Noise

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# Noise - Hearing Conservation Program (cont.) ## What are the elements of a hearing conservation program? (cont.) - Hazard communication, education, and training - Recordkeeping, and - Continuous monitoring and improvement (program review). Please see the OSH Answers document Guide to Writing an OHS Policy Statement for information. ## How should noise exposure be controlled? The employer should make sure that, if reasonably possible, measures are taken to reduce noise levels using the hierarchy of controls in the following order before providing hearing protection devices: - Eliminate the hazard - Engineering control - Substitution of equipment, and - Administrative controls Please see the OSH Answers Noise - Control Measures for more information. ## When are hearing protection devices needed? The majority of the jurisdictions require that employers provide hearing protection devices when noise levels are at or above 85 dBA. The value of 85 dBA is also based on good practice guidelines set out by organizations such as the the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). CSA Standards Z94.2 Hearing Protection Devices - Performance, selection, care, and use and Z1007 Hearing Loss Prevention Program Management also recommend that hearing protection devices be used when engineering controls or administrative controls are not practicable or do not reduce noise exposure to acceptable levels (i.e., below 85 dBA). ## What should be done when hearing protection is needed? The employer should make sure that the selection, care, and use of hearing protection devices meet the specifications outlined in the CSA Standard Z94.2. The employer should make sure that a worker using the hearing protection device is adequately trained and instructed by a competent person in selection, fit, use, care, maintenance, and inspection. Noise - Hearing Conservation Program CCOHS

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# Noise - Hearing Aids and Hearing Protection (cont.) ## What should be considered when a person who uses hearing aids also may require hearing protection? (cont.) - Reduce noise exposure at the source whenever possible to protect all workers - Perform detailed noise exposure measurements to determine high noise levels and the attenuation needs for the worker - Perform a job safety analysis to determine if the worker needs to wear hearing aids at work - what hearing requirements does the worker require (such as the need for verbal communication or to hear audible warning signals) - if there are elements such as alarms, signals, or devices that the worker would need to hear for their safety - Investigate if other noise engineering_controls (e.g., changing a task to eliminate the need to hear a signal) or administrative controls (e.g., limiting exposure time, using a "buddy" system to alert others of an issue) can be used Provide alternative methods for alarms, such as those that include both sound and light - Develop a hearing conservation program - Determine if it is possible for the worker to wear both hearing aids and hearing protection (such as ear muffs) without reducing the protection provided by the hearing protection (e.g., the ear muffs are able to cover both the ear and hearing aid without a break in the seal) - Determine if removal or turning off the hearing aids in order to wear hearing protection will reduce the worker's safety (e.g., will the worker be able to perform tasks appropriately and receive instructions or signals as needed) - Consult with a medical professional or audiologist to gain a better understanding of the type of hearing loss and hearing aids used by the worker, and what measures can be taken in the workplace to help ensure the worker's safety and protect from further hearing loss (e.g., if the worker can be exposed to the noise at the workplace for the entire workday, even when protected) - Perform audiogram to mon…

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# Noise - Hearing Conservation Program (cont.) ## Is a hearing conservation program required in all jurisdictions in Canada? (cont.) However, as per Occupational Health and Safety legislation across Canada, employers have a duty to provide a safe work environment and take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of employees and others in the workplace. This duty is known as due diligence. To exercise due diligence, an employer should work with the health and safety committee (or representative) to create and implement a hearing conservation program when needed. Check with your jurisdiction for more guidance. Note: dBA Lex means the level of a worker's total exposure to noise in dBA is averaged over an entire workday and adjusted to an equivalent eight-hour exposure. ## When is a hearing conservation program recommended? The employer should conduct a noise assessment at the workplace, according to the CSA Standard Z107.56 Measurement of Noise Exposure, if: - a worker is or is likely to be exposed to noise in excess of 80 dBA - there is - an alteration, renovation or repair of the workplace - new equipment introduced in the workplace, or - a modification done to a work process, that may result in a significant change in a worker's exposure to noise. Note the requirement when to conduct a noise assessment (e.g., dBA level) may vary from jurisdiction. Conducting an assessment at an action level of 80 dBA provides more protection. Please see the OHS Answers document Noise - Measurement of Workplace Noise for more information. ## What are the elements of a hearing conservation program? If noise monitoring confirms that workers are exposed to noise levels at or above 85 dBA, a hearing conservation program should be developed and implemented. The program includes a policy and procedure. The CSA Standard Z1007 Hearing Loss Prevention Program Management recommends that a hearing conservation program include the following elements: - Haza…

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Noise and Hearing CPWR TOOLBOX THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING TALK Protection On the job, too much noise can distract you. You may not hear warnings. Noise damages the nerves in your inner ears. Those nerves cannot be repaired. You might not be able to understand what people are saying. If you are exposed to too much noise, you can lose your hearing-and possibly your life. ## Richard's Story Richard worked on a 16-month road job, jackhammering concrete. The daily noise was so loud that he could not hear the people speak around him. Since the supervisor did not wear hearing protection, Richard did not think he needed to. After the job ended, he began to have ringing in his ears. He had his hearing tested and found that he had a partial hearing loss. - Have you or someone you know worked in a high-noise work area without wearing any kind of hearing protection? Why wasn't hearing protection used? - What actions should have been taken to prevent this hearing loss? ## Remember This ➤ Pay attention to noise levels where you work. The best way to know if you need hearing protection is to measure the sound levels (in decibels). If you don't have the tools to do this, the next best way is the shout test. If you have to shout to be heard when standing 3 feet (at arm's length) away from someone, then it's probably over 85 decibels and hearing protection should be worn. ➤Find the most comfortable hearing protectors (earplugs or earmuffs) and make sure you wear them every time you are around loud noise. ➤ If you choose to wear disposable foam earplugs, make sure you insert them properly. If you are not sure how to, then ask your supervisor for training. - Avoid inserting or removing earplugs if your hands are dirty, to avoid an ear infection. ➤ Wear hearing protection and take breaks from loud noise. ➤Look for signs that identify noise hazards. ➤ Ask your employer to consider purchasing quieter equipment in the future. ➤ If possible, move your …

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# protect your hearing Decibel (dB) levels of familiar sounds dB Sound 140 Gunshot 110 Chainsaw 90 Lawnmower 60 Normal Conversation 30 Whisper Like many construction workers, you may not hear as well as you once did, and that may worry you. Your concerns are real-by retirement, many construction workers have a noticeable hearing loss. You and your employer need to take steps to protect your hearing, and this pamphlet will help you do so. ## What is noise? Noise is unwanted sound. It is measured on a decibel scale. Noise levels for some familiar sounds are shown at left. ## What if you are exposed to too much noise? Noise exposures that are loud enough and last long enough can damage nerves in your inner ear. This causes perma- nent and irreversible hearing loss. Hearing loss makes it hard to: - talk with family, friends, and coworkers. - hear warning signals - enjoy music, nature, voices, and other good sounds. Once you have a hearing loss, it cannot be reversed by using hearing aids. Hearing aids can make sounds louder, but they can't make the sounds clearer. ## Safe noise levels The legal limit for construction workers in Washington is an 8-hour (full-shift) average noise exposure of 85 decibels. This limit is enforced by WISHA. Construction workers in most other states have an 8-hour limit of 90 decibels enforced by OSHA. If you must raise your voice to talk to someone an arm's length away, the noise level is probably over 85 decibels. Workers with an average noise exposure above 85 decibels need to wear hearing protectors-either earplugs or earmuffs- and be in a hearing loss prevention program. You should wear hearing protectors any time noise levels are over 85 decibels. ## Noise exposure levels for laborers University of Washington researchers have been measuring the noise exposures of construction workers. Among laborers, we found: - the average level was 84 decibels across a full work shift - almost half of work shifts were above th…