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Healthcare Wide Hazards
Noise
Laundry Machine
Laundry Machinery.
Potential Hazard

Occupational exposure to high noise levels can be found in different areas of the hospital (e.g., laundry, engineering, and heliport). Employee exposure to noisy machinery, or equipment, may induce hearing loss, hearing impairment, hypertension, elevated blood pressure levels and/or other health hazards.

Possible Solutions

A safety and health program that recognizes and addresses the hazards created by noise exposure.
  • Some examples of engineering and work practice controls to help decrease occupational noise exposure levels include:

    • Reduce the amount of sound energy released by the noise source.

    • Divert the flow of sound energy away from the worker.

    • Protect the receiver from the sound energy reaching him/her.

    • Proper maintenance of equipment, equipment replacements.

    • Revised operating procedures, equipment redesign, enclosures.

    • Acoustical shields and barriers.

    • Personal protective equipment.

      • Use hearing protection (e.g., ear plugs, ear phones) to eliminate or decrease noise exposure.

  • The Occupational Noise Exposure Standard [29 CFR 1910.95], where applicable requires an effective hearing conservation program [29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1)], which includes specific requirements for:


  • Noise Exposure Computation App A, Noise dose is computed by using Table G-16a.

Additional Information:

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