Article | Andrew Sharman, RyderMarshSharman

Sound and Vision Listening to risks and behaviours with our eyes

Noise presents a hazard in many In most countries health and safety identify what presents a risk of harm, workplaces around the globe. legislation requires the assessment where, when, to whom and how, In this article Andrew Sharman and management of workplace and then implement suitable and stumbles upon an amazing noise. For example, in the United sufficient controls to mitigate the risk new technology to assess noise Kingdom employers are required of the hazard causing harm. You can risks and realises that the same to “make a reliable, representative find more on noise assessment in my approach can also build a better estimate of workers’ daily personal previous article ‘Hearing Hazards: culture of safety, too. noise exposure.” Daily personal noise Behaviour’s Influence on Workplace

exposure or ‘LEP,d’ represents a the Noise Protection’, published in H&SI Noise is a potential hazard in many typical ‘dose’ of noise experienced in April 2015. workplaces: from Noise Induced by a worker and includes a Hearing Loss caused by loud plant combination of how loud the noise Most readers will be familiar with the and equipment, to the risk of acoustic is and how long someone is exposed Hierarchy of Controls pyramid, which shock to call centre operators, or the to it during a working day. Peak sound sets out a general order for good onset of tinnitus through exposure to risk management – beginning with pressure levels (‘LCPEAK’) must also intense noise. Beyond damage to our be measured. Elimination of the hazard at source, ears, noise also presents a serious risk then Substitution, Engineering to the health of our heart, too. For There are many excellent guidance Controls, Administrative Controls, example, the risk of cardiac infarction documents available on the internet and finally, as a means of last defence, (what we commonly refer to as a that handle the process of noise the application of Personal Protective ‘heart attack’) increases significantly assessment, so in this article we won’t Equipment. Despite the frequent when we are exposed to continuous duplicate the approach unnecessarily. appearance of noise as an industrial sound levels of above 65 decibels. Like any risk assessment it’s key to hazard, often the approach to4

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tackling the risk deviates from the effective control measures can be take. Scattered around the site were norm, with employers commonly implemented and monitored? several ‘baby turbines’. At least that offering unlimited supplies of was my guess; these devices were hearing protection such as disposable Come on, somewhat confusing. Standing just a earplugs to workers. There’s some metre or so tall, as I got closer I could logic here, many organisations will see the noise make out their tripod structures, each sincerely provide earplugs as an Just a few weeks ago I found myself one topped by either what looked immediate first step in their noise standing on a barren plateau in the like a colourful satellite dish, or with risk mitigation strategy, as they then Highlands of Scotland starring at the a latticework reminiscent of the work out what to do next to reduce very latest advances in renewable wireframe of a naked umbrella. exposure to the harmful noise. But energy generation. I’d donned my wet often this first step is also the last, weather boots and jacket and strode It transpires that new technologies as the organisation discovers that out to meet a group of employees to for measuring noise have been eliminating the noise is difficult, talk with them about safety culture developed in recent years. Instead of substituting the noise-causing in their company. I’d been tipped those familiar handheld block-and- equipment challenging, and installing off that they were on site conducting microphone systems of my past, engineering controls can be costly. noise assessments. It’s been more I was facing a modular system of than a while since I’d calculated Time acoustic cameras. Using Personal Protective Equipment Weighted Daily Noise Exposures but Conducting noise assessments on in response to workplace noise is I could just about recall the laborious complex plant such as a wind turbine far from ideal. During site visits I task of standing at certain locations isn’t straightforward. Using traditional often notice workers with their ear around the factory with my Noise technology to measure noise from a defenders slung casually around their Meter, taking samples and then wind turbine requires data sampling neck, or a single plug in one ear and meticulously noting down the decibels from a wide range of measurement nothing in the other, or perhaps on a scale drawing of the shopfloor points - certainly not an easy task, worse – foam earplugs so old that layout. I can even remember helping when you consider the size of these they’ve become engrained with employees put on their dosimeter giant towers and rotation of their workplace oil and dirt as the user rolls badges - and pleading with them not blades. Hand-held sound meters only them in his fingers before popping to deliberately shout into them to go part of the way there and a good them into his ear canal. artificially peak the readings. degree of accuracy is hard to achieve. So given these challenges, could Crossing the moorland, as I For example, during operation wind there be a better way to assess the approached the dull thrumming turbines may radiate impulsive noise risk of workplace noise in order that sound of the blades, I did a double- from the hydraulic4

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or electrical break. There’s also the “Acoustic cameras pin-point hand-written faxes. The mainframe challenge of measuring the efficiency networked computer that took up of the dynamic vibration absorption the strongest noise source in more than half of your desk has been panels typically installed on the a multisource environment” continuously replaced by smaller, gearbox to reduce noise. Neither sleeker laptop notebooks. The mobile are easy places to reach. Acoustic phone that used to take days to charge cameras however solve the challenge acoustician like myself) and noted that and make your shoulder ache is now a of getting a traditional noise meter in addition to the improved accuracy, gadget as small as your wallet, but now close to the source by pin-pointing this method has numerous advantages. it packs a mighty punch – sending the strongest noise source in a Instead of placing microphones in and receiving emails, surfing the web, multisource environment, and you a machine or plant and tediously holding your music collection, your can do the same analysis for single looking for noise sources, the entire diary, plane tickets, credit card details frequencies, octave bands or in a object as a whole – whether a wind and so much more. specific frequency range. Pioneered in turbine or factory shopfloor - can 2001, I missed their arrival, but in less be quickly and accurately assessed As a specialist in organisational culture than two decades acoustic cameras in only a few measurements from and behaviour I couldn’t help but are now used in a range of industry a range of sample points. Records wonder whether this technological sectors around the world and for uses of the assessment are produced revolution would somehow infiltrate as diverse as analyzing noise emissions instantaneously and can be stored my domain. By the time I’d reached the airport I realised that we are from vehicles, plant and machinery, as secure digital files indefinitely. already using a system to assess the hand held tools, IT equipment, and Within minutes I was in awe as safety culture within an organisation much more. these machines accurately visualised the sound emitted by the turbines that operates in a similar way that Taking measurements with an around us. those acoustic cameras checked noise acoustic camera doesn’t only provide up in the hills. information about the noise and The technology its composition, but also detailed The sight and data on exactly where the noise is revolution coming from. The technicians on the As I left the Scottish moorland, my sound of moorland were able to create acoustic fascination with this new technology corporate pictures and movies (in 2D or 3D). continued to play on my mind. Over In real-time I was able to ‘see the the last few years new technologies culture sound’ with my own eyes as it was have sprung in every industry sector Assessing the culture of an being generated by different parts of and changed workers lives across organisation is always a fascinating the turbine. Intrigued, I was guided the globe. Think for a moment on exercise for me. Our clients often though the software system and the technology that you use in your ask us to tell them what their safety found it easy to use (even for a non- job. Gone are the days of sending culture ‘looks like’. We use4

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“BBS is increasingly viewed as a solution to help organisations progess in safety”

a proprietary model that we’ve presented the results of perhaps the developed over the years, and refining very first formal attempt to observe and evolving it into a remarkably and then influence workers’ behaviour accurate tool that gives us not only a around safety. picture, but also helps us understand what a culture sounds like too. Just In the 1990s the concept of like using a sound level meter, we ‘behavioural safety’ was born, with take metaphorical ‘audio samples’ several American writers including from around the workplace by talking Scott Geller and Dan Petersen with employees as individuals and articulating their views on why in groups, with supervisors, managers people behave as they do with regard and top-tier leaders too. In a similar to safety at work. Behaviour-Based way to the acoustic camera, we also Safety (or ‘BBS’) considers the take a ‘audio-visual snapshot’ of ‘psychology of safety’ and how to what we see going on, too, through identify the motivation for individual direct real-time observations of work risk-taking behaviours, and then in progress. making adjustments to the working environment in order to positively We find that this combination of regulate these behaviours. watching and listening provides the data needed to create a deep and rich BBS is increasingly viewed as a cultural tapestry of an organisation or solution to help organisations progess site, giving us a full three-dimensional in safety. Having systematically worked picture of what things are like – in a through the Hierarchy of Controls similar way to those acoustic cameras and implemented engineering controls on the Scottish moors. such as machinery guarding, and administrative measures including Whilst we use a specific model to training and supervision, many assess culture, there are aspects of organisations found themselves on the process that can be adopted and a performance plateau and keen to utilised effectively by any manager, revitalise their approach. Observing anywhere at any time. So let’s look and moderating behaviour through at these individually now. BBS programmes has become a core element for many companies today. Picture this While some BBS programmes rely on a standardised observation checklist Between the late 1950s and early which the manager works through 1970s the links between risk-taking while watching an employee work, this behaviours, human nature and doesn't always lead to positive results accidents were thoroughly explored as the worker may feel pressured by a by social scientists and psychologists sense of ‘big brother’ watching. including Burrhus Skinner, Albert Bandura and Jean Piaget. Each developed a series of Sound analysis experiments to demonstrate how A useful adaptation to observation behaviour could be observed and programmes is to actually engage then shaped through feedback and workers in dialogue about safety the provision of positive or negative matters. When we begin safety consequences. In 1978 the words transformation programmes with our ‘safety’ and ‘behaviour’ were truly clients they frequently begin by telling connected when a fascinating study us that managers aren’t really sure by Judith Komaki and Ken Barwick what to say when it comes to asking4

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“listening to what’s being said as well as watching what’s being done, just like the acoustic camera, we get a much clearer 3D picture of what’s going on”

questions about safety. As we walk answering. In responding to the first The Hierarchy of Controls can be found at: with them around the shop-floor all question, safety is positively reinforced www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/ as the worker verbalises important too often we hear them saying things EU-OSHA (2005) Reducing the risks from like: “Is everything safe?”, “Is there aspects of their job while responses to occupational noise. osha.europa.eu/en/ anything you need to be safe?” or the other questions help to develop a publications/reports/6805535 “Are you working safely?” feeling of engagement and encourage suggestion. Key at this point is our Fligor, BJ. (2012) Noise-induced hearing loss. Look back at these questions again ability to demonstrate that we are Harvard / Better Hearing Institute www. – what do you notice? Indeed, each listening. Reflecting back what’s been betterhearing.org/hearingpedia/hearing-loss- are ‘closed questions’, meaning that said can help here, and great follow- prevention/noise-induced-hearing-loss they can be answered simply with a up questions that connect to the first National Institute on Deafness and Other single word, either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. When information we have received are Communication Disorders (1999) Noise- a worker is asked such questions by also immensely useful. You could use Induced Hearing Loss. NIH Pub. No. a superior they may immediately several of the great questions above to 97-4233 try to respond in a way that pleases keep the dialogue going. their boss, or makes their life easier, Sharman, A. (2014) From Accidents to Zero. by offering the answer that they Conclusion London: Maverick Eagle Press believe the supervisor wants to hear. Burrhus Skinner (considered Sharman, A. (2015) Hearing Hazards: In the example questions above, Behaviour’s Influence on Workplace Noise by many to be the Godfather of answers are often ‘Yes’, ‘No’, ‘Yes’. Protection. Health & Safety InternationaI, behaviouralism) talks about the Of course, responses depend to a April 2015. importance and value of using great large degree on the culture within the questions in his seminal 1974 book Skinner, BF. (1974) About Behaviouralism. organisation. So how can we build About Behaviourism when he suggests New York: Vintage Books a better culture of safety through that “a person who has been made our safety communications? We can aware of himself by the questions Author start by asking great questions. Great he has been asked is in a better questions are questions that encourage Andrew Sharman position to predict and control his the other person to think before they is Chief Executive own behaviour.” Skinner advises that respond. For example, on a safety of RMS, a global ‘increased self-knowledge is shaped by walk around a workplace you might consultancy society’ – what he’s saying here is that try the following: specialising in it’s only when people become fully organisational safety “If I were working with you today, aware that our behaviour is important culture and what would I need to know in order to those around us that it becomes leadership. With a to be safe?” truly important to themselves. strong track record of improving culture and enabling excellence for NGOs and commercial When we adapt our approach to “What one thing could we do to organisations around the world through observation to include really listening improve safety at this process line?” industry sectors including mining, construction, to what’s being said as well as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and more. “If you could do anything to improve watching what’s being done, just like Find out more at www.fromaccidentstozero.com worker safety around here, what the acoustic camera, we get a much would you do?” clearer 3D picture of what’s going Find out more great safety dialogue questions, on, and we are more likely to be able and learn about safety culture, leadership and “What is slow, inconvenient or to identify the points that really need behaviour with Andrew’s best-selling book uncomfortable about doing this our focus. < entitled From Accidents to Zero. It’s available job safely?” to Health & Safety International readers this “What’s the most important thing to month with a huge 30% discount. Go to Further Reading and Reference List www.fromaccidentstozero.com and enter know about safety around here?” Noise at Work: A brief guide to controlling the HSI30 to take advantage of this special offer. Each of these questions encourages risks. INDG362(rev2). HSE Books. Available the other person to reflect before free at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.pdf

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