OSHA Guide to Noise and Hearing Safety, Health and Conservation

One of the occupational hazards of life in theloss.
modern industrial age is exposure to noise, bothThe rule refers to 1910.95 mandate hearing
inside and outside the workplace. Acoustic noiseprotection program as the "Hearing Conservation
can be defined as unwanted sound and loudProgram." This program has five parts operational
sounds of 80 decibels (dB) are consideredmandate: (1) Noise Monitoring (2) Evidence of
potentially hazardous. According to the Nationalaudiometry (3) training for employees (4) hearing
Institute of Deafness and Other Communicationprotectors and (5) Maintenance of records.
Disorders (NIDCD), more than 30 millionNoise monitoring
Americans are regularly exposed to dangerousSound levels in the workplace should be measured
levels of sound. According to the EPA the numberto determine which employees to include in the
of people exposed to damage induced by noise isagenda, the need for hearing protection
about 9 million.equipment and its suitability.
The noise is considered a necessary evil andAudiometric test
insidious effects of exposure above acceptableAll employees in the program should be a baseline
levels are generally not effective, especially sinceto determine existing audiometric hearing loss, if
there are no visible effects. The main effect ofany. Annual tests will be conducted later to
excess noise is hearing loss, whether temporaryevaluate the effectiveness of the program and
or permanent, depending on the level and durationthe appropriate corrective action as necessary.
of exposure. What is even less known sideThe rule requires that audiometric tests are
effects ranging from sleep disorders: stress andcarried out by suitably qualified personnel, under
fatigue, irritability, annoyance and lack ofthe supervision of an audiologist or ENT doctor.
concentration. Noise-induced lack of attention andEmployee training
consequent loss of effectiveness are of primaryAll employees in the program should receive
concern in the workplace. It is not only affectedannual training on the effects of noise on hearing,
productivity, but the chances of accidents, whichhearing protection devices and purpose of
affect workers and job security are alsoaudiometric testing.
increasing.Hearing protectors
Federal Occupational Safety and HealthHearing protection devices must be accessible to
Administration (OSHA) has developed standardsall employees in the program.
for acceptable threshold limits of noise in theRecord Keeping
workplace and the mitigation of excessive noise.Records of worker exposure (measurement
29 CFR 1910.95 standards occupational noisenoise), acoustic or exhaustive calibration
exposure, sets permissible exposure limits foraudiometer and audiometric records should be
different durations of exposure. Recommend theupdated. These records will be kept for specific
level of exposure, according to the rule, is 85 dBperiods of time.
A in an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA)Experience has shown that effective programs
basis. If this limit is exceeded, feasible engineeringfor the protection of hearing loss are universally
or administrative controls must be used. If thesebeneficial and that both the employer and
controls to reduce sound levels within the limits ofemployees can benefit from the programs.
exposure, personal protective equipment (PPE) isEmployees are protected against hearing loss,
to be provided. Moreover, regardless of thefatigue and general weakness. The employer
reduction of exposure to noise of 85 dB A orbenefits from improved productivity and
down to the use of PPE, the employer isemployee morale and enjoy medical workers and
implementing a program for protection of hearingreducing compensation costs.