Investigation of Noise Characteristics for Some Garment Industry Machines

Abstract

Noise characteristics generated at workplaces with machines for garment cutting, sewing and finishing have been measured and analysed. The results mesured show that the equivalent noise level at these workplaces is between 74.3 dB(A) and 93.9 dB(A). Modern digital noise-measuring instrument has been implemented, with an integration module and ability of statistical analysis, and the results indicate, among other characteristics, unexpectedly high noise dynamics at the above mentioned machines - from 20.2 dB(A) to 30.0 dB(A), meaning that the noise reaches peak values in short and frequent intervals, sometimes up to 116.5 dB(A), which equals pain threshold. Due to the limits imposed by conventional noise measuring instruments, the results of the measurements have not been published up to now, and there has been no detailed investigation of noise characteristics in garment industry, nor the investigation of the parameters of the noise emitted by garment industry machines. The results obtained in this investigation lead to more comprehensive investigation of characteristics of various parameters, not just the equivalent noise level. Modern measuring instruments enable exact evaluation of working environment in garment industry.