The Advantages of Sound Level Meter Hire

In a number of industries, sound measurement forms part of basic health and safety checks. Employers are obliged to protect their employees from damage to their health by taking whatever steps are reasonably practicable in the workplace to prevent harm. Health and Safety legislation covers the protection of employees’ hearing. In brief, the employer’s responsibility covers auditing and establishing dangers to health and safety, providing protective equipment, appropriate safety training and replacing processes or equipment which pose particular risks, is possible and practical.

In certain industries, companies must therefore assess the noise level to which their workers are exposed in order to establish whether or not there is a threat of harm to their hearing. Such audits should be carried out routinely. Still many companies will find that they do not use sound measurement equipment often enough to justify the high cost of buying such equipment. In these instances, sound level meter hire is a possibility.

Sound level meter hire is offered by many of the leading manufacturers of noise monitoring and measurement equipment. It allows companies to benefit from the latest equipment for short term use at a fraction of the purchase price of the devices. Because the equipment is hired, the user does not need to concern themselves with the maintenance, repair and updating of the equipment and does not need to worry about ensuring that relevant software is up to date.

Hired sound level meters are also available at short notice, whereas a purchase might require several days or weeks for delivery. Many sound level meter hire companies are able to provide a next day service for times when companies need to carry out an audit or routine assessment quickly.

For most companies with only occasional sound measurement needs, sound level meter hire makes much more sense than purchase: developments in the field mean that dosimeters and other monitoring equipment are constantly improving and equipment can quickly become obsolete, so purchase is really only recommended for heavy users of the equipment.

Regardless of whether your company decides on sound level meter hire or purchase, make sure that the company is compliant with Health and Safety legislation. If legislation is not complied with, there is great risk of both temporary and permanent deafness for employees in sectors such as manufacturing, construction and mining as well as the possibility of ongoing ringing in the ears, which can be distressing.