If you’ve got noisy work areas, you’ve probably also got questions about hearing protection and OSHA requirements. The experts at Safety.BLR.com® have been fielding these questions for years. Here is a sampling that may be helpful for your workplace.
(NOTE: To get all the details of OSHA’s hearing protection requirements, refer to the Occupational Noise Exposure standard at 29 CFR 1910.95.)
Q. We know that exposure to noise levels over 85 decibels (dB) may cause hearing damage. But what does that noise level really mean?
A. Here are some example benchmarks from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
Whisper—30 dB
Normal conversation—60 dB
Ringing phone 80—dB
Hand drill 98—dB
Chain saw 110—dB
Ambulance—120 dB
Q. What type of hearing protection blocks out the most noise?
A. Usually earplugs block out the most noise up to 30 decibels. Earplugs are small, inexpensive, portable, and comfortable in hot weather. However, to be effective, earplugs must be inserted so they seal off the ear canal. Employees who use them should be trained on proper insertion.
BLR’s OSHA Training System offers a completely prewritten, affordable program to handle hearing protection and dozens of other mandated training needs. Try it at no cost. Get the details.
Q. What information can you provide for employees wearing iPod® (or radio) earphones over or underneath hearing protection?
A. An OSHA interpretation letter states: "If Walkman[style] headsets are worn over otherwise effective ear protection, then the unit’s volume control has to be adjusted to exceed the hearing protector’s field attenuation. This obviates the effectiveness of the ear protection and is a violation of the noise standard 29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(i) or (ii). Use of Walkmen in noise environments in excess of 29 CFR 1910.95, Tables G-16 and D-1, is a violation. Use of Walkmen over required ear protection is a violation. Use of Walkmen in occupational noise less than Tables G-16 or D-1 is at managerial discretion unless its use causes a serious safety hazard to warrant issuance of a General Duty Clause violation."
Here’s another interpretation letter excerpt:
"According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the employer is responsible for employee safety and health. Therefore, a number of employers have simply resorted to the outright banning of stereo headsets at worksites, since it is impractical to control individual volume settings for such devices."
Also check with your workers’ compensation insurance provider. It may have background information or a recommendation for you to follow.
Try OSHA Training System for a complete solution to your mandated training needs. You can do so at no cost or risk. Read more.
Q. We test employee hearing on a yearly basis. What is the standard for new employees? Is there any time frame after they’re hired in which we need to test?
A. The following is from OSHA’s Occupational Noise Exposure regulations:
"Baseline audiogram"
1910.95(g)(5)(i)
Within 6 months of an employee’s first exposure at or above the action level, the employer shall establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared.
1910.95(g)(5)(ii)
"Mobile test van exception." Where mobile test vans are used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the employer shall obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee’s first exposure at or above the action level. Where baseline audiograms are obtained more than 6 months after the employee’s first exposure at or above the action level, employees shall wear hearing protectors for any period exceeding 6 months after first exposure until the baseline audiogram is obtained.
1910.95(g)(6)
"Annual audiogram." At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer shall obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dB.
Q. If an employer has a mobile van come on a specific day for hearing testing and employees fail to attend, can the employer require employees to go take the test on their own time (unpaid time but with the employer paying for the test)?
A. It would be most prudent to take one of two paths: (1) Hire the van for an additional day for those employees who could not make the first trip, or (2) if those employees who did take the van were paid for the time spent taking the exam, allow the rest of the employees to take the exam during paid work hours, even if they drive themselves. You should treat all of your employees consistently in terms of whether you pay them for the time spent taking the hearing exam.
If your testing is part of a program under 29 CFR 1910.95, paragraph (g)(2) applies. It states: "The program shall be provided at no cost to employees."
Tomorrow, more information about hearing protection, including one of the most important factors—training.
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