Underwater noise and commercial divers
I had a call today from one of my commercial divers who manages a team of divers. Currently his team is working at a site using Kirby Morgan helmets. Nearby an operation is driving metal piles into the ground. The divers are finding there is a lot of noise and vibration in their helmets and making them quite uncomfortable.
Does anyone have any suggestions how the levels of noise can be measured underwater? Has anyone been involved in a similar case? Any suggestions?
Hello Dr Sisson,
There are underwater sound level devices available (would have to google them to find them) and there is a particular issue with sound underwater as the sound pressure is potentially worse after travelling through water (like all underwater pressures eg with explosions). More energy is transferred and therefore the effect is potantially magnified. The reality is that if it is causing significant discomfort it is a work safety issue and should be investigated.
There is also the safety issue in that communications are inhibited by the excess noise and that leads to a problem in that they cannot easily talk to the surface and this is also a work safety issue,
The Commercial diving standrad (AS2299) refers to AS/NZS 1269 (which I don't have a copy sorry) regarding noise exposure and I would look into that regarding this problem.
Regards Glen