Acoustic Screens and Job Site Performance: How Controlling Noise Levels Improves Productivity

In work environments — manufacturing and industrial settings, in particular — noise level is more than a mere distraction; left unmitigated, it can become a considerable health hazard to your staff. The endless clanking of machinery, the resultant noises during repairs of mechanical equipment, etc.; all of this impacts not only your staffs’ hearing but even their mental health. Obviously, you cannot shut down equipment during the work day of all times, but there are measures you can take to reduce noise pollution and create a more pleasant work environment. What’s more, reducing noise pollution can even translate to improved metrics on your progress reports: enhanced productivity, smoother operations, increased profits.

But how is this so? And what do you need to reduce noise pollution at your factory? As the nation’s top contractor for mechanical equipment screening, PalmSHIELD sought to help manufacturing companies with our Silere Acoustic Panels. There is no better product on the market when it comes to reducing workplace noise and concealing mechanical equipment — all without compromising your work site’s visual appearance. In this article, we’ll explain more about the health hazards caused by excessive noise, and how these screens can help you.

Table of contents:

1. Why is industrial noise harmful to workers?
2. How does a noisy environment negatively impact productivity?
3. Use PalmSHIELD’s Acoustic Screens to improve your work environment

Why is industrial noise harmful to workers?

As alluded to before, workplace safety goes beyond helmets and gloves; you must also look out for your staff’s mental health. When it comes to factories, industrial parks, and plants, noise levels have been known to exceed 85 decibels. As the Occupational Noise Exposure and Health Administration has reported, “22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year,” and “[i]f you need to raise your voice to speak to someone 3 feet away, noise levels might be over 85 decibels.” Prolonged exposure to such noise levels can cause adverse effects such as the following:

• Hearing loss. It doesn’t take a medical degree to recognize that exposure to constant clanging, humming, and clicking for eight hours (or more!) over a period of several years can adversely affect your hearing. Don’t forget that the hair cells of the inner ear are incredibly sensitive!
• Stress and fatigue. Constant exposure to noise can affect the brain’s activity, triggering increased cortisol levels and fatigue.
• Cardiovascular issues. According to a study published on Nature.com, “environmental noise exposure has been consistently demonstrated to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.” Excessive noise exposure has been linked to increased cases of hypertension, heart disease, and other cardiovascular problems in workers.
• Reduced sleep. Remember: your staff is exposed to endless noise for hours at a time, with only a shift break (usually 30-60) minutes offering reprieve. Repeat the process five days a week for years at a time, and the workers, despite suffering fatigue, might end up sleeping less.

How does a noisy work environment negatively impact productivity?

To allow environments like what’s described above to continue is morally irresponsible; it also negatively impacts productivity. Obviously, workers who come into the factory sleep-deprived — who are unable to concentrate, who are physically and mentally irritated by constant noise, etc. — will not (and physically cannot) deliver 100% effort. They’ll operate their machinery, drive their forklifts, etc. while running on metaphorical fumes and function with a fraction of the capacity they would under better conditions. When this happens, you’ll start seeing the following:

• Fewer products being made. The slower and less efficiently people work, the fewer products will be churned out of the assembly line. On top of that, the number of faulty items — which cannot be sold — are likely to increase, thereby cutting into your budget and lowering profits.
• Increased workplace accidents. Workplace accidents, especially those involving machinery, are inevitable; they happen from time to time. That said, the number of incidents only increases when people continually struggle to focus. Accidents lead to damaged equipment, damaged products, misplaced orders, and other setbacks that will manifest as red marks on your monthly reporting.
• Reduced workplace morale. And that’s to say nothing of the far greater issue: negligence toward your staff. Don’t forget that as management, you are responsible for your team, their safety, and their well-being. Failure to address the excessive noise affecting their health and causing accidents (wherein people are very commonly hurt, and sometimes seriously) shows that you do not care. When accidents happen and the causes are not resolved, people are more likely to leave the company. And those who remain suffer decreased morale. If you show you don’t care, they won’t care, either.

So now that we’ve discussed the impact of unmitigated noise pollution, how can you address it? How can you temper noise levels to create a safer environment where workers feel supported, at ease, and give you 100%? As we said, you cannot shut down mechanical equipment. But what you can do is physically seal them with acoustic screens. Read on to learn more about this product.

Ready to discuss Acoustic Panels for your job site? Contact PalmSHIELD’s sales team today for a free quote!

Use PalmSHIELD’s Acoustic Screens to improve your work environment

Our Acoustic Panels use a special foam-filled foil that is placed within your screen’s interior and shielded by the aluminum panels. When sound waves reach the screens, the foam absorbs the sound and greatly reduce noise levels to a comfortable degree. In the acoustics field, there’s a popular term known a NRC — Noise Reduction Coefficient, which operates on a degree of 0 to 1 (zero meaning no noise reduction, one meaning total noise reduction). This is the coefficient by which we measure an acoustic panel’s efficiency. And in the case of PalmSHIELD’s Acoustic Panels, they boast an NRC of 0.80. As a result, that awful clanging will become a tolerable purr. Benefits include:

• Quieting mechanical equipment. HVACs, generators, and similar fixtures are absolutely essential to operations, but quite noisy. Blocking them off with acoustic panels doesn’t impede their functionality but greatly reduces the noise they produce.
• Easier communication on the work floor. No longer must workers and supervisors shout to hear one another. Reduced noise levels allows your team to more comfortably speak with one another. This also reduces confusion — you don’t want someone making a mistake because they misheard someone over the clanging of nearby machinery.
• Improved worker health. Of course, the top benefit is that all the negatives we mentioned before (stress, sleep deprivation, hearing loss) go down significantly.

And don’t forget: when workers are happier, healthier, and feel supported by their management, they’re inclined to give you 100%. You back them up, so they back you up! Here at PalmSHIELD, we manufacture Acoustic Panels in three distinct styles:

• Solid: These panels use an Acoustic Surfaces Silk metal box design for maximum noise reduction. A top choice if ventilation is not necessary for your equipment. The infill can be powder coated to match your surroundings.
• Full Air Foil: These panels feature our signature architectural louvers, which permit ventilation while maintaining 100% direct screening. This makes them ideal for mechanical equipment screens, which tend to emit moisture and heat when operating.
• Semi Air Foil. These panels permit an adjustable degree of openness.

When you contact our sales team, they can describe in detail the differences and advise which one’s best for your situation, but the end result is the same: decreased noise pollution.