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Noise Control Tips for Construction Sites

Noise Control Tips for Construction Sites

When one thinks of construction site hazards, they may imagine falling building materials or accidents involving power tools and heavy equipment. We don’t typically think of the sound of a jackhammer pulverizing cement or a chainsaw ripping through wood. But extended exposure to loud sounds can lead to hearing loss or conditions like tinnitus. Our noise control tips for construction sites will help you keep your workers safe.

Install Noise Barriers

Environmental Barriers

You can guard against excessive noise on indoor construction projects with soundproofed or sound-dampening vinyl mats on walls and ceilings. This has the benefit of reducing noise issues for those working in other rooms and floors of the building. It also helps keep excessive noise from bothering the surrounding community.

Equipment Sound Controls

For construction projects that take you outside, you can’t surround the site with sound barriers. In these instances, your site may need to fit the equipment itself with sound-absorbing materials. Managers can put sound-dampening mats around the engine compartment of a machine as well as around the operator cab.

PPE

The most important sound barriers on your site are the ones that cover a worker’s ears. People need noise-canceling headphones and other personal protective equipment when working with or around noisy equipment, even in scenarios in which managers can soundproof the environment and equipment itself.

Rotate Workers

Although you can’t avoid exposing workers to loud noises completely, you can minimize exposure by rotating workers who have to do these jobs.

Diagnose Equipment Issues

Although heavy equipment always makes some noise, loud noises often stem from old age or issues like screeching final drive motors. To help control excessive noise on your construction site, make sure your site performs regular maintenance, like:

  • Inspecting machinery regularly.
  • Keeping fluid levels topped off.
  • Lubricating moving parts.
  • Watching for loose panels.
  • Changing filters.
  • Treating rust-covered parts.

Noise may not leave a visible bruise or wound, but it does harm tens of thousands of workers annually. Noise control can help reduce these numbers and increase morale among all employees.

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