UPHS – Portage Collaborates with MTU Acoustics Class to Reduce Noise Pollution in Laboratory

UP Health System – Portage (UPHS – Portage) recently collaborated with students in a Michigan Technological University (MTU) acoustics class to reduce noise pollution from laboratory equipment, achieved by rearranging equipment. The students took on the task as a part of their spring 2024 class project.

UPHS – Portage Laboratory Director Jen Heltunen, did a Q&A to provide insight on the project, how the collaboration came about, the benefits of soundproofing, and how her staff are feeling since completion. 

Q: Tell us what this project is and how it came to be.

A: The main focus was to reduce noise pollution in the laboratory for staff. We have a lot of equipment (analyzers, refrigerators and freezers) that produce excessive amounts of noise that make it difficult for us to communicate with each other and the clinics. 

Constant levels of noise to this degree can cause hearing loss over time and create day-to-day stress on laboratory staff, so a change was needed to ensure better patient and staff outcomes. 

Q: What were the key findings?

A: The class visited three times with different objectives–assess the equipment locations, measure sound pressure levels (SPL) in key areas and rearrange noisy equipment to decrease SPL without distributing laboratory workflows.

The student's work reduced noise in the lab's biggest problem area by 11 decibels, resulting in an estimated 50 percent reduction in overall noise. This was achieved by isolating the refrigerators and freezers in one area in a row—which lab staff now lovingly refer to by the nickname "Frig-Row." They also highly recommended we purchase a soundproofing curtain to place between our hallway and the quiet space in the lab, as well as noise-dampening suspended ceiling tiles over the Frig-Row section. 

Q: What are the benefits of this project?

A: We have great resources in our community and with the help of the acoustics class we were able to make great strides in the lab to address noise pollution. This project grew our relationship even further and we are hoping to have the students come back next spring to help implement the other suggested materials (soundproof curtains and ceiling tiles). 

Q: How are your staff feeling since completed?

My staff is extremely thankful to be able to come to work every day with less noise and better communication. I would like to extend my thanks to the MTU acoustics class for their hard work and dedication to helping our unit.

To learn more about the acoustics at MTU, click here.