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29 CFR 1910.95

10/1/99 Created By: C. Miterko 2

What is Sound?
Sound is what we hear and is produced by vibrating objects and reaches the listeners ears as waves in the air or other media. When an object vibrates it causes slight changes in air pressure. These air pressure changes travel as waves through the air and produce sound.
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?What is Noise

)Hertz (Hz

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Frequency
Humans can typically hear between 20 - 20,000 Hz 20 20000 3000 0.00002 Pa
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 dB . : dB = 20 log {sound pressure/Ref. Pressure (0.00002 })Pa Sound pressure level in very quite room where the sound pressure is 0.002 Pa is: Lp (dB) = 20 log (0.002/0.00002) = 20 log 100 = 40 dB
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Common Sounds
0 dB 30 dB 40 dB 60 dB 80 dB 90 dB 110 dB 120 dB 140 dB 180 dB Threshold of Hearing Soft Whisper Quiet Office Conversational Speech Very noisy restaurant Subway Woodworking Hydraulic press Threshold of Pain Jet plane Rocket

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?How do we Hear
-1 -2 -3 -4

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Example
In the field, we determined the loudness of two compressors right next to each other
89 dB 87 dB

How loud is this area?

Do we add? Do we add and take the average?

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Neither, because it is a log scale We use the following chart

Difference in dB Values 0-1 dB 2-3 dB
4-9 dB 10 dB or more

Add to Higher Level 3 dB 2 dB

1 dB 0 dB

82 dB + 83 dB = 86 dB 87 dB + 89 dB = 91 dB
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How does the Safety Person determine noise levels

Sound level meter
Determine the loudness (dB) of noise at any given moment

Personal Dosimeters
Worn by employees Measures the average loudness in an 8 hour work shift 8hr. TWA (Time Weighted Average) 8

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What does OSHA say?

At 85 dB (8hr. TWA) (Action level) 8( 85 )
Train employees Make hearing protection available Sample for noise levels Do hearing tests Notify employees of results

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Hearing Conservation Program

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Hearing Conservation Program

Monitoring: Employers should monitor noise exposure levels to identify employees who are exposed to noise levels at or above 85 dBA averaged over 8 working hours, or an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Noise level meters & Noise Dosemeter are used after being calibrated.
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When the daily noise exposure has two or more noise exposures at different levels, their combined values should be considered. (Use the following formula) F(e) = (T(1) divided by L(1) + (T(2) divided by L(2(( + )T)n( divided by L)n(( F(e)= The equivalent noise exposure factor T= The period of noise exposure at any essentially constant level. L= The duration of the permissible noise exposure at the constant level. If the value of F(e) exceeds unity (the value 1), the exposure exceeds PEL.
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Example: 110 dbA 0.25 hours 100 dbA 0.5 hours 90 dbA 1.5 Hours F(e) = (0.25/0.5) + (0.5/2)+(1.5/8) F(e)=0.5+0.25+0.1888 F(e) = 0.938 Since F(e) does not exceed unity (1), the exposure limit is within permissible limits

Duration Per Day, Hours

8
6 4 3 2

Sound Level dBA 90 92 95 97 100 102 105

107

110
115

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Audiometric Testing
Should the noise level monitoring determine that employees are being subjected to levels equaling or exceeding a TWA of 85 dBA, the next step is to establish an audiometric testing program for those exposed at no cost to the employee. The important elements of an audiometric program include: Baseline audiograms, Annual audiograms, Control measures, Training, and follow-up procedures.
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Baseline Audiograms
It is the reference audiogram against which future audiograms are compared. Must be provided within 6 months of an employees first exposure at or above 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA. (Control measures should be taken) Baseline Audiogram must be preceded by 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise.
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Annual Audiograms
After baseline audiogram has been taken, each employee exposed to noise levels at the 85 dBA or above shall have annual examination. Annual audiogram must be conducted within 1 year of the baseline. Compared with baseline audiograms results.
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Continued
To determine whether an employee has experienced any recordable hearing loss. The hearing loss is reffered to in the OSHA standard as :Standard Threshold Shift (STS). OSHA defines STS as a change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of an average of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000, Hz in either ear.
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Example Baseline Audiogram

125 250 500 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K 8K

10 0

10
20 30 40 50

Baseline Audiogram (The initial audiogram taken by worker when first employed.)

Annual Audiogram (Showing STS)

125 250 500 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K 8K

10 0

BASELINE 16

10
20 30 40 50

9
8 ANNUAL

16 + 9 + 8 = 33 33 / 3 = 11
Reportable Loss? NO STS ? YES

Control
The standard states that if the 90 dB PEL is being exceeded, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If fails, PPE shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels.

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Administrative Controls
* Are defined as, Methods of controlling employee exposures by job rotation, work assignment, or time periods away from the hazards.

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Engineering Control
Are defined as Methods of controlling employee exposures by modifying the source or reducing the quantity of contaminants released into the workroom environment. Example: installing noise absorbing acoustical foam or baffles to capture and deaden reverberating noise.
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Hearing Protectors
Hearing protectors shall be made available and shall be worn by all employees exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA or greaters. Types of hearing protectors: Ear muffs Ear plugs Ear canal
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Examples of Hearing Protectors

Earmuffs

Earplugs

Canal Caps

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Hearing Protection
NRR - Noise reduction rating
Express - 25 NRR Classic - 29 NRR Max Lite - 30 NRR

DO NOT Subtract the NRR from the noise level

WRONG (109 dB - 25 NRR = 84 dB)

You must use the Safety Factor

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Safety Factor
OSHA says the hearing protection is designed to reduce the noise by the NRR, but that is unlikely to happen due to :
Leaks in the seal Vibration Improper insertion

(NRR - 7)

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Example of NRR Protection

The noise at a large compressor is 109 dB You are wearing the Express plugs with an NRR of 25
Do you have enough protection to place you below 90 dB level?

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Training - Recordkeeping
Employees training is very important. All employees exposed to noise at a TWA of 85 dBA or greater shall participate in a hearing conservation training program. An accurate records shall maintained of all employee exposure measurements.

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