Noise
Employers must implement a Hearing Conservation Program where laboratory workers are exposed to a time weighted average noise level of 85 dBA or higher over an 8 hour work shift.
Hearing Conservation Programs require employers to measure noise levels, provide free annual hearing exams and free hearing protection, provide training, and conduct evaluations of the adequacy of the hearing protectors in use unless changes to tools, equipment and schedules are made so that they are less noisy and worker exposure to noise is less than the 85 dBA.
To learn more about time-weighted averages and other hearing protection topics, review OSHAcademy course 751 Hearing Conservation Program Management.
The monitoring program must include the following components:
- All continuous, intermittent, and impulsive sound levels from 80-130 dBA must be included in noise measurements;
- Instruments used to measure worker noise exposure must be calibrated to ensure measurement accuracy; and
- Monitoring must be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
8-4. Employers must implement a Hearing Conservation Program where laboratory workers are exposed to a time weighted average noise level of_____.
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