Personal Noise Exposure Measurement
According to the Occupational Hygiene Measurement, Test and Analysis Laboratories Competence Regulation, occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes to be carried out at workplaces are carried out to determine all kinds of physical, chemical and biological factors in the working environment that may impair the health of employees. Various noises, vibrations, lack of lighting, radiation and similar conditions in the work environment are among the physical factors. Gases, steam and dust in the workplace are among the chemical factors. Biological factors are viruses, bacteria, fungi and the like.The noisy working environment, which is among the physical factors, creates a danger especially for the hearing sense of the employees. In 2013, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security prepared a Regulation on the Protection of Employees from Noise-Related Risks in order to protect employees from health risks arising from exposure to noise. The lowest exposure action values, the highest exposure action values and exposure limit values regarding noise levels are explained in this regulation.
This regulation has been prepared in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Law and the Directive 2002/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Employer organizations must carry out a risk assessment study on personal noise exposure measurements. This obligation must be fulfilled in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Risk Assessment Regulation. The following points should be taken into account in personal noise exposure risk assessment studies:
• Type, level and duration of exposure, including instantaneous noise
• Exposure limit values and exposure action values
• Impacts on the health and safety of all employees
• The effect of the interactions between ototoxic substances and noise, and between vibration and noise, on the health and safety of employees
• The effects of warning signals and other sounds used to reduce the risk of accidents, and interactions with noise, on the health and safety of employees
• Information obtained from manufacturers about the noise emission of the equipment used
• Whether there is any other work equipment that reduces the noise emission
• Whether the exposure to noise continues outside of normal working hours
• Information obtained under health surveillance
• Availability of ear protectors to provide adequate protection
According to the results of the risk assessment, the following noise tests are carried out by the laboratories:
• Ambient noise exposure measurement
• Dosimetric noise exposure measurement
• Noise mapping
