Hearing Conservation

Hearing 1
Conservation &
Noise Exposure
Objectives 2
 What is sound?
 How the ear works
 How to measure noise
 What does OSHA says about noise?
 Reading hearing tests
 Hearing Protection
What is Sound? 3
 Hertz (Hz)  Decibels (dB)

 Frequency a high  Theloudness of
or low pitch the sound
Frequency 4
 Humans can typically hear

between 20 - 20,000 Hz
 You can hear different
frequencies better than others
Decibels 5
 The quietest sound most humans can

detect is 0 dB
 Some humans can even hear sounds as
quiet as -5 dB
6
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
90 dB Subway
110 dB Woodworking
120 dB Hydraulic press
140 dB Threshold of Pain – Jet plane
180 dB Rocket
Anatomy of the Ear
Ear Drum Semi-Circular Canals
Cochlea
Ear Bones
How do we Hear? 8
 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
Inside the Cochlea (snail 9

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!
The Ear does something else 1
0
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
How to measure noise 1
1
 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% in noise according to
OSHA.
Example 1
2
 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
 Neither, because it is a log scale 1
 We use the following chart 3
Difference in Add to Higher

dB values Value
0 or 1 dB 3 dB
2 or 3 dB 2 dB
 82 dB + 83 dB = 86 dB
4 or 10 dB 1 dB
 87 dB + 89 dB = 91 dB
10 or more dB 0 dB
How does the Safety Person
1
4
determine noise levels
 Sound level  Personal Dosimeters
meter  Worn by employees
 Determine the  Measures the
loudness (dB) of average loudness in
noise at any an 8 hour work shift
given moment
“8hr. TWA” (Time
Weighted Average)
 Can also measure
noise dose
What does BLS say? 1
5
 At85 dB (8hr. TWA)  At 90 dB or more
(50% Dose) (100% Dose)
 Train employees  We must keep
 Make hearing levels at or below
protection available 90 dB
 Sample  Orrequire hearing
for noise
levels protection that will
 Do
lower noise levels
hearing tests
to to 90 dB
 Notify employees of
results
Hearing Tests 1
6
 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.
Hearing Loss 1
7
 Impact - One loud bang

 Cumulative - Years of a noisy environment
 Tinnitus - Ringing in the ears
 Presbycusis - Hearing loss due to aging
Hearing Protection 1
8
 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
1
Safety Factor 9
 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
Example of NRR 2
Protection 0
 Thenoise from an average chainsaw is

110 dB
 Youare wearing the foam plugs with an NRR
of 25
 Doyou have enough protection to place you

below 90 dB level?
2
1
 (NRR 25 - 7) = 18
 18 / 2 = 9
 110 -9=
 YOU ARE ABOVE OSHA LIMITS OF 90 dB
110 dB 101
Final Thoughts 2
2
 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
Resources
 OSHA-
 NIOSH –
 CDC -

Hearing Conservation

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Hearing 1

 Hertz (Hz)  Decibels (dB)

 Humans can typically hear

 The quietest sound most humans can

 The outer ear collects the

An addition or reduction of 5dB causes either an

 In the field, we determined the loudness of two

Difference in Add to Higher

 Impact - One loud bang

 NRR - Noise reduction rating

 OSHA says the hearing protection is

 Thenoise from an average chainsaw is

 Doyou have enough protection to place you

 YOU ARE ABOVE OSHA LIMITS OF 90 dB

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