountered. Download the Buy Quiet purchasing policy article...
Award Winning Noise Control Project Saves £1M
A good candidate for the most successful fan noise control project in history....
We have recently celebrated a hugely successful project for the Corus steelmaker that has gained us the Rushlight Noise Abatement Award and saved Corus 7 figure sums. 
The Rushlight Awards are a celebration and promotion of the leading organizations throughout UK and Ireland which have furthered environmental technology and innovation. The Noise Abatement Technology and Innovation Category award was presented by Gloria Elliott of the Noise Abatement Society at the gala dinner for our fan noise control project at the Corus steelworks at Scunthorpe. The three 4 megawatt fans generated a low frequency hum (c162Hz) over a wide area. As the fan speeds vary, sophisticated resonator silencers were ruled-out and conventional silencers would have imposed a heavy penalty in terms of cost and reduced fan efficiency.
A second opinion saves a million...
Corus approached us for a second opinion as to potential alternatives. Our solution was to  develop novel fan casing modifications, avoiding the need to modify either the existing ductwork or the stacks - thereby minimising downtime. These modifications have eliminated the noise at source for the lifetime of the fan. Significantly, the new fan casings require no ongoing maintenance and do not affect the efficiency of the fan. Moreover, the willingness of Corus to invest in new and innovative technology has reaped very substantial rewards compared with conventional silencing:-
- 94% reduction in noise (12dB)
- capital cost savings probably over £800,000
- substantial environmental benefits (carbon emissions)
- c £200,000 saved each year on running costs (power and carbon)
"INVC's modifications have brought about a huge reduction in fan noise, improving the environmental conditions across a wide area around the Plant. They've also saved us a large amount of money by negating the requirement for major capital expenditure, so it's been a remarkably successful project." - Grahame Wallace, Corus.
Cut your noise control project costs by 50% - 80%
This project is just the latest example highlighting the benefits of our innovative approach to noise control at source. Getting a second opinion from us typically reduces noise control project costs by 50% - 80% - and can even lead to the counter-intuitive result of noise control measures that are actually self-financing. Or you could save time and get a second opinion first by contacting us directly.
Contact us for more information on this application and general fan noise control
Noise Control Knowledgebase
Providing easy access to noise reduction Best Practice via the company intranet
We have been contracted to make our very extensive noise control database available on the intranet of a major international company with c 80 sites world-wide. This will provide company engineers with easy access to noise control best practice, including detailed design features, techniques and materials (with potential suppliers). Including a host of industry specific, multimedia case studies and practical guidance, the noise control knowledgebase will not only reduce dramatically reduce the costs associated with noise reduction, but it is also a solution to the problem of "corporate amnesia" in this specialist area.
HAV and Noise - kill 2 birds with 1 stone (11/08)
Reduce costs by rationalising and combining noise and HAV risk management
Effective assessment and risk management of both Hand-Arm Vibration and noise soaks-up scarce resources, particularly in industries such as construction where plant is mobile and ever changing. Combining them into a single, streamlined process dramatically reduces the costs and time involved - particularly where HAV and noise data can be supplied directly from a database, minimising the need for measurement.
The latest HAV + NOISE-Base is an integrated database of accurate HAV and noise data from thousands of field measurements that provides a serious short-cut to best practice. Use it to eliminate much of your measurement time and to simplify day-to-day best practice risk management on site. NOISE-Base, for example, automatically generates a mandatory PPE radius and suitable protector options from noise data and HAV-Base makes creating a new project risk assessment a 10 minute task.
The invaluable information in the combined HAV-Base and NOISE-Base databases is available for in-house use, via virtual assessment by email or coupled with options such as bench-marking and competency training.
Contact us for more information or take a look at HAV + NOISE-Base
The Noise Management Action Alternative to Noise Assessment (11/06/08)
Many noise assessments are an unnecessary waste of time and money.... 
This year, most companies should not spend the money and resources they have ear-marked for yet another noise assessment just to tell them what they already know - that they have a noise problem. This often an automatic, un-regulated "check box" process that happens every couple of years as an alternative to Action to minimise the risk. As such, it can also be a licence to print money for suppliers of the service. Best practice, however, requires investment in action rather than in (statistically) unnecessary re-assessment. This is not only a key recommendation in the regulatory guidance, but the approach can also dramatically reduce the overall cost of managing the risks from noise.
Our Noise Management Audit is the "action" alternative to conventional assessment. This new approach is founded on our unique experience within the industry and provides you with a benchmark technical review of your company programmes and policies. It generates a detailed, pragmatic Action Plan (including innovative noise control options) that can substantially reduce the cost of compliance and may even render the process self-financing.
The typical elements of the audit include: an engineering evaluation of all the noise control options (almost invariably neglected in assessments, despite being the keystone of the regulations) with costs and benefits; certification that PPE can be used for long term risk management where it can be proved that noise control is impractical (another regulatory requirement sadly missing in most noise assessments); Buy Quiet purchasing policy advice (implementation and policing); template documentation for future noise assessments (giving the cost effective option to move it in-house) with technical support and training programmes covering all the elements. Download the Noise Management technical note here.
Managing Acoustic Shock - Call Centre and Communication System Staff Noise Exposure
There is an enormous amount of hype, mis-information and scare-mongering surrounding the issue of acoustic shock in call and communication centres. Whilst an unknown proportion of call-centre operators may suffer from "Acoustic Shock" induced effects on their health, the picture is severely clouded by rumour and the sound of an approaching band-wagon.... We have been asked to carry out an objective evaluation of the reality associated with acoustic shock and to come up with a practical and effective risk management programme. A few of the salient facts and features are outlined below:-
Despite inferences to the contrary, with modern equipment there is no risk of hearing damage (ref Control of Noise at Work Regulations). Objective determination of the scale of the acoustic shock problem is not helped by the crop of overstatements or misleading comments, e.g.:- "... the Acoustic Shock was so bad for one woman that it made her ears bleed..."
At present, there is no objective data that confirms a significant risk to health, or that could be used to estimate any potential risks to operators.
Rather like back pain, many of the potential reported symptoms cannot be measured objectively: pain, numbness, headache, vertigo / nausea, shock / anxiety / depression / tiredness... In an RNID study of 15 call centres, telephony operatives were tested for the symptoms of acoustic shock. 30% suffered from tinnitus and 39% ‘believed their hearing had been damaged during their employment in the call centre'. However, c70% of the population have experienced tinnitus by age 70 and tinnitus can be made worse by stress. How do you separate myth from reality? - particularly as the same issue of RNID Tinnitus Review 2006 also contains the following example of prime quackery:-
"Sound therapy consists of the application of specific sound frequencies .. believed to promote the process of ‘sympathetic resonance entrainment. In a healthy body, every cell and organ vibrates at its own specific frequency .. these oscillations are constantly shifting away from their natural resonance as a result of the ongoing bombardment of external, or sometimes self inflicted, phenomena, such as stress and negative emotions .. can obstruct the free flow of energy across the body...".
Pragmatic Acoustic Shock Management - save time and money
We have developed a short, multi-media acoustic shock management programme and briefing that covers best practice in risk management to minimise any health risks from acoustic shock - a few of the highlights are listed below:-
Operator Logs: - note all acoustic shock events; -
questionnaires on symptoms (beware leading questions...)
Environmental design: -
reducing background noise
does not address startle as this is based on the relative change in level
Training: -
allaying unfounded fears based on rumour -
facts make it easier for operators to cope with unusual "acoustic shock" events;
use real examples of acoustic shock event recordings;
reassurance as to objective risks
Guidelines / check-list: - recommended acoustic shock risk management procedures
Hardware Limiters: -
eliminate acoustic shock events electronically - technically, based on our past experience, this is entirely practical provided there is actually a sufficient risk (2 events / 1000 personnel / annum) to health to warrant the cost (we could design one costing <£100/head)
Contact us for further information or if you would like to discuss effective acoustic shock risk management systems.
New In-Ear Noise Assessment Instrumentation
We have invested in the latest in-ear microphone technology to simplify noise assessments on personnel who wear helmets or other protective equipment that makes conventional noise assessment difficult. It can also be used to assess noise levels inside PPE to evaluate operator exposure against the Exposure Limit Value (ELV) of 87dB(A). Previously, we had used the standard instrumented head for these tests - which has its drawbacks, for example when measuring the exposure of a motorbike rider at high speed... The new microphone systems fit inside helmets or muffs and records the sound entering each ear, so noise measurements can be taken on real staff under real working conditions quickly and safely. This allows us to speed-up the process, reducing the cost of the noise assessments . Typical applications include pilots, motorcyclists, air-flow helmet wearers, fire-fighters and any other personnel who wear helmets or other types of equipment where conventional sound level meter measurement is impossible or were noise levels are potentially high enough to cause the regulatory ELV to be exceeded.
The “You must Control Noise at Work ” Regulations - PPE not permitted unless .... 
The new 06/04/06 regulations require a seismic shift in attitude to noise management - “these regulations are concerned with controlling noise, not measuring it...”. Consequently, companies must now quantify the noise control options rather than simply repeating risk assessments that usually include little or no useful or practical information on the topic - and PPE can no longer be used for long term risk management unless it can be proved that noise control is impractical.
The simplest and most cost effective approach to meet this regulatory requirement is to invest in a Noise Control Audit - either instead of a conventional risk assessment or as an upgrade to an existing assessment. This provides detailed costs and benefits for all the noise control options for a single machine or for a whole site using the best of current technology. Certification can also be provided where noise control is not practical so that PPE can be used.
HSE Road -Shows - the Sell-out Tour of 2005/6
The series of 16 one day combined HAV and Noise road-shows across the country was so well received that another 4 dates were added. Organised by the EEF and the HSE, they provided direct access to the inspectors (who wrote the regs.) and to the INVC (who provided the risk control presentations). Information on the content (downloadable) is available via www.hse.gov.uk; www.eef.org.uk) - or contact us. You can access similar information within your own company via our Best Practice Noise Management Briefing.
Hire Company HAV Data Stop Lights. Hirer beware!
The commonly used hire tool company HAV risk “traffic light” system is supposed to provide information to users about the relative risks from tools. Unfortunately, it can be dangerously misleading as it is based on manufacturers’ declared values that cannot be used for risk assessment. Despite this fact, some of the hire company literature implies that the data can be used for this purpose. Consequently, relying on this data could well leave employers open to potential liability claims as many tools are much more dangerous than the colour coding would suggest. Some hire companies, however, are beginning to use the HAV-Base HAV database to generate accurate field vibration values for their tools.
Cadbury - Noise Management Best Practice in Action
Their commitment to World Class health and safety standards led Cadbury to take a very proactive approach to the new regulations by commissioning an INVC Noise Control Audit across their UK sites. This showed that by implementing the recommended control programme (now under way) will allow them to de-regulate half their production areas. This will substantially reduce the number of personnel who must wear PPE whilst avoiding the operational problems linked to the hygiene, access and maintenance issues associated with conventional palliative noise control. They also estimated that the programme will also pay for itself within seven years.
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noise control audit - digital noise assessment - noise competency training - noise training - product noise control - fan noise control - VWF (Vibration White Finger) - Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) assessment - HAV competency training - HAV database (HAV-Base) - Whole Body Vibration (WBV) measurement - environmental noise control - noise nuisance - environmental noise monitoring - production line testing (noise and vibration) - noise nuisance / annoyance recorders - frequency analyser and noise analyser software
Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre
889 Plymouth Road, Slough Berks SL1 4LP
Tel: 01753 698800 Fax: 01753 567 988
email:consult@invc.co.uk |
