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How noisy is your shop?
Shop Management
3. Make hearing protection available and be sure it is worn. There are many selections. Ear muffs, disposable plugs, etc. We let the employee pick the type they want to wear. One point to keep in mind is to find out what the NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) is. You will want to make sure enough of the damaging noise is being filtered out. Also bear in mind that you can use too much protection, making communication impossible. That in itself can be a safety hazard. Most equipment suppliers can help in making the proper selections.
We need to make noise to make money, but let’s not do it at the expense of our employees’ hearing. Please take the time to give attention to the noise levels in your shop. As the slogan goes “Can you hear me now?” Let’s hope we can always answer “yes.”
About the author:
Jon Olson is the production and operations manager for Sterling Surfaces in Sterling, Mass. He has been a solid surface fabricator since 1982 and can be reached at jon@sterlingsurfaces.com.
