Other parts of a hearing conservation program include: For example, a laborer may be given lower-noise power tools and earmuffs that lower sound levels to less harmful levels, and receive education on NIHL. What does this look like in real life? Essentially, that employers develop and carry out plans that reduce noise in the work environment while also providing equipment and materials that help workers protect themselves. In general hearing conservation programs "strive to prevent initial occupational hearing loss, preserve and protect remaining hearing, and equip workers with the knowledge and hearing protection devices necessary to safeguard themselves," OSHA states.
How do hearing conservation programs work? See table G-16, permissible noise exposures, for more on how this plays out, as well as the chart at right. The key phrase is "averaged"-meaning, for example, if you have just two hours of very loud sound exposure (100 dB, or about the sound of a motorcycle at close range) in an otherwise quiet workplace, then you've still met that 8-hour average threshold. This does not mean you have to be exposed to 8 continuous hours of loud sound to qualify for help with noise exposure. According to OSHA's standards, employers must implement a hearing conservation program "when noise exposure is at or above 85 decibels averaged over 8 working hours, or an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)." Decibels Here's a look at what OSHA expects from employers: OSHA hearing conservation program That's why it's so important to protect your hearing throughout your working years. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and often progressive-but it often takes years to develop. Work is one of the most common places people will be exposed to harmful levels of noise, which puts them at risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Worried about noise exposure on the job? Fortunately, the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) has in place standards and programs specifically aimed at reducing the risk of hearing loss among American workers.
0 kommentar(er)
