Noise Measurements in Timber Industries

The intensification of industrial production and the concurrent increase in machine operation speeds has led to the rise in the intensity of noise generated in most workplaces. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate occupational noise exposure in timber processing units. For this reason,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Vasiliki Dimou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology 2014-09-01
Series:Drvna Industrija
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/188228
_version_ 1818694197489696768
author Vasiliki Dimou
author_facet Vasiliki Dimou
author_sort Vasiliki Dimou
collection DOAJ
description The intensification of industrial production and the concurrent increase in machine operation speeds has led to the rise in the intensity of noise generated in most workplaces. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate occupational noise exposure in timber processing units. For this reason, a number of measurements were carried out in various parts of three sawmills. Maximum allowable exposure limits (permissible levels) were set at 85 dB(A) for the production area and warehouses, and 55 dB(A) for offi ces. According to the results of the study, the production area in a sawmill gives rise to higher levels of noise compared to warehouses and offices, which significantly exceed maximum permissible levels. More specifically, the highest noise levels recorded were found to be produced by cutting machinery. In such cases it is imperative that employees be protected either with the use of personal hearing protectors or with the implementation of a regular break scheme. In addition, substantial reduction in noise levels can be achieved with the use of other protective measures such as control of noise at its source or in its path.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T13:25:45Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7f1a8c60ea1442db980e61c809bba7d2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0012-6772
1847-1153
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T13:25:45Z
publishDate 2014-09-01
publisher University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology
record_format Article
series Drvna Industrija
spelling doaj.art-7f1a8c60ea1442db980e61c809bba7d22022-12-21T21:46:44ZengUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry and Wood TechnologyDrvna Industrija0012-67721847-11532014-09-0165324324910.5552/drind.2014.1334Noise Measurements in Timber IndustriesVasiliki DimouThe intensification of industrial production and the concurrent increase in machine operation speeds has led to the rise in the intensity of noise generated in most workplaces. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate occupational noise exposure in timber processing units. For this reason, a number of measurements were carried out in various parts of three sawmills. Maximum allowable exposure limits (permissible levels) were set at 85 dB(A) for the production area and warehouses, and 55 dB(A) for offi ces. According to the results of the study, the production area in a sawmill gives rise to higher levels of noise compared to warehouses and offices, which significantly exceed maximum permissible levels. More specifically, the highest noise levels recorded were found to be produced by cutting machinery. In such cases it is imperative that employees be protected either with the use of personal hearing protectors or with the implementation of a regular break scheme. In addition, substantial reduction in noise levels can be achieved with the use of other protective measures such as control of noise at its source or in its path.http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/188228noise pollutionhearing lossoccupational diseasesawmills
spellingShingle Vasiliki Dimou
Noise Measurements in Timber Industries
Drvna Industrija
noise pollution
hearing loss
occupational disease
sawmills
title Noise Measurements in Timber Industries
title_full Noise Measurements in Timber Industries
title_fullStr Noise Measurements in Timber Industries
title_full_unstemmed Noise Measurements in Timber Industries
title_short Noise Measurements in Timber Industries
title_sort noise measurements in timber industries
topic noise pollution
hearing loss
occupational disease
sawmills
url http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/188228
work_keys_str_mv AT vasilikidimou noisemeasurementsintimberindustries