ECCO’s line of tonal, smart and multi-frequency alarms are designed to keep your operators safe while maintaining the quality of life in the communities that you serve every day. It is a delicate balancing act and these safety solutions are up to the task.
Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics about 70 workers die each year in the US due to commercial vehicle reversing accidents? ECCO know that reversing accidents can result in serious injury and expensive damage to vehicles and equipment. That’s why they designed a line of back-up alarms to protect workers, the public, and your company assets. Worried your neighbors will be irritated by the noise? ECCO thought of that, too, so they created an extensive line of Noise Pollution Solutions.
From light-duty trucks to off-road, heavy-duty vehicles, ECCO has an alarm to meet your safety needs. These products have been put through the ringer and are built to perform where you work, under any conditions.
The new Smart Alarms self-adjust to varying environmental noise by continually listening and reacting to ambient sound levels adjusting their output to 5 dB(A) above to ensure their sound is audible without creating a nuisance. It’s the smartest way to ensure OSHA compliance and eliminate noise complaints – available in tonal and multi-frequency models.
When considering which alarm is right for you, first choose between a tonal alarm and a multi-frequency alarm. Industry experts have suggested either can provide an effective warning and each has its merits.
Wondering what the difference is between tonal and multi-frequency? Tonal alarms emit sound at a single predominant frequency resulting in the familiar ‘beep-beep’ warning signal that we’ve all grown accustomed to. Conversely, multi-frequency alarms emit sound at multiple frequencies within a narrow band resulting in a ‘shhh-shhh’ warning sound. There is no scientific evidence to prove either sound is more effective than the other in a reversing vehicle application. However, there are several points of view that should be considered when choosing between the two.
Next up, you must choose an alarm with the appropriate sound pressure level (SPL). OSHA requires a reverse alarm to be audible above the surrounding noise level. If you know the ambient noise level and it remains reasonably constant then the appropriate fixed dB alarm can be selected, whether tonal or multi-frequency.
The key is complying with the requirements of OSHA while selecting the lowest SPL alarm possible so as not to create a noise nuisance. Fortunately, ECCO pioneered another solution — the Smart Alarm®, available in either tonal or multifrequency. Smart Alarms monitor ambient noise automatically and adjust their output to 5dB above that, satisfying OSHA’s requirements. Perfect for worksites with inconsistent noise or varying noise levels.
After decades of innovation, there is more to an alarm today than meets the ear. Learn the differences between tonal and multi-frequency alarms as well as other features. To explore your options and discover which alarm works best for your application, give Sirennet a call at 503-670-4700.