How to address noise and HAV problems using best practice

The following are conference presentations and extracts from workshops covering specific topics.

Environmentally Sound: how to use modern noise control technology to cut carbon

BOHS conference, 2025, Newcastle: "Greener, Quieter" from 5:49 to 36:00

Technical Director: Peter Wilson

Not only do hearing conservation programmes generate significant quantities of both waste and CO2, they are also commonly far from effective. For example, PPE can only be made generally effective at noise levels up to c 90dB(A). In addition, recent research linking NIHL to a high risk of dementia plus changes in the legal framework (resulting in a claim payment > £700k) have highlighted the key role of cost effective noise control in risk management.

PPE: earmuffs and earplugs – continuous generation of plastic waste
Noise control: the material types and material quantities used in conventional noise control measures (e.g. enclosures and silencers) plus the embodied CO2 in manufacture, transportation and installation
Increased power consumption: continuous additional CO2 emissions due to the additional power required by the increased cooling requirements and the reductions in fan efficiency caused by adding silencers

It was one of the best, if not the best presentations you have given at the BOHS conferences over the years, and you have given a few. Taking noise out of its silo was what made it special. Richard Brown: OC.H. Hygea Plus

The use of modern more sustainable engineering noise control technology can dramatically reduce the environmental impact of some or all of these factors. In some cases, noise control projects can even be carbon negative by increasing system efficiency.

This presentation describes the risk/benefit analysis and engineering process involved with case studies from across the world to illustrate the noise control techniques that delegates can use to:

minimise or eliminate plastic waste by reducing or eliminating the requirement for hearing protectors
cut the carbon footprint of typical noise control projects by up to 90% by reducing cooling requirements and material quantities, by using recycled acoustic materials and by enabling the local manufacture of components
cut fan power consumption by choosing aerodynamic techniques that cut fan noise by improving efficiency so silenced fans use less power than unsilenced units

Organisations worldwide are currently using aerodynamic noise control technology to reduce fan power consumption by many megawatts - every hour of every day.

It’s time to cut the carbon costs of noise control projects.

BOHS webinar. Noise risk reduction has failed: it's time to change...

This BOHS organised webinar (11/03/22) brings together 3 leaders and innovators in the key noise risk reduction elements of any effective hearing conservation programme. It is only too obvious that current risk reduction programmes have failed, evidenced by the tsunami of hearing damage claims. This webinar video provides details of the 3 integrated steps that need to be taken to cut Noise Induced Hearing loss (NIHL) by 75% - 90% at little or no cost compared with current expenditure.

Peter Wilson: technical director INVC. Noise assessment and control

David Greenberg: CEO and founder of EAVE. Intelligent PPE

Rob Shepheard: Anglian Hearing Healthcare. Health surveillance and OAE

Time to change - NIHL risk reduction workshop

A new approach to noise risk management

We are planning a workshop based on the approaches outlined in the webinar. You can express an interest in attending or getting further information via this link.

HAV risk myth management

Our Technical Director, Peter Wilson was invited to be a keynote speaker on HAVS at the AIOH conference in Australia.

Firstly dispelling the myths associated with HAVS risk management and secondly providing details of what constitutes best practice.

2016

3M engineering workshop. How to evaluate your noise control options

3M has a policy to reduce the noise exposure of employees across their sites to cut the risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) by as much as practical. Following several successful INVC noise control projects, they asked us to provide them with an occupational noise control workshop for their engineers to transfer some of the skills in-house.

The objective was to train their engineers in best practice so they could:-

use engineering techniques to reduce plant noise levels and hence reduce the risk to the hearing of employees
reduce the typical costs of noise control projects by 50% - 90% (or even self-financing) by using the best options

This video is the section of the 1-day workshop (run by our Technical Director, Peter Wilson) that covers:-

attitude: most engineers have a negative attitude towards noise control as the traditional approach is based on a "safety problem" mindset that results in high-cost palliatives such as acoustic enclosures that cause access and maintenance hassles. The correct approach is to view noise control as an engineering problem that can often be solved using low-cost engineering means that do not affect normal operation or productivity
diagnosis: illustrating the diagnostic techniques that anyone can use to evaluate the optimum noise control options. How to remove the guesswork usually associated with selecting conventional noise control measures

This video was recorded live at 3M (duration 52 minutes). Key moments at:-

02:45 diagnostic process - 05:18 cost-benefit analysis - 11:08 List noise sources - 13:01 aerodynamic noise sources - 14:06 narrowband frequency analysis - 22:10 worked examples - 36:20 tonal analysis - 43:28 diesel engine noise example - 49:01 standing waves

We provide a complete range of noise training workshops, from bespoke 1 day to full IOSH certified noise competency courses. This includes the 1-day Noise Control Master Class from which this extract was taken.

I'd like to discuss an occupational noise control project

Accessing the noise control best practice database: BOHS 2020

Most organisations can reduce the risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in many areas by 50% - 90% at very little (or no) cost (or even at a profit) by making use of the best available engineering noise control measures - e.g. cutting noise from 97dB(A) down to 94dB(A) halves the risk and PPE works better. The question is: “How do you find the optimum noise control options?”

The INVC has developed a comprehensive database of engineering noise control best practice case studies that is freely accessible from anywhere by anyone. These techniques reduce typical project costs by 50% - 90% and can even be self-financing.

Safety professionals without engineering expertise who encounter noise problems or have quotes for conventional high-cost noise control measures (enclosures etc) can search the database directly online for options.

Alternatively, they can email smartphone data (video clip and photos) acquired on site for a free cost/benefit analysis of the options based on the best of current technology.

The presentation uses multimedia case studies to illustrate how most sites can use this approach to reduce hearing damage risk dramatically at little (or no) cost. It also provides details and examples of the smartphone and other simple information required to get the most from this free noise control resource.