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Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Noise Control: It's More than Just Earplugs
The October 4th issue of Occupational Hazards magazine includes an article that not only provides a good discussion of noise control, it also provides an excellent overview of how to address safety problems in general.
The article opens by reporting that "An OSHA inspection at an Atlanta steel mill resulted in a citation for failure to reduce sound levels that could damage employees' hearing. The noise exposures for an 8-hour day were between 91 and 94 decibels (dB)."
It then looks at various ways this noise problem can be addressed, including source controls, path controls, and administrative controls.
It concludes with a summary of the benefits of hearing lose prevention: "A hearing loss prevention program is good business, and it protects employees' hearing and ability to communicate. With no cure for noise-induced hearing loss, preventing exposure is the only way to avoid hearing damage. Because hearing loss creeps up slowly, many individuals are not aware of the damage until it is too late. Long-term noise exposure also may contribute to stress-related disease, especially cardiovascular disease."
"Noise also can affect productivity. Studies show that employees in effective hearing loss prevention programs generally feel less tired and irritable. They report that they sleep better, and do not experience temporary hearing reductions at the end of the day or ringing in the ears that often precedes hearing loss. Companies with effective hearing loss prevention programs also showed reduced accident rates, illnesses and lost time."
The article opens by reporting that "An OSHA inspection at an Atlanta steel mill resulted in a citation for failure to reduce sound levels that could damage employees' hearing. The noise exposures for an 8-hour day were between 91 and 94 decibels (dB)."
It then looks at various ways this noise problem can be addressed, including source controls, path controls, and administrative controls.
It concludes with a summary of the benefits of hearing lose prevention: "A hearing loss prevention program is good business, and it protects employees' hearing and ability to communicate. With no cure for noise-induced hearing loss, preventing exposure is the only way to avoid hearing damage. Because hearing loss creeps up slowly, many individuals are not aware of the damage until it is too late. Long-term noise exposure also may contribute to stress-related disease, especially cardiovascular disease."
"Noise also can affect productivity. Studies show that employees in effective hearing loss prevention programs generally feel less tired and irritable. They report that they sleep better, and do not experience temporary hearing reductions at the end of the day or ringing in the ears that often precedes hearing loss. Companies with effective hearing loss prevention programs also showed reduced accident rates, illnesses and lost time."
Labels: Industrial Safety, PPE
posted by Steve Hudgik - Go to this Workplace Safety Post |
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