Hearing Conservation & Noise Exposure

Hearing Conservation & Noise
Exposure
1
Objectives
 What is sound?
 How the ear works
 How to measure noise
 What does OSHA says about noise?
 Reading hearing tests
 Hearing Protection
2
What is Sound?
 Hertz (Hz)  Decibels (dB)
– Frequency a high or – The loudness of
low pitch the sound
3
Frequency
 Humans can typically hear

between 20 - 20,000 Hz
 You can hear different
frequencies better than others
4
Decibels
 The quietest sound most
humans can detect is 0 dB
 Some humans can even
hear sounds as quiet as -5
dB
5
The Loudness of Common
Sounds
0 dB Threshold of Hearing
30 dB Soft Whisper
40 dB Quiet Office
60 dB Conversational Speech
80 dB Very noisy restaurant
Noise
90 dB Subway Thermometer
110 dB Woodworking Click Here
120 dB Hydraulic press

140 dB Threshold of Pain – Jet plane
180 dB Rocket 6
Anatomy of the Ear
Ear Drum Semi-Circular Canals
Cochlea
Ear Bones
How do we Hear?
 The outer ear collects the

sound waves
 The waves hit the eardrum,
and cause it to vibrate
 The vibrations are sent
through the ear bones to the
cochlea
8
Inside the Cochlea (snail
shell)
 Delicate hair cells vibrate to different
frequencies
 Hair cells detect the vibration, and send a
signal to the brain
 Loud sounds destroy the hair cells, and they
stop functioning FOREVER!
9
The Ear does something else too!
 The Semi-circular canals
– Three tubes laying perpendicular to one
another
– Filled with fluid and tiny hair cells
– When your head is tilted, the fluid moves
the hair cells, and they send a signal to
your brain
 Responsible for balance
10
How to measure noise
 Decibels are measured on a
logarithmic scale
 Every time you add 5 dB, you double
the sound.
80 dB 85 dB
An addition or reduction of 5dB causes

either an addition or reduction of 100% 11
in noise according to OSHA.
Example
 In the field, we determined the loudness
of two compressors right next to each
other
 How loud is this area?
– Do we add?
– Do we add and take the average?
89 dB ? 87 dB
12
 Neither, because it is a log scale
 We use the following chart
Difference in Add to Higher
dB values Value
0 or 1 dB 3 dB
2 or 3 dB 2 dB
4 or 10 dB 1 dB
10 or more dB 0 dB
 82 dB + 83 dB = 86 dB
 87 dB + 89 dB = 91 dB
13
How does the Safety Person
determine noise levels
 Sound level meter  Personal Dosimeters
– Determine the – Worn by employees
loudness (dB) of – Measures the average
noise at any given loudness in an 8 hour
moment work shift
“8hr. TWA” (Time
Weighted Average)
– Can also measure noise
dose
14
What does BLS say?
 At 85 dB (8hr. TWA)  At 90 dB or more
(50% Dose) (100% Dose)
– Train employees – We must keep levels
– Make hearing protection at or below 90 dB
available – Or require hearing
– Sample for noise levels protection that will
– Do hearing tests lower noise levels to
to 90 dB
– Notify employees of
results
15
Hearing Tests
 Determine a baseline audiogram
 Hearing test every year to determine if you
have experienced a hearing loss (Standard
Threshold Shift)
 Standard Threshold Shift - A loss of 10 dB or
more at 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hz.
16
Hearing Loss
 Impact - One loud bang
 Cumulative - Years of a noisy environment
 Tinnitus - Ringing in the ears
 Presbycusis - Hearing loss due to aging
17
Hearing Protection
 NRR - Noise reduction rating

– Ear Plug - 25 NRR
 DO NOT Subtract the NRR from the noise
level
– WRONG (109 dB - 25 NRR = 84 dB)
 You must use the “Safety Factor.” explained
on separate slide
18
Safety Factor
 OSHA says the hearing protection is designed to

reduce the noise by the NRR, but that is unlikely to
happen due to :
– Leaks in the seal
– Vibration
– Improper insertion
19
Example of NRR
Protection
 The noise from an average chainsaw is 110 dB

 You are wearing the foam plugs with an NRR of
25
 Do you have enough protection to place you

below 90 dB level?
20
 (NRR 25 - 7) = 18
 18 / 2 = 9
 110 dB - 9 = 101
 YOU ARE ABOVE OSHA LIMITS OF 90 dB
21
Final Thoughts
 Hearing is important
 In time, noise levels at 85 dB can
permanently damage your hearing
 Wear your hearing protection both at
work and at home
 Choose hearing protection with a proper
NRR, and wear it properly
22
Resources
 SafetyWorks! 1-877-723-3345
 OSHA-
 NIOSH –
 CDC -

Hearing Conservation & Noise Exposure

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Hearing Conservation & Noise

 Humans can typically hear

120 dB Hydraulic press

 The outer ear collects the

An addition or reduction of 5dB causes

 NRR - Noise reduction rating

 OSHA says the hearing protection is designed to

 The noise from an average chainsaw is 110 dB

 Do you have enough protection to place you

 YOU ARE ABOVE OSHA LIMITS OF 90 dB

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