General information about industrial-noise

Noise is an unwanted or unpleasant sound. Noise can also cause reduced effectivity, tiredness and diminish the consetration ability. Psychic stress and reduced contact with colleagues easily arise in noisestrained work environments.

Hearing disorders, under the influence of noise can be of two types, acute and chronic.

The acute injury may occur while exposed to powerful explosions. In most cases, these situations does not lead to lasting hearing reduction. The chronic injury is caused by constant noise-strain. If the injury has become chronic, it can not be healed.

Many people are annoyed by noise from industry. Noise damage can occur when you are exposed to sound exceeding 85 dB for a long time. The states healthsupervision has drawn up regulations concerning noise in working areas and demands on use of noise protection in specially exposed places.

The noise level is measured in decibel as a characterization of the sound level.

Decibel level for some daily things:

	Whispering 30 dB
	Ordinary conversation 60 dB
	In a workshop 80 dB
	A paper machine 100 dB
	A drilling machine 110 dB
	A jetmotor 130 dB

The noise limit is usually set at 120 dB. The noise level has traditionally been highest inside workship-, minetextile-, and paperindustry and similar.

The noiselevel today also increases inside the office-occupation by the new noisy officemachines, worse sound-isulation officelandscape and similar.