Noise Reduction in Manufacturing with Air Nozzles

This case study outlines the efforts of a large manufacturing facility to reduce occupational noise exposure among personnel by minimizing the noise produced by their compressed air guns and nozzles. Initially, the facility used various air nozzles that generated noise levels between 88-100 dBA, exceeding OSHA's maximum allowable sound level exposure of 90 dBA for an 8-hour workday. This excessive noise not only caused discomfort but also led to operators neglecting hearing protection and reducing their blow-off time, resulting in increased part failures due to residual coolant. After retrofitting 25 air guns with EXAIR's Model 1103 Mini Super Air Nozzles, the facility achieved a significant 15 dBA reduction in noise levels, bringing them down to 71 dBA. This change not only maintained adequate force for effective coolant removal but also encouraged operators to be more diligent in their processes, ultimately decreasing part rejections and ensuring compliance with OSHA standards.