Warning Signs of Hazardous Workplace Noise
There are various factors that may indicate noise is a problem in the workplace. While people react differently to noise, subjective responses should not be ignored because they may provide warnings that noise may be at unacceptable levels.
Noisy conditions can make normal conversation difficult. As a general guideline, the work area is too noisy if a worker cannot make himself understood without raising his or her voice while talking to a co-worker 3 feet away. Other clues that it's too loud include:
- When noise levels are above 80 decibels (dB), people have to speak very loudly.
- When noise levels are between 85 and 90 dB, people have to shout.
- When noise levels are greater than 95 dB, people have to move close together to hear each other at all.
Noise-induced hearing loss can develop rapidly in workers exposed to relatively high noise levels on a daily basis.
When It's Too Loud in the Workplace
OSHA requires that employees be placed in a hearing conservation program if they are exposed to average noise levels of 85 dB (called the "action level") or greater during an 8 hour workday. In order to determine if exposures are at or above the action level, it may be necessary to measure or monitor the actual noise levels in the workplace and to estimate the noise exposure or "dose" received by employees during the workday.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-6. You can be pretty sure there is too much noise in your workplace when _____.
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