PROCEEDINGS of the23rd International Congress on Acoustics
9 to 13 September 2019 in Aachen, Germany

Admissible values and methods of measurement of noise,ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise at workplaces in Poland
Dariusz PLEBAN1
1Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Poland

ABSTRACTThe adverse effects of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise on human are associated mainly with thehearing organ. Nevertheless, non-auditory effects can be also observed in the entire human body. Therefore,
the admissible values of noise and ultrasonic noise at workstations are specified in the Regulation of theMinister of Family, Labour and Social Policy. According to this Regulation, measurement methods shouldbe specified in Polish Standards, and, consequently, the method for the measurement of noise at workplaces
is defined in the Polish Standard PN-EN ISO 9612. In the case of ultrasonic noise the draft Polish Standard
prPN-Z-01399 “Ultrasonic noise. Requirements for measurements in the work environment” was developedon the basis of the results of studies carried out in CIOP-PIB. Moreover, as regards the workplaces occupied
by juveniles and pregnant women, the admissible values of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise aredefined in regulations issued by the Council of Ministers. In turn, values that constitute the criteria ofannoyance of noise and infrasonic noise are defined in Polish Standards PN-N-01307 and PN-Z-01338. The
discussion of the admissible values and the characterization of the draft Polish Standard prPN-Z-01339 arepresented in the paper.
Keywords: Noise, Workplace, Measurement

1. INTRODUCTION
Chemical, biological and physical (including noise, ultrasonic noise, infrasonic noise, vibration,electromagnetic fields, optical radiation and microclimate) harmful factors are common in the working
environment. According to the data of the Statistics Poland, in 2017, 262100 employed persons
counted once in the group of predominant factor were exposed to work environment haz ard (1). These
data do not include enterprises employing less than 10 people, therefore it is estimated that the numberof people employed in hazardous conditions can be twice as large.
As referenced in (1), in 2017, among hazardous factors related to wor k environment, noise was themost serious hazard affecting 187500 persons (58.0 % of persons employed in hazardous conditions).
The number of persons exposed to noise was more than three times as large as those exposed to thesecond most frequent hazard in terms of frequency – industrial dusts which endangered 53400 persons(16.5% of persons employed in hazardous conditions). The most persons exposed to noise andindustrial dusts were recorded in mining, first of all in mining of hard coal and lignite, and inmanufacturing, primarily of metal products (1).
Working in such hazardous conditions may cause workers’ occupational diseases. In 2016, 2119
cases of occupational diseases were recorded in Poland, i.e. 14.3 cases per 100000 employed persons(2). According to the same reference (2), the incidence rate was mainly caused by pneumoconioses(28.5%), infectious or parasitic diseases (27.2%), chronic voice disorders (9.7%), chronic diseases ofthe peripheral nervous system (8.6%) and hearing loss (6.3%, i.e. 133 cases).
Based on the frequency range, noise is subdivided into:- infrasonic noise, including frequencies from 1 to 20 Hz,- audible noise (commonly known as “noise”), including frequencies from 16 (or 20) to 16000(or 20000) Hz,
1daple@ciop.pl7057

- ultrasonic noise, including frequencies from 10000 to 40000 Hz.
The adverse effects of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise on human are associated mainlywith the hearing organ. Nevertheless, non-auditory effects can be also observed in the entire humanbody. Therefore, the admissible values of noise and ultrasonic noise at workstations are specified in
the Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy (3). According to this Regulation,measurement methods should be specified in Polish Standards. Evaluation of actual threats of noise
and ultrasonic noise requires the employer's identification of the values of noise and ultrasonic noise
exposures at workplaces. The purpose of this study was to present a discussion of the current
admissible values of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise at workplaces in Poland (including
maximum admissible intensity and/or annoyance criteria) and of the measurement methods. Particularattention is paid to the ultrasonic noise measurement method.

2. NOISE
Noise (audible noise) is defined as all adverse, unpleasant, irritating, annoying or harmful soundthat reaches the hearing organ and influences other senses and parts of the human body (4). The valuesof the maximum admissible intensities (MAI) of noise at workplaces are specified in the regulationof the Polish Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy concerning the maximum admissible
concentrations and intensities in the work environment for agents harmful to the health (3). Accordingto this Regulation, occupational noise is characterized by:- the A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to an 8 hour working day (daily noise exposurelevel), LAEx,8h , (or normalized to a working week),- the A-weighted maximum sound pressure level, LAmax,- the C-weighted peak sound pressure level, L Cpeak.
Table 1 specifies the values of MAI of noise.
Table 1 - The values of MAI of noise (3)Parameter
The A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to an 8 hour

Value of MAI
85.0 dBworking day (daily noise exposure level), LAEx,8h
The A-weighted maximum sound pressure level, LAmax

115.0 dB

The C-weighted peak sound pressure level, LCpeak

135.0 dBIn the case of workplaces occupied by pregnant women or by juveniles the values of MAI of noise
are more rigorous (5, 6) – see Table 2.
Table 2 – The values of MAI of noise for pregnant women (5) and juveniles (6)Parameter

Pregnant women

Juveniles

The A-weighted noise exposure level

65.0 dB

80.0 dB

110.0 dB

110.0 dB

130.0 dB

130.0 dB

normalized to an 8 hour working day(daily noise exposure level), LAEx,8h
The A-weighted maximum sound pressurelevel, LAmax
The C-weighted peak sound pressure level,
LCpeakIn addition to the above mentioned, obligatory values of MAI of noise, there are facultative
admissible noise values according to the employee’s possibility to fulfilling the basic tasks – thecriterion of annoyance of noise (7). According to this criterion the equivalent A-weighted soundpressure level during the occupation of a workplace by an employee should not exceed the values
given in Table 3.

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Table 3 – The admissible values of the equivalent A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL)
according to the employee’s possibility to fulfilling the basic tasks (7)WorkplaceA-weightedSPL, dB
In administrative rooms, design office room, theoretical study rooms,

55

data processing rooms; in other rooms of similar designation
In dispatch, observation and remote control cabins equipped with65

telephone communication means used in the process of control; inrooms for performance of precision works; in other rooms of similar
designation
In direct control cabins not equipped with telephone communication

75means; at laboratories with noise sources; in other rooms of similar
designation
Methods for the measurement of noise at workplaces are specified in the Polish Standards PN -EN
ISO 9612:2011 (8), PN-N-01307:1994 (7) and PN-ISO 1999:2000 (9).

3.

ULTRASONIC NOISE

According to (4), ultrasonic noise contains components of high audible frequencies and low
ultrasounds frequencies from 10 kHz to 40 kHz. Technological ultrasound devices are the main
sources of ultrasonic noise in the working environment. Ultrasonic noise is a harmful factor in theworking environment, and therefore this kind of noise is included in the Polish list of harmful factors.
According to the above mentioned Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy(3), ultrasonic noise at workplaces is characterised by the following quantities:- equivalent continuous sound pressure levels in the third-octave bands of centre frequencies, f,10 kHz, 12.5 kHz, 16 kHz, 20 kHz, 25 kHz, 31.5 kHz and 40 kHz, normalised to a nominal 8hour working day, Lfeq,8h , or to a working week, L feq,w, (in the case of exposure to ultrasonicnoise at an irregular manner over each day in a week or if a person works another number ofdays a week than 5 days),- maximum sound pressure levels in the third-octave bands of centre frequencies, f, 10 kHz, 12.5
kHz, 16 kHz, 20 kHz, 25 kHz, 31.5 kHz and 40 kHz, Lfmax.
The values of the above-mentioned levels should not exceed the values of MAI of ultrasonic noise
specified in the Regulation (3) and given in Table 4. Lower values of MAI of ultrasonic noise are inforce to workplaces for pregnant women (5) and juveniles (6) – see Table 5 and Table 6.
Table 4 – The values of MAI of ultrasonic noise (3)Frequency f, kHzLfeq,8h or Lfeq,w, dB

Lfmax,, dB10, 12.5, 16801002090

110

25105

12531.5, 40

1101307059

Table 5 - The values of MAI of ultrasonic noise for pregnant women (5)Frequency f, kHz

Lfeq,8h or Lfeq,w, dB

Lfmax,, dB10; 12.5; 16

7595

2085

105

2510012031.5; 40105125

Table 6 - The values of MAI of ultrasonic noise for juveniles (6)Frequency f, kHz

Lfeq,8h or Lfeq,w, dB

Lfmax,, dB

10; 12.5; 1675100

20851102510012531.5; 40105130In 2018 the preliminary draft of the Polish Standard prPN-Z-01339 “Ultrasonic noise.
Requirements for measurements in the work environment” was developed on the basis of the resultsof studies carried out in the Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute(CIOP-PIB). The measurement procedure (elaborated in CIOP-PIB, published in (10) and describedin (11, 12, 13)) was implemented in the draft Standard prPN-Z-01339:2019 (14).
The current draft Standard prPN-Z-01339:2019 specifies both a method for measuring ultrasonicnoise in the work environment and a method for determining of equivalent sound pressure levels ofultrasonic noise. The scope of the measurements includes sound pressure levels in the third-octave
bands with the centre frequencies from 10 kHz to 40 kHz. The draft Standard prPN-Z-01339 also
specifies a method for taking account of amendments related to the influence of the metrologicalcharacteristics of the measuring devices and the influence of a microphone protective grid on
measurement results. The developed measurement process requires the observation and analysis of
the ultrasonic noise exposure conditions in order to control the quality of measurements. Therefore,
the draft Standard prPN-Z-01339 allows to estimate uncertainty measurements in order to determine
the quality of the measurements. The main principles of measurements are the following (11, 12):
1. The ultrasonic noise measurements shall be carried out in the presence of the worker at theworkplace. During measurement the microphone should be placed at a distance ofapproximately 10 cm from the external ear canal, on the side of the ear exposed to higher valueof the sound pressure level.
2. The task based strategy (8) is recommended. For that reason the working time on the tested
workplace should be divided into the duration of the individual tasks. The total duration of thetasks should encompass the full working shift.
3. At least three sound pressure measurements shall be performed for each task. The equival ent
sound pressure level values for the m-th task shall be determined on the basis of Eq.(1):L fi ,eq,Tm
where:Lfi,eq,Tm§ 1 J 0,1L·10 log ¨¨ ¦10 fi,eq,Tm , j ¸¸©J j 1¹(1)– the equivalent sound pressure level in the i-th third-octave band for the m-th task, indB,
Lfi,eq,Tm,j – the equivalent sound pressure level in the i-th third-octave band, and for the j-thmeasurement for the m-th task, in dB,
J– the number of measurements for the m-th task.
4. The result of the equivalent sound pressure level measurement in the i-th third-octave band and7060

the result of the maximum sound pressure level measurement in the i-th third-octave bandshould be adjusted according to Eq. (2):(2)
Lfi = L’fi + Kapfi  Kgfi
where:
L’ fi – the meter/analyser reading in the i-th third-octave band, in dB,
Kapfi – the amendment related to metrological characteristics of measurement equipment, in dB(data from the certificate of calibration),
Kgfi – the amendment related to the influence of microphone protection grid, in dB.
5. The equivalent sound pressure levels in the i-th third-octave bands, normalized to a nominal 8hour working day is given by Eq. (3):ªM Tº0 ,1LL fi ,eq,8 h 10 log «¦ m 10 fi,eq,Tm »¬ m 1 T0¼(3)where:Lfi,eq,8h– the equivalent sound pressure level in the i-th third-octave band, and for the m-th task,
in dB,– the duration of the m-th task, in h,Tm– reference time interval, T0 = 8 h,
T0m
– the number of tasks,
M– the total number of tasks during the working shift.
Work is on-going to develop the final version of the Polish Standard PN-Z-01339 “Ultrasonic noise.
Requirements for measurements in the work environment”.

4. INFRASONIC NOISE
Infrasonic noise is defined as the sound or noise of a spectrum within the frequency band of 1 -20
Hz (4). The main sources of infrasonic noise in the working environment are among other low-speed
turbomachines (e.g. compressors), power devices (e.g. mills) and air-conditioning systems. This noise
is often the cause of employee complaints due to its annoyance.
Infrasonic noise at workplaces is characterised by the following, two quantities (15):- the equivalent continuous G-weighted sound pressure level normalised to a nominal 8-hourworking day, LGeq,8h , (or normalised to a working week),- the equivalent continuous G-weighted sound pressure level during occupation of the workplace(Te) by the employee, L Geq,Te.
Facultative values that form the criterion of annoyance of infrasonic noise are defined in the PolishStandard PN-Z-01338:2010 (15). This criterion is given in Table 7.
Table 7 – Criterion of annoyance of infrasonic noise – admissible values of the equivalentcontinuous G-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) (15)
Quantity

G-weightedSPL, dB

The equivalent continuous G-weighted sound pressure level normalised102

to a nominal 8-hour working day, LGeq,8h, (or normalised to a workingweek), for all employees
The equivalent continuous G-weighted sound pressure level during86

occupation of the workplace designated for conceptual work, LGeq,TeIn the case of pregnant women and juveniles there are the obligatory values of MAI of infrasonicnoise defined in the regulations (5) (pregnant women) and (6) (juveniles). According to (5) and (6)the values of MAI of infrasonic noise at workplaces occupied by pregnant women and juveniles are
the following: LGeq,8h = 86 dB and LGeq,Te = 86 dB.
Methods for the measurement of infrasonic noise at workplaces are described in the Polish7061

Standard PN-Z-01338:2010 (15).

5. SUMMARY
According to data from Polish Statistics, noise is the most common hazardous factor related toworking environment. The adverse effects of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise on humanare associated mainly with the hearing organ. Nevertheless, non-auditory effects can be also observedin the entire human body.
Working conditions are an important issue for both an employer and employee. Correct
identification of hazards and their impact on employed persons creates a basis for undertaking
preventive actions and maintaining an adequate policy in order to improve occupational safety andhealth (OSH).
Methods of measurements and assessments of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise are used
to determine respectively noise and/or ultrasonic noise and/or infrasonic noise exposure. In general,the measurement results are used to compare the existing acoustic working conditions with:- the requirements specified in applicable OSH regulations (i.e. regulations containing both theobligatory values of MAI of noise and ultrasonic noise for all employee and the obligatory
values of MAI of noise, ultrasonic noise and infrasonic noise for pregnant women and juveniles),- the requirements specified in applicable Polish Standards (i.e. standards containing the criteriaof annoyance of noise and infrasonic noise).
Methods for the measurements of noise and infrasonic noise at workplaces are specified in PolishStandards. An exception to this, is ultrasonic noise - work is on-going to develop the final version ofthe Polish Standard relating ultrasonic noise measurements at workplaces.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This publication has been based on the results of the fourth stage of the program “Safety andworking conditions improvement”, co-funded in the years 2017 – 2019 within the capacity of thegovernmental services by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. The main coordinator:
Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute.

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