How to Get Control over Industrial Part Marking Noise

Anyone who has worked in a manufacturing setting knows that heavy machinery can be incredibly loud. Pin stamping machines are no different. While most direct part marking processes remain within acceptable decibel limits, others can become dangerously loud if not properly managed. How can you ensure quiet marking in your operations? Many industries, including automotive, metal fabrication, and oil & gas, require deep markings on parts for identification and traceability, often achieved through pin marking technology. Thanks to the carbide pin that directly impacts the material to create deep, lasting marks, dot peen applications can be noisy—depending on the material and product being engraved. Marking particularly tough or hollow components can significantly increase noise levels. These include: - Metal tubing - Downhole pipes - Wheel rims - Flanges Unchecked, these noise levels can become unmanageable, posing risks to hearing health and more. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to reduce dot peen marking noise if you've identified a potential hazard. So, if you thought personal protective equipment (PPE) was your only option, think again. Your plant's noise levels don't have to keep you awake at night—literally or figuratively. Discover how you can achieve quiet marking while maintaining the deep, permanent marks your industry demands.

Related Products: Achieve fast, quiet marking with MECCO’s Scribe Marking Machine

  • What Are the Noise Standards in the Industry?
  • How Do You Know if Noise Is a Problem in Your Operations?
  • What Are the Risks of Industrial Noise?
  • How to Control Industrial Noise for Pin Marking
  • Pin Marking Machine vs. Scribe Marking Machine: What Should You Do Now?
  • Find the Right Marking Solution for Improved Noise Control

What Are the Noise Standards in the Industry?

Everyone knows manufacturing generates various noise levels, but how loud is too loud? Occupational noise is regulated globally. Manufacturing employees are particularly vulnerable due to their environments. In fact, approximately 22 million U.S. manufacturing workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels. However, these effects are preventable. The U.S. Department of Labor has established standards and controls to protect workers. OSHA’s noise exposure standards state that sound levels should not exceed 90 dBA over an eight-hour period, known as the permissible exposure limit (PEL). With their 5 dBA exchange rate, as exposure time decreases, the threshold increases. For example, at four hours of exposure, the maximum dBA is 95. At 15 minutes, it is 115 dBA, and so on. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sets their eight-hour exposure limits at 85 dBA, based on updated research. NIOSH also uses a lower exchange rate of 3 dBA, meaning the limit for 15 minutes of exposure would be 100 dBA. Outside the U.S., noise thresholds can vary. In the EU, for instance, the European Directive 2003/10/EC defines the maximum limit as 87 dBA. Countries like Denmark and Norway set it at 85 dBA.

Related Read: 6 Reasons Why Manufacturing Traceability is Essential Now

How Do You Know if Noise Is a Problem in Your Operations?

Pin marking is essential for many operations, especially those needing to comply with industry regulations or maintain traceability programs. But how can you continue to mark your products effectively while keeping your employees safe? Dot peen marking noise levels vary greatly depending on what you're marking. A hollow component made of a hard material like steel, for example, will amplify sound and produce a louder noise compared to a solid component that absorbs much of the sound waves. There are a few ways to determine if noise is a potential issue in your operations. According to OSHA, here are some key questions to ask:
  1. Do you experience humming or ringing in your ears?
  2. Have you had temporary hearing loss?
  3. Do you need to raise your voice to speak to someone three feet away?
  4. Have you conducted a sound level test indicating decibel levels exceeding the allowable threshold?
If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may have a problem. OSHA and NIOSH both offer sound measuring tools. NIOSH provides the Sound Level Meter App, downloadable from their website, developed by experienced acoustic engineers and hearing loss experts. At MECCO, our experts use similar tools in our lab to test mark customer products and measure decibels.

Resource: Let Us Test Mark Your Parts with Scribe and Receive a Full Complementary Report. Request Your Test

What Are the Risks of Industrial Noise?

You want to protect your employees. How do you safeguard both people and your business from the dangers of industrial noise? If you've ever heard the sound of metal on metal as a pin marker engraves a serial number onto a tube, you may have been exposed to more than 100 dB.
How does this level of sound affect individuals? One of the earliest signs of noise hazards in the workplace is irritation and stress. An overstressed operator may not perform at their highest capacity, leading to decreased productivity. Over time, repeated exposure can cause permanent hearing loss. Repeated or prolonged exposure can damage nerve endings in the ear, resulting in an inability to hear high-frequency sounds and difficulty understanding speech. Since there is no medical treatment to restore permanent hearing loss, these outcomes can be devastating. Such employee injuries can impact entire companies. Regulations require businesses to report hazardous noise-related injuries. However, studies suggest that between 20% to 70% of recordable workplace injuries and illnesses go unreported. Workers can file complaints and, in some states, seek workers' compensation benefits if they believe their hearing has been harmed on the job.

How to Control Industrial Noise for Pin Marking

If you’ve determined that noise levels are an issue in your plant, how do you minimize risk? Every operation should carefully consider these options to continue marking parts as safely and efficiently as possible. OSHA categorizes industrial noise control into four main areas:
  1. Engineering controls
    Their primary recommendation is to modify or replace the noise source with “low-noise tools or machinery.” The good news is that you do have options to modify or replace your dot peen equipment if you’ve concluded it is too loud. This is generally the most technologically feasible option and can usually eliminate the need for subsequent steps.
  2. Administrative controls
    You can also adjust your workplace to reduce noise exposure. Some adjustments include modifying when dot peen machines run and limiting how much time each operator spends at that machine.
  3. Hearing protection devices (HPDs)
    Earplugs and other HPDs can be effective at reducing noise exposure. But these are generally seen as a last resort or used temporarily while other Engineering or Administrative control actions are implemented.
  4. Hearing conservation programs
    When worker noise exposure equals or exceeds 85 dBA for an 8-hour exposure in a manufacturing facility, employers need to implement a hearing conservation program. These plans include regular noise sampling, notifying employees about their risk, training, and monitoring.
One of the first considerations should be the part marking company you choose to partner with. At MECCO, defining your safety requirements is one of the first steps in our process. We can even test mark your products and train your staff to ensure you meet your operational safety goals.

Pin Marking Machine vs. Scribe Marking Machine: What Should You Do Now?

Once you recognize a noise hazard and understand your options to rectify it, what do you do? You might find yourself in one of these situations:
  • Your operation is using a pin marking machine for identification and traceability, and you’ve determined your current noise levels exceed standard thresholds.
  • Or, you’re looking to purchase a new marking machine and want to ensure you make the best choice for your operation.
Here are a few things you can do: Replace: If you are currently using dot peen, the most common low-noise option to replace that equipment is a Scribe machine.
If you’re unfamiliar with Scribers, they provide deep marks, like dot peen, but with smooth, quiet operation. With an average volume of 64 dBA on aluminum tubing, the MECCO Scribe Marking Machine can mark up to 30% quieter than U.S. standards. This is an important step in reducing the risk of potential hearing loss for your employees. While dot peen machines mark using a stylus that strikes the material as it moves across the part, Scribers work by pushing a hardened stylus into the material and then dragging it through the material. This dragging action results in minimal sound—just above the decibel level of a normal conversation. It also produces deep, durable marks to add permanent identification and traceability in a variety of forms. Another advantage of scribing is the superior mark quality. You get clean, highly readable marks, as opposed to the dot pattern of pin marks. This is one reason the Scribe is chosen for aesthetic as well as quiet marking. While some scribers lack in marking speed, MECCO also offers the fastest Scribe on the market. Enclose: Another way to control marking noise is to create a physical barrier between the noise source and human ears. This can be done using an enclosure. A customized pin marking system with a noise-reducing enclosure built to house the marking head can add additional layers of safety. Take a look at this system, which has been customized to meet low noise requirements. It features light curtains and dual hand controls for safety. Simply place the part inside, activate the hand controls, and the auto door will shut and begin marking.

Adjust: If a Scribe or safety-enclosed pin marker are not options for your operation, there are still several controls you can employ. These involve changing or adjusting areas surrounding the sound source to reduce exposure. Administrative controls, HPDs, and hearing conservation programs are some solutions. While these options can help limit noise exposure, they do not address the root cause. That is why OSHA recommends engineering controls before considering other options.

Find the Right Marking Solution for Improved Noise Control

Part marking is essential to your operation. Your solution should be high-quality, efficient, and safe. Ultimately, the most effective solution is to treat the problem at the source. In this case, that means opting for lower-noise equipment like the Scribe or a pin marking system with a safety enclosure. When you’re ready to learn how you can better control industrial noise caused by marking in your facility, talk to the experts. MECCO has been engineering impact and other marking technologies since 1889. Today, we’re leaders in marking and traceability, featuring a full line of innovative laser, dot peen, and scribe technologies. Whether it’s marking a critical VIN for the automotive industry, serial numbers on pipes for the oil and gas sector, or adding logos on steel for fabricators, the Scribe delivers marks that never fade in a machine that protects your employees’ hearing. And with the capability of marking characters from 1mm to 20mm in height with the speed of up to six characters per second, the Scribe engraves a variety of materials of varying shapes and sizes, from round or hollow to flat or thick. To learn more about how our Scribe marking machine can help your business, contact our team.

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