HEARING CONSERVATION

Work environments will be surveyed to identify potentially hazardous noise levels and personnel at risk.  Environments that contain equipment which produces potentially hazardous noise should, wherever it is technologically and economically feasible, be modified to reduce the noise level to acceptable levels.  Where engineering controls are not feasible, administrative controls and/or the use of hearing protective devices will be employed.  When the sound levels listed below are exceeded, reasonable administrative or engineering controls will be instituted.  If the controls fail to reduce the noise exposure to within those listed below, hearing protection will be provided and used to reduce the sound levels to an acceptable level.  In addition, OSHA requirements dictate that whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, slow response, a continuing effective hearing conservation program shall be instituted.  The tables below identify maximum allowable exposures and examples of common noises and their equivalent decibel range.