Excessive Noise
Every year, approximately 30 million people in the United States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise.
Employers must have a hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an eight-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA). A decibel is an expression of the relative loudness of sound in air as perceived by the human ear.
When employees are exposed to sound levels exceeding those listed in the table, administrative or engineering controls must be used. For instance, if employees are exposed to an average of 90 dBA over an 8-hour workday, then hearing protection controls must be used.
| NOISE EXPOSURE LEVELS | |
|---|---|
| Hours Per Day | Sound Level (dBA) |
| 8 | 90 |
| 6 | 92 |
| 4 | 95 |
| 3 | 97 |
| 2 | 100 |
| 1.5 | 102 |
| 1 | 105 |
| ≤.25 | 115 |
To reduce exposure to excessive noise in the construction industry, take the following precautions:
- Reduce the time workers spend in noisy areas.
- Rotate two or more workers so that each is exposed to noise less than 85 dBA, averaged over an eight-hour day.
- Shut down noisy equipment when it's not needed.
- Maintain equipment so it runs smoothly and quietly.
- Ensure workers know how to perform their tasks and operate equipment at safe noise levels.
- Use earplugs and earmuffs. To be effective, they must totally block the ear canal with an airtight seal. An improperly fitted, dirty, or worn-out plug will not seal and can irritate the ear canal.
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9-2. What can employers do to reduce exposure to excessive noise?
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