Permissible Noise Exposures

[CountOlaf]

Safety guys:

I know OSHA has that section/chart where "hours per day" exposure correlates to "sound level in dB" beginning at 90 and going up to 115 with a corresponding 8 hrs declining to 0.25 hrs of permissible exposure.

My question is:

I seem to recall a magic number like 85 db that you don't want to exceed with noise-generating equipment. This could have been a specific company's policy (e.g., Chrysler) and perhaps by not exceeding this number and knowing that a normal shift is 8 hrs, you wouldn't have a "hearing protection required" issue. Is this true or is it some other number? 80 or 90?

 

[jsummerfield]

In the US we have to monitor employee hearing when exposed to sound greater than 85 db. Word search the regulations for 85 db.

John

 

[jsummerfield]

Excerpts from § 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure

(c) Hearing conservation program. (1) The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.
For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G–16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.
(2) For purposes of paragraphs (c) through of this section, an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or a dose of fifty percent shall also be referred to as the action level.
(d) Monitoring. (1) When information indicates that any employee’s exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/multidb.cgi

John

 

[Rich2001]

A quotation from OSHA General Industry Standards, section 1910.95(c)(1)

The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9735&p_table=STANDARDS

 

[CountOlaf]

Thank you all. I guess 85 is the magic number.