Noise assessment - it's just nuts!

Parnell Lang, Copplestone Exeter requested the assistance of South West acoustic consultants Soundguard Acoustics to update their Noise at Work Risk Assessments. Parnell Lang is an agricultural mill that mixes bird seed products, machinery consists of mixing silos, conveyors, seed cleaners and packing equipment. Soundguard Acoustics, Bideford, Devon undertook work at the site just over two years ago and the Action Plan of noise control has since been introduced. The Exeter based firm has reduced noise exposure across the site and Soundguard Acoustics was able to assist in assigning revised hearing protection zones and further noise control advice.

Noise Power!

Langage Power Station, Plymouth, Devon is the latest large power station to be built in the United Kingdom. More may follow in order to fill the projected 'energy gap' in UK generating capacity, caused by the expected closure of nuclear and older coal-fired stations. The power station's two gas-powered turbines became operational in 2009. Although extensive environmental noise risk monitoring and control became part of the planning process, now that the plant is operational the level of noise risk for its employees can now be determined.

'Relyon' us for noise assessment

After recent training sessions with Relyon the company invited Noise at Work Risk Assessors Soundguard Acoustics Ltd back to noise risk assess both their Okehampton and Wellington fabrication sites. The mattress fabrication processes require the use of stitchers, quilters, trimmers and a range of hand operated tooling. Soundguard Acoustics Ltd Devon based noise consultants assessed the level of noise exposure risk using both Dosimetry and Sound Level Meter techniques and developed a comprehensive noise control action plan for the company.

Taking the 'Heatric' out of noise control

Heatric is located in Poole, Dorset. The company manufactures highly compact printed circuit diffusion-bonded heat exchangers for chemical, nuclear, oil and gas applications. A noise risk assessment was requested to manage noise level exposure & to achieve CONAWR. Devon based noise at work assessors Soundguard Acoustics Ltd spent a day on site assessing the noise exposure for various tasks and provided a comprehensive noise control plan for the Health & Safety Managers to ensure that noise exposure risk continues to be managed.

Soundguard cares for Alberto Culver:

Alberto-Culver UK manufacturers and distributes leading haircare and skincare brands in the UK and Ireland. The company is based in Swansea and employees over 130 people within the manufacturing, blending and dispensing operations. Alberto Culver grew from a single product over 50 years ago to become an innovative leader in a range of hair and skincare products that include Tresemme, VO5, St Ives, Andrew Collinge and Alberto Balsam.

Noise at Work experts Soundguard Acoustics Ltd were invited to undertake workplace noise assessments to CONAWR regulations throughout the site and across the numerous production lines. A range of noise control solutions was determined as well as alteration to the existing mandatory hearing protection zones. Several engineering controls are planned in the near future to further reduce employee noise exposure risks. Devon noise services Soundguard AcousticsLtd  continues to work with the company.

Raising a glass to Constellation Europe:

Constellation Europe is the UK’s largest wine bottling company and is based in Avonmouth, Bristol. The company bottles a range of wines including Kumala, Hardys, Banrock Station, Stowells, Nobilo, Ravenswood, Simi and Robert Mondavi wines. Constellation Europe is part of Constellation Brands which has sales of more than $3.77 billion annually and employees over 6,600 people throughout its 50 wineries and other facilities worldwide.

Soundguard Acoustics Ltd was invited to undertake workplace noise assessments to CONAWR regulations for the newly installed high-speed bottling lines. This £80 million development produces over 600 bottles of wine per minute. Using Sound Levels Meters and DoseBadges, Soundguard Acoustics Ltd determined a range of noise control solutions. Mandatory hearing protection zones were relaxed in areas consistently below the UEAV of 85dB(A) or 135dB(C) and resulted in some employees groups, supervisors, visitors, store operatives and fork lift drivers not having to wear hearing protection.