Reduced noise maintains a safe workplace
Significant truck traffic passes through New Zealand Steel’s Glenbrook site, and the noise from vehicles’ reversing alarms has been known to carry across the site to residential areas.
In 2011, trials of broad band spectrum or ‘white noise’ alarms began on selected machines around the site. The sound emitted from broad band spectrum alarms is directional, so that anyone nearby can immediately work out exactly which vehicle is moving and in which direction; and the alarm has a distinct sound that is less irritating than tonal beeping alarms, and also works effectively at lower decibel ratings.
The trials focused on front end loaders which spend significant time moving in and out of reverse gear, slab carriers, and hook trucks which move in and out of buildings where there is also pedestrian traffic. They proved very successful, and the new alarms have now been fitted to 18 vehicles.
