Hearing Conservation and Noise Control

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Hearing Conservation
and Noise
Control
Bureau of Workers Comp
PA Training for Health
Safety (PATHS)
29 CFR 1910.95
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Why??????
Huh? What?

• Its the LAW
• Quality of Life
• Gradual/Painless

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Anatomy of the Ear
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Types of Hearing Loss

• Conductive Occurs in ear canal, drum, ossicles
• Central Damage to auditory nerve
• Sensorineural Nerve damage in cochlea

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Health Effects Other Than
Hearing Loss
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Degree of Risk

• Frequency How often workers exposed
• Intensity How loud
• Duration How long
• Individual Variability Persons resistance

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How Loud is Loud?

• Jet engine 140 db
• Threshold of Pain 125 db
• Pneumatic hammer 110 db
• Compressed Air 105 db
• Punch Press 95 db
• Lawn Mower 90 db
• Conversation 65 db

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Hearing Protective EquipmentAdvantages/Disadvanta
ges

• Cotton Balls Virtually no protection
• Canal Blockers/Ear Pods Only cover opening of
  ear canal
• 
  

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Hearing Protective EquipmentAdvantages/Disadvanta
ges

• Ear Muffs Good overall protection
• Ear Plugs Can be difficult to insert annoying
  to wear

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How to Insert Earplugs

• Roll the earplug into a tight cylinder
• 2. Lift the top of your ear to open the canal
• 3. Insert earplug into the open canal
• 4. Hold earplug in place until the foam expands
• 5. Repeat Steps 1 4 to insert into other
  ear

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Safety Factor Noise
Reduction Rating

• OSHA protocol
• For A scale measurements, NRR minus 7
• Example
• Noise exposure 92 dBA
• Manufacturers NRR 15
• 15 7 8 (effective noise exposure
  reduction)
• 92 8 84 dBA

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NRR Determinationmore from OSHA

• If using dB(A) scale Noise level minus NRR
  minus 7 divided by 2 Noise level at ear
  ex. Noise level 98 dBA
  NRR 25 dBA 98 - 25-7/29 98-989dB.
  
• If using dB(C) scale Noise level minus NRR
  divided by two Noise level at ear
  ex. Noise level 98 dBA NRR 25 dBA 98
  25/212.5 98-12.585.5 dB.

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Exposure Limits Time
Weighted Average (TWA)

• Time Weighted Average Sound Level
• That sound level, which if constant over an 8
  hour exposure, would result in the same dose as
  is measured.
• To determine TWA if working in different areas
  with different noise level readings over 8 hour
  work shift
• ? Use 1910.95, Appendix A, Table G-16A
• ? Table A-1

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OSHAs Permissible Noise Exposure

• 102 dB 1.5 hours
• 105 dB 1.0 hours
• 110 dB 30 minutes
• 115 dB 15 minutes

• 90 dB 8.0 hours
• 92 dB 6.0 hours
• 95 dB 4.0 hours
• 97 dB 3.0 hours
• 100 dB 2.0 hours

At or above controls Engineering,
Administrative, PPE
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Exposure Limits

• If exposure to 8 hour Time Weighted Average
  (TWA)
• ? ACGIH 85 dBA
  (action level)
• ? NIOSH 85 dBA
  (action level)
• ? OSHA ?84 dBA
  nothing required
• 85 89 dBA
  
• - monitoring
• - testing
• - protection
• - training
• - recordkeeping
• 90 dBA (Permissible Noise Exposure Limit)
  

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Noise Monitoring

• Required by the OSHA standard to identify all
  noise at or above 85 dBA
• Monitoring must be performed whenever there is an
  increase in production or equipment is added that
  could increase the noise level

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Audiograms
Audiograms are required every year to identify if
there has been a loss of hearing. The solid
line shows a normal result with no hearing loss.
The dotted line represents a typical noise
induced hearing loss (NIHL).
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Training Requirements

• Annual Training
• Hearing Conservation Elements
• Hearing Protectors

Hearing Conservation Program
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Recordkeeping

• Monitoring records
• (Keep for 2 years)
• Audiometric testing records
• (Keep for period of employment)

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Noise Control

• Engineering (e.g. sound barriers)
• Administrative (e.g. worker rotation)
• Personal Protective Equipment (e.g. ear plugs,
  ear muffs)

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What is your Company doing to Control Exposure

• ? Monitoring?
• ? Engineering?
• ? Administrative?
• ? PPE?
• If youre not sure you should check with your
  Supervisor!

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Questions?