| Talking about sounds interests a lot of us in that what would first come out from this topic is that several sounds are the source of people's delight. One, when the bird chirps, we are fascinated. Also, when the school bell rings, we get happy knowing that it means the class has ended. Or, we would flash a smile in a hot afternoon as we hear the music of the ice cream vendor passing by our neighborhood. And of course we should not forget that music, which we love so much, is fundamentally composed of sounds. However, the dark side of sounds is the fact that is also composes noise. Our understanding of good and bad sounds may be different from others'. But what is common is that our human ears have their limits-limits different from the ones we think of. According to the Occupational Safety and Health administration, all those whose jobs demand them to get an 8-hour exposure to a time-weighted average level of 85dBA (sound level/filter inversely related to the 40d (at 1 kHz) equal-loudness curve) are within harmful noise zones. Yes, some people may argue to enjoy the loud sounds generated by machineries or extremely busy job areas, the very big possibility of acquiring auditory problems cannot be set aside. Industries that utilize conveyors are ones where auditory problems are most likely to come from. You see conveyors in many workplaces. They are motorized equipments with complex structures causing their operation to be very noisy. Workers work with these conveyors to transfer product and materials from one area to another, thus making the process even noisier than anticipated to be. The effects of these conveyors, however, to the health of the people are ones that should not just be taken for granted. This article discusses the noisiest parts of conveyors and the ways to reduce them so that the problems that they may also cause can be reduced, if not eradicated, as well. There are very few if any conveyors that can be run in complete silence. With all the working and moving parts that most conveyor processes involve, noise is inevitable. Conveyor rollers, roller bearings and roller shafts are a huge source of noise. Conveyor rolling speed is a huge determining factor as to how much sound is actually created by these devices. Often fabricated out of heavy gage steel, their frames can also be a point of heightened noise. There is also another part of the conveyor that makes the system noisy-the drives. These drives are made up of electronic motors, power trains, gear boxes, bearings, belts, chains, sprockets, mounts and guards. All these parts answer why there are high pitched bleats and troubling vibrations present in the system's processes. More to this are the auditory troubles brought about when using pneumatic devices. Disliked static are also possible because of this. Lastly, it has to be taken note that even belt systems cannot stand the noise created by these conveyor systems. The design, condition and orientation of the belt surface and joints within the belt can make a huge difference in decibel levels as well as how the belt runs across the slider bed or roller bed. Finally the surrounding walls and workspaces can play a major role in noise dampening. Having an appropriate building or place to house a conveyor is as much a key to sound reduction as having the conveyor tuned and built accordingly. Now that we have identified some of the ways conveyors can make noise it is essential to review some of the ways in which these dilemmas can be solved. The best thing that companies want is the well being of their business and their employees. Therefore, the way to get rid of conveyor problems is to diagnose the problems. If conveyors themselves are the problem, they have to be removed, checked, or replaced. Also, managers have to consider constant monitoring of these equipments to identify their problems and to ensure that they do not harm anyone or anything around them. Making sure all conveyor parts are lubricated properly, moving rationally and are not worn out is an almost sure fire way to keep conveyor noise levels in check. Some of the more complex conveyor noise reduction techniques include vibration isolation and dampening as well as acoustic energy absorption. This can be accomplished through creative shielding or encasing. Those fortunate enough to be starting their journey from scratch should make every attempt in their original designs to eliminate potential noise issues at their source. Conveyors may not be able to hear but they do listen when controlled and maneuvered properly. Conveyors are mechanisms that rarely notice sound. Humans are organisms where sound is not only an integrated part of being, but an opportunity for disaster. Companies that deploy conveyors must take considerable measures to assure there operation meets the standards of OSHA. Employees are required to be granted audiograms on a regular basis to find possibilities of hearing loss or degradation. If audio levels reach as high 90 dBA for an eight-hour period, then the use of hearing protectors becomes mandatory. Conveyor health and safety are very serious issues and the more we pay attention to conveyor noise reduction, the better off everyone will be. Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order Webb Conveyors, Unibilt Conveyor Components or any other related replacement parts. Posted on March 21st 2012 in Business  | |||
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