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#OSHA DECIBEL CHART HOW TO#

#OSHA DECIBEL CHART HOW TO#

If you’re not sure how to apply these regulations, OSHA has thought of that, too.

The employer shall ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors.

The employer shall provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees.

Employees shall be given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer.

Additional regulations straight from OSHA that are good to note under 1910.95(i) are: In other words, if noise exposure is at or above 85 decibels averaged over eight working hours, or an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA), hearing protection is required. Hearing protectors shall be replaced as necessary. Hearing protection devices (HPDs), such as earmuffs and earplugs, are considered an acceptable option to control exposures to noise and are generally used during the time necessary to implement engineering or administrative controls, when noise controls are not feasible, or when a worker's hearing tests indicate significant hearing damage.įor hearing protection requirements, the OSHA regulation states that:Įmployers shall make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees.

Specifically, for every doubling of the distance between the source of noise and the worker, the noise is decreased by 6 dBA.This is often an effective, yet simple and inexpensive administrative control.Control noise exposure through distance.

Provide quiet areas where workers can gain relief from hazardous noise sources.Limit the amount of time a person spends at a noise source.Operate noisy machines during shifts when fewer people are exposed.Place a barrier between the noise source and employee (ex: sound walls or curtains)Īdministrative controls are changes in the workplace or schedule that reduce or eliminate a worker's exposure to noise.Maintain and lubricate machinery and equipment (ex: oil bearings).Examples of inexpensive, effective engineering controls include: There are several ways to do this:Įngineering controls involve modifying or replacing equipment or making related physical changes at the noise source or along the transmission path to reduce the noise level at the worker's ear. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels, personal protective equipment (hearing protection) should be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table (more on that below).Įven a reduction of a few decibels can reduce risk and noise-related annoyance and improve communication. The OSHA standard 1910.95(b)(1) states when employees are subjected to sound exceeding 85 decibels (dB), feasible administrative or engineering controls should be utilized. Noise controls are the first line of defense against excessive noise exposure that work to eliminate or minimize any risk to hearing.

Here’s the most relevant information regarding OSHA’s hearing protection requirements. In 2015, a company was charged $53,100 for violating OSHA’s hearing requirements due to “willful violation for lack of feasible administrative or engineering controls,” among other items – an expensive lesson in making sure your workers are properly protected. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has put regulations in place for employers to mitigate injury and stay in compliance when occupational hazardous noise is present, protecting workers from potential short- and long-term damage of hazardous noise on the ears.Īnd if these regulations aren’t followed, violation fines (in addition to the direct and indirect costs of injury) can get pricey. This is an important question, as hearing must be protected every single time you’re exposed to hazardous noise when at work (and even at home) in order to best preserve your hearing.