Noise control in the wood processing industry

In general, noise levels were in the 90-100 dB range, regarded as very noisy. Few workplaces in New Zealand have such consistently high levels. Although the problem might seem insoluble, simple solutions at each stage could be identified. At the source of the noise, new designs of both band and circular saws can reduce the noise by up to 6 dB (a quarter of the noise). During sawmilling operations, a significant amount of noise came from timber handling, where damping of panels and reduction of “ringing” noise by filling rollers with sand could once again reduce the levels by 3 dB (half the noise). These are all critical points for action by the industry.