Search

Question of the Week: Hearing Conservation

Posted on 2/7/2012 by James Griffin

Q. We have a lot of machinery that give off noise. How do we know if we need some type of hearing loss program?
 
A. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protects workers in the workplace from many hazards. One of the hazards that is often overlooked by employers is noise exposure, because you cannot see it. However, long-term exposure to loud or high pitched noise can cause irreversible damage to employees, so OSHA created the Occupational Noise Exposure standard found at 29 CFR 1910.95.
 
Without getting into any numbers yet, some good indicators that noise levels in your workplace have exceeded “acceptable” limits include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
  • It is necessary to shout in order to hear three feet away,
  • Noise levels seem louder than busy city traffic,
  • After exposure, you notice muffling or softening of sounds,
  • After work shift ends, it is necessary to increase the volume of the radio or TV to a level too loud for others, or
  • You experience tinnitus (a loud ringing or buzzing noise that continues after the noise stops).
OSHA requires noise exposure to be measured in decibels according to the “A scale” (dBA). The dBA scale most closely mimics the scale of human hearing and is measured with a device that has a damper on the meter needle. This ensures that readings are averaged out when sound levels are uneven.
 
Depending on how many hours an employee is exposed to a given noise, they will have different permissible exposure limits (PEL). Regardless of PELs, employers must administer a hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed the “action level.” The action level is an 8-hour, time-weighted average (TWA) constant sound level of 85 dBA, or equivalent dose. [29 CFR 1910.95(c)]
 
The TWA is the daily “amount” of noise that the employee is exposed to, not a single exposure, and is affected by how loud the noise is, how close the employee is to the source of the noise, and how long the employee is exposed. It is important to note that this noise level should be calculated without regard to protection offered by personal protective equipment (such as ear plugs or ear muffs).
 
The regulations for PELs and measuring TWAs can be found in Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.95
 
If it is determined that you need a hearing conservation program, it must include the following elements:
 
  • Employee monitoring,
  • Employee notifications,
  • An audiometric testing program,
  • Hearing protectors,
  • Training,
  • Employee access to information, and
  • Recordkeeping.
If you or anyone at your facility requires more information on OSHA’s standards for noise exposure, we recommend taking Lion’s Hearing Conservation online training program
 
 

Tags: osha

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I really enjoy your workshops. Thank you for such a great program and all the help Lion has provided me over the years!

George Chatman

Hazardous Material Pharmacy Technician

Lion's training was by far the best online RCRA training I've ever taken. It was challenging and the layout was great!

Paul Harbison

Hazardous Waste Professional

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

The instructor kept the class engaged and made learning fun. There was a lot of information to cover but time flew by. I will definitely use Lion in the future!

Chelsea Minguela

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Lion's online training is more comprehensive, has better slides, and is a superior training experience than what I would get from other trainers.

Robert Brenner

District Environmental Manager

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

The instructor had knowledge of regulations and understanding of real-world situations. The presentation style was engaging and fostered a positive atmosphere for information sharing.

Linda Arlen

Safety & Environmental Compliance Officer

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Tips to identify and manage universal waste under more-stringent state regulations for generators and universal waste handlers in California.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.