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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Confirm noise monitoring requirements
  2. Prepare for noise measurement
  3. Perform noise measurement
  4. Process and interpret noise data
  5. Maintain a safe work environment

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

federal legislation such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, National Environmental Protection Measures

state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use, acquisition, planning and protection, and environmental protection

legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS)

Australian and international standards covering environmental noise (e.g. AS 1055 Acoustics - Description and measurement of environmental noise series); and sound level meters and sound calibrators (e.g. AS IEC 61672 Electroacoustics series, AS IEC 60942-2004 Electroacoustics - Sound calibrators)

registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements

industry guidelines and manuals, such as Noise Measurement Manual (QLD EPA), A Guide to Measurement and Analysis of Noise (VIC EPA), Noise Guide for Local Government (NSW), established noise standards and statutory noise limits

site plans, maps and specifications; methods and procedures for noise measurement to meet workplace, client and/or regulatory/certifying body requirements

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), work schedules, recording and reporting procedures, equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogue and handbooks, field notebooks or log books, and emergency and safety procedures.

Purpose of noise measurement includes one or more of:

assessing compliance with a statutory condition, such as a licence

investigation of a noise complaint

environmental impact assessment studies

long-term monitoring programs

occupational hygiene

noise surveys.

Noise monitoring instruments and ancillary equipment include one or more of:

type 1 and type 2 portable sound level meters

integrating and non-integrating sound level meters

noise dose meters

sound level calibrators

octave analysers

statistical analysers, data loggers and recorders

telemetry equipment

sound monitoring stations

microphones

wind shields.

Ancillary equipment includes one or more of:

meteorological instruments, such as thermometers, hygrometers, barometers and anemometers

digital camera

global positioning system (GPS) equipment

maps and aerial photographs

noise measurement and survey forms

PPE

Meteorological measurements include one or more of:

temperature

relative humidity

barometric pressure

wind speed and direction

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

conducting at least two (2) noise surveys and evaluating the data

planning and preparing for field activities, including researching and summarising site history, existing data and/or reports

identifying and interpreting survey and data quality requirements, test methods, workplace procedures and statutory requirements accurately

undertaking site reconnaissance and identifying safe and reliable noise monitoring locations according to defined criteria

safely packaging and transporting supplies, equipment and instruments to and from the field

setting up and calibrating handheld sound level meters to obtain verifiable results

assembling, testing, operating and closing down a field-based, noise monitoring station

performing automatic and manual noise measurements to obtain valid and reliable data

identifying atypical results as out-of-normal range or an artefact

identifying and rectifying basic instrument faults

manipulating raw data to obtain corrected and adjusted data in the required format and calculating required noise parameters

applying noise standards and/or statutory noise limits to evaluate noise data, if relevant

providing accurate, complete records of noise measurements, field observations, data and results

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

working safely.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

scientific terminology, concepts and principles, such as:

sound and noise

frequency, pitch and wavelength

sound power and acoustic energy

sound levels, pressure and intensity

sound attenuation with distance

measurement units (dBA and others)

adding and subtracting sound levels

physiology of hearing, perception of noise

sources of noise, point sources and line sources

types of noise, such as continuous, intermittent and impulsive

typical noise levels

frequency weighting curves

function of key components and operating principles of sound level meters/noise measuring instruments, including response, sensitivity and range, hold circuits, integrating and averaging meters

calibration of handheld sound level meters/noise measuring instruments

effects on test results of modifying meter/instrument variables

measurement methods, including techniques for:

measuring different noise types, including steady noise, discretely varying noise and impulsive noise

methods for measuring noise exposure, including equivalent continuous sound level (Leq)

common sources of uncertainty in sound level measurement, including mishandling of equipment, meteorological conditions, effects of topography and built structures, reflected and absorbed sound, and background noise effects

data processing techniques, such as:

frequency analysis and weighting networks (including at least A and Lin)

calculation of combined sound levels using graphical and mathematical equation techniques

statistical analysis, including LAeq, LA10, LA50 and LA90

time weighted exposure measurement (LAeqT)

characterisation of noise by octave band analysis

background noise calculations, background noise level (LA90)

day and night sound levels (LDN)

calculation of individual noise exposure

noise mapping

noise rating curves

specific legislation, policies and codes of practice related to environmental noise measurement, noise standards and statutory noise limits

procedures for maintaining, storing and transporting noise measurement equipment and instrumentation

relevant hazards, health, safety and environment requirements, including field safety principles.