Noise in the Workplace Harms More Than Our Ears
Firefighters, police officers, factory workers, farmers, construction workers, military personnel, heavy industry workers, musicians and entertainment industry professionals all work in environments that pose noise risks. Even office staff employed in crowded office buildings with phones ringing and the constant hum of computers, air conditioners and fans are faced with the annoyance and increased stress noise creates. Noise in the workplace is bothersome. Beyond that, it can pose a safety risky by reducing concentration and increasing worker injuries, and repeated exposure to high levels of noise in the workplace can cause permanent hearing loss. In fact, it is predicted that one in four workers exposed to high levels of noise in the workplace will develop such a hearing loss. OSHA has developed safety guidelines indicating the time a worker can be exposed to various levels of sound. To avoid noise-induced hearing loss, OSHA recommends that hearing protection be worn in the workplace when loudness levels and exposure times exceed the allowable standards. Hearing protection will allow you to hear and understand everything, including voices and warning signals, but at a reduced level.
Safe Sound Level Time Allowed per Day:
- 90 dBA: 8 hours
- 92 dBA: 6 hours
- 95 dBA: 4 hours
- 97 dBA: 3 hours
- 100 dBA: 2 hours
- 102 dBA: 1 1/2 hours
- 105 dBA: 1 hour
- 110 dBA: 1/2 hour
- 115 dBA: 1/4 hour
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