NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Methods of noise control in the foundry, problems and limitations.

Ihde W

Proceedings of the symposium on occupational health hazard control technology in the foundry and secondary non-ferrous smelting industries, December 10-12, 1979, Chicago, Illinois. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-114, 1981 Aug; :230-237

00175069

Approaches to noise control in foundries were described and illustrated by means of three case histories. To lower the high levels of noise (in excess of 90 decibels-A for 8 hours) in a cleaning room in which castings were being chipped, it was decided to construct a booth for the inspector, with a work bench, and to install a separation between the work area and the inspection area. This arrangement reduced the noise at the inspector's station to 87 decibels-A. At a foundry that was cited for excessive noise (up to 100 decibels-A) in the furnace area, the addition of worker booths resulted in the reduction of exposure of the operators to under 90 decibels-A. The shakeout noise at the discharge of an automatic Osborne molding and pouring line resulted in exposure of the sprue line personnel to 110 decibels-A. It was decided to change the layout of the line by moving the workers employed in the sorting operation to a new location, to add another wall to the shakeout enclosure, and two install two new conveyors that delivered the castings from the shakeout area to the sorting area. The authors conclude that the measures described improve the working environment, and they point out that a noise reduction of 5 decibels reduces the risk of hearing loss by 50 percent or doubles the allowable exposure time. Thus, even though levels may not be reduced to below 90 decibels-A, even small reductions can be worthwhile.

NIOSH-Contract; Exposure-limits; Occupational-hazards; Noise-sources; Foundry-workers; Noise-levels; Industrial-processes; Noise-control; Industrial-equipment

19810801

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1981

Contract-210-79-0048

DPSE

Proceedings of the symposium on occupational health hazard control technology in the foundry and secondary non-ferrous smelting industries, December 10-12, 1979, Chicago, Illinois

IL; OH