Ways to promote a noise control programme.

The purpose of this study was to find out the proper ways to promote and to start a noise control programme in small and medium size industries. The situation of the noise control programme was inspected in four industrial enterprises. The noise exposure and the noise sources were studied and recommendations for noise reduction were given. The information concerning the noise control programme and noise levels was given to the personnel. How the noise control programme was started in the companies and which were the best ways to promote the programme were examined after 1 year. Noise reduction work was carried out in companies during the past year and new ideas were awaiting investment. The systematic noise control programme was not written on paper or connected to a risk management programme. The lack of proper models of a programme, lack of time and knowledge of easy means to reduce the noise were reasons for missing noise control programmes. The best ways to push up the noise control programme were to give information and examples of the programme. The EU-directive concerning machines and its noise information was a help in the noise reduction work connected with new investments.