Plant Works & Engineering March 2022

L ook around your home or office. It’s impossible to escape technology’s impact on almost every aspect of your life, whether you’ve been working from home with the help of video conferencing software or winding down after a long day at the office with your favourite box set from a streaming service. The last ten years alone have seen huge advancements in technology, but this progress hasn’t yet filtered down to all aspects of 21st Century life. Those who work in health and safety or environmental management will have noticed that acoustic measurement technology has remained relatively static for the last ten to fifteen years, with manufacturers only making minor changes to sound level meters and noise monitors. However, the emergence and integration of cloud technology into noise measurement is a watershed moment for the industry that promises to enhance the way organisations around the world protect their employees and the environment from the risks of excessive noise exposure. Controlling noise at work Although noise measurement technology is moving forward into the future, the rules and regulations that govern occupational noise have remained largely unchanged since 2005. That means that the responsibility of every employer is still to ensure that they protect employees from the risks of excessive noise. Primarily, an organisation’s objective is to reduce and control noise where possible, using hearing protection as a last resort For more than five decades, health and safety practitioners have turned to equipment such as handheld sound level meters and personal noise dosimeters to assess noise levels in the workplace. However, social distancing, home working, and changes to the nature of the health and safety role all mean that it may soon be the case that these traditional methods of noise measurement and monitoring are no longer the most efficient. Challenges More and more businesses are operating multiple sites, which presents a range of challenges. Firstly, it may require companies to employ multiple health and safety practitioners. Secondly, it may pressure existing health and safety officers to travel significant distances to ensure that workplaces follow the Control of Noise at Work Regulations. Neither option is ideal, with businesses still recovering from the financial hit of the pandemic and fewer people willing to travel. Cloud-connected noise monitors address these concerns directly. Cloud technology allows multiple noise monitors to be connected to the same online account, which allows users to access data from each noise monitor on one platform. This creates a network of inter- connected instruments, whose data can be viewed and analysed side- by-side, removing the need to download information from separate handheld instruments one-by-one, which can be time-consuming and inefficient. Cloud-connected noise monitors can be installed at several locations on one site or across several, covering as large a geographical area as possible. Cloud technology overcomes the challenges presented by multi-site operations and promises to make noise monitoring easier and more efficient than traditional methods. Additionally, a cloud-connected noise monitor provides a constant ear to the ground, offering live and historical data round-the-clock that users can access from anywhere, at any time and on any device. No matter whether a user is on the other side of the planet to where their noise monitor is installed or they’re in the next room, their data is always accessible on demand. With a network of cloud-connected noise monitors, the need for users to be physically on-site to measure noise levels is vastly reduced. Cloud- connected monitors can be installed and left to do their jobs completely unattended. Users can then configure them to send real-time alerts when noise events occur, typically when levels exceed a pre-set threshold, which provides a greater level of control as users can respond in real-time to real events. The main advantage of using cloud technology in noise monitoring is that it frees up health and safety officers’ time, allowing them to focus on the various other aspects of their job. Receiving real-time notifications and checking noise levels only when needed saves a lot of time, which is often in short supply in the world of health and safety. The main advantages of cloud-connected noise monitors include: Provide a greater level of control with instant access to live data from multiple sites and real-time notifications Save time and allocate resources more effectively by identifying specific areas that pose a more significant risk to employees’ health and wellbeing Make more intelligent decisions with in-depth data and analysis that can be shared with anyone in an instant through easy-to-use online platforms and portals 42 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk March 2022 Handling & Safety Matters Focus on: Noise Monitoring We’ve seen some of the fastest changes in technology in the last two years. Could the traditional way we measure and monitor noise be about to change forever too? Cirrus Research discusses the benefits cloud technology offers to noise measurement. Is cloud technology the future for noise measurement? The Quantum Indoor is a small and discreet cloud- connected noise monitor from Cirrus Research, perfect for occupational noise monitoring.