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Case Study

Teck Trail Occupational Noise Survey

Year Completed

2021

About This Project

The Occupational Noise Survey at Teck Metals Ltd.’s Trail Operations facility was undertaken to update and reassess workplace noise conditions across the plant. Previous measurements conducted in 2011 had identified high-risk zones where workers are required to wear double hearing protection as part of standard safety practices.

As part of its ongoing occupational health and safety initiatives, Teck sought a clearer understanding of current noise conditions throughout the facility, along with opportunities to reduce worker noise exposure through engineering controls where practical.

BKL was engaged to conduct an occupational noise survey at the Trail Operations site, with the objective of developing updated noise maps for the identified high-risk areas and reviewing potential noise mitigation options. Measurements and assessments were carried out in accordance with CSA Z107.56-13, Measurement of Noise Exposure, a standard referenced in WorkSafeBC guidance for occupational noise assessments.

Scope of services

Our work focused on collecting reliable field data and translating it into practical insights that could support noise management and mitigation efforts within the facility.

Key components of the scope included:

  • Site survey and noise measurements: We conducted a week long site visit to measure sound levels in the high-risk areas previously identified within the plant. Measurements were taken at approximately ear height using a Type 1 integrating sound level meter, ensuring measurement accuracy consistent with occupational noise assessment standards. Measurement locations were selected in areas where workers typically perform tasks or spend time during regular operations.
  • Noise data collection and analysis: At each measurement location, the survey recorded several acoustical parameters according to the CSA standard, and as required by WorksafeBC. Measurements were conducted for durations sufficient to ensure the readings reflected stable and representative noise conditions.
  • Noise mapping: Following the site measurements, we developed noise contour maps for the surveyed areas. These maps provide a clear visual representation of how noise is distributed within each area of the facility. The final report included tables of measurement data, mapped measurement locations, and the resulting noise contour maps, creating a clear dataset to support further evaluation.
  • Preliminary review of noise mitigation opportunities: During the survey, we also reviewed potential conceptual noise control measures, with the goal of identifying practical opportunities for noise reduction. Examples may include the installation of silencers, acoustical enclosures, or barriers around noise-generating equipment.

Project benefits

The noise survey provided Teck with an updated understanding of noise conditions across key operational areas at the Trail Operations facility.

Key outcomes of the project include:

  • Improved understanding of noise distribution: The measurement data and noise maps show where higher noise levels occur and how sound levels vary across different areas of the plant. This supports operations and safety teams in assessing potential worker noise exposure.
  • Support for future noise control planning: By identifying potential mitigation opportunities at a conceptual level, the survey helps inform future discussions around engineering controls that could reduce noise at the source or along the transmission path.
  • Baseline data for future improvements: The survey establishes a baseline of current noise conditions within the high-risk areas. This information can be used to support future improvement initiatives, follow-up studies, or comparisons after operational or equipment changes.

Through this work, we provided the data and analysis needed to better understand the workplace noise conditions and support ongoing efforts to manage occupational noise and protect worker hearing health.

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The People Behind Our Work

Our Technical Leads

  • Mark Bliss
    Mark Bliss

    P.Eng., INCE

    President

    Mark Bliss

    Mark Bliss, P.Eng., INCE

    President

    Mark Bliss is a professional engineer and member of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE), with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia. He has practiced as an acoustical consultant since 2003.

    Mark specializes in environmental noise and vibration assessment, with extensive experience evaluating transportation, industrial, construction, entertainment, commercial and other noise impacts. He has worked with all levels of government on noise policy and planning, and has appeared as an expert witness before the British Columbia Supreme Court and at municipal council hearings.

    His work includes field measurement, noise modelling, mitigation assessment and detailed reporting, using national and international standards and specialized software such as Cadna/A. He has prepared Environmental Assessment Certificate applications to BCEAA, CEAA and IFC requirements, and has conducted third-party reviews and training in noise and vibration measurement and assessment.

    Mark also has extensive experience in building acoustics, working on new construction and renovations to address environmental and mechanical noise, improve speech intelligibility and room acoustics, and achieve effective airborne and impact sound isolation. His work draws on CSA, ISO, ASTM, ANSI, WHO, Health Canada and other recognized standards and guidelines.

  • Gary Mak
    Gary Mak

    P.Eng., PMP

    Technical Director, Environmental Noise and Vibration

    Gary Mak

    Gary Mak, P.Eng., PMP

    Technical Director, Environmental Noise and Vibration

    Gary Mak graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and joined BKL the same year. Gary has since worked in the areas of environmental noise assessments, mechanical/industrial noise control, and architectural acoustics.

    Gary’s experience in architectural acoustics includes hospitals, educational facilities, performance spaces, offices, and operations buildings. His contributions to these projects include reviewing project acoustical requirements and building designs for partition sound isolation, room acoustics, mechanical noise control, and environmental noise control. For performance venues, Gary has experience working with more advanced techniques and parameters to assess and improve acoustical conditions for performers and audiences.

    Performing noise and vibration impact assessments for transportation, construction, industrial, and commercial projects, Gary has established baseline noise conditions, predicted future noise environments, rated noise impacts, and determined mitigation measures to meet project criteria. In particular, he has worked on mines, terminals, rail, transit centres, district energy centres, and other industrial and transportation projects.

    Gary is proficient in performing noise and vibration measurements with a variety of specialized equipment for investigations, bylaw assessments, room acoustics, and Sound Transmission Class (STC), and Impact Insulation Class (IIC) testing. He is also very familiar with using acoustical software including Cadna/A, Samurai, Insul, EASERA, and ODEON for impact analysis and design.

  • Brigette Martin
    Brigette Martin

    P.Eng., WELL AP

    Technical Director, Sound and Vibration Measurements

    Brigette Martin

    Brigette Martin, P.Eng., WELL AP

    Technical Director, Sound and Vibration Measurements

    Brigette Martin graduated from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2009. Before joining BKL in 2015, Brigette worked as an acoustic consultant on various building and environmental projects throughout New Zealand and Australia.

    Brigette has extensive experience with environmental noise including assessing noise impacts and designing noise mitigation for gas compressor and pump stations, power generation sites, port terminals, and transformers sites; modelling construction noise, and developing construction noise abatement and management plans; designing noise controls and preparing noise management plans for mines and quarries; and monitoring benchmark noise, developing 3-D noise models, and designing noise walls for road infrastructure projects.

    In the area of building acoustics, Brigette has been involved in numerous projects and has consulted on sound insulation and mechanical services design, as well as controlling external noise intrusion and reverberation noise levels, and optimizing speech clarity for critical spaces.

    Over her career, Brigette has gained experience with a wide range of technical equipment and software including Insul, SoundPLAN, Cadna/A, SONarchitect, Brüel & Kjær analyzers, and numerous other sound level meters.

    Brigette has also developed and presented training courses for using acoustical software and sound level meters for acoustical engineers and clients throughout New Zealand and Australia.

  • Trevor Cheng
    Trevor Cheng

    P.Eng., MIOA

    Managing Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Trevor Cheng

    Trevor Cheng, P.Eng., MIOA

    Managing Specialist Acoustical Consultant

    Trevor Cheng holds a bachelor of applied science (engineering physics) from University of British Columbia and joined BKL in January 2016, with experience in environmental and architectural acoustics, as well as condition monitoring, and machine vibration analysis and diagnostics.

    With BKL, Trevor has primarily been involved in transportation, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. His work experience includes measuring baseline noise conditions, predicting future noise environments, assessing noise impact, and offering mitigation measures where appropriate.

    Trevor also has experience in architectural acoustics, working on hospitals, performance spaces, and multipurpose buildings. He is proficient in measuring noise insulation performance, reviewing building designs, and predicting noise levels from HVAC equipment.

    Prior to joining BKL, Trevor worked in London, UK, on a wide variety of projects ranging from large-scale architectural renovations to major airport improvement works. He has unique experience in measuring and assessing noise and vibration in buildings from underground rail sources.

    He also has experience using sound level meters by Brüel & Kjær, Norsonic, and Larson Davis, and software tools such as Cadna/A. He is familiar with ASTC/AIIC testing and using acoustic software including Insul, SONarchitect, and EASE for indoor noise predictions.

    Trevor is a member of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) in the UK.