- Assessment – A noise exposure assessment must be obtained for all employees exposed to 80 dBA LEq. But not every employee must be personally monitored through dosimetry. Representative samples may be taken, if it can be shown that noise exposures are equivalent to other employees in the same area or performing the same task.
- Professional Service – Noise levels throughout the workplace must be measured through representative sampling by a competent service.
- Document Changing Conditions – Whenever you make a change in equipment or process, you need to document this change, even if the noise level is reduced.
- Post a Noise Map – A noise map in common areas is an effective way to notify employees of area noise and related changes.
- Document Exposure – Each employee’s TWA noise exposure should be recorded in his/her personnel file.
- Engineering Controls – Apply engineering controls at the noise source or along the noise path to reduce exposures. These controls may include vibration dampeners, absorptive panels, barriers, muffler, or variations in force or drive speed of motors.
- Maintenance – Perform regular maintenance on machinery to prevent additional noise.
- Administrative – Implement administrative controls to limit the exposure time for employees. These controls may include rotating employees in noisy areas, providing quiet breaks for noise-exposed employees, or moving processes such as maintenance or cleaning to quieter workshifts.
- Buy Quiet – Purchase new products or machinery with enhanced noise control.
- Maintain – Noise is often a machine’s cry for maintenance. Repairs can reduce noise levels.
- Block or Isolate the Source – Erect barriers, or relocate noisy equipment (or their operators) behind heavy walls. Doubling the distance from a noisy piece of equipment effectively reduces the sound energy by half (about a 3 dB drop in noise level).
- Schedule Employees – Administrative controls include such actions as giving noise-exposed employees breaks in quiet areas, or rotating employees into noisy jobs for short durations.
- Voluntary Usage – A variety of hearing protectors must be made available to employees exposed to the Lower Action Level of 80 dBA (8-hour exposure).
- Mandatory Usage – Employees must utilise hearing protectors when noise exposure meets or exceeds the 85 dBA Upper Action Level (8-hour exposure).
- Usage – Employer must ensure proper use of hearing protection amongst noise-exposed employees.
- Offer a True Variety – Make available to all your employees at least one style of single-use, multiple-use, and banded earplugs, and one earmuff.
- Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) – Determine employees’ earplug fit effectiveness by using field verification systems, such as VeriPRO™. Find out if they are receiving optimal protection, require additional training on earplug fitting, or need to try a different model.
- Make HPDs Convenient – Increase accessibility to hearing protection by installing earplug dispensers near time clock or by placing earmuffs at supervisor stations.
- Audiometry – Preventive audiometric testing must be made available to employees whose exposure exceeds the lower exposure action levels.
- Recordkeeping – Employer is responsible for maintaining up-to-date health surveillance records.
- Access – Employees have access to health surveillance records upon request.
- Retain Records – This will help your audiologist compare audiograms serially over time.
- Get Follow-Up Reports – Ensure that your testing service provides understandable follow-up reports.
- Review Results Immediately – Studies show that reviewing audiometric test results with employees right after testing yields a more positive impact.
- Training – Employees must receive information on risks of noise exposure, methods of avoiding/reducing exposure, exposure limits/values per Directive, assessment/measurement of noise, proper use of hearing protectors, detecting/reporting signs of noise exposure, circumstances of health surveillance, and safe working practice to avoid noise exposure.
- Provide One-on-One Training – This individualized attention will make for a more memorable training experience.
- Offer Ongoing Education – Distribute informational flyers and hang motivational posters in common areas and near hearing protection sources. Offer “toolbox” trainings throughout the year.
- Participation – Employees can actively participate in the decisions affecting their hearing health.
- Teamwork – Assembling a cross-departmental team for your Hearing Conservation programme can enhance support, provide input and help implementation in a variety of areas. Include staff from safety and health, employees in your hearing conservation program, medical personnel, purchasing, human resources and senior management.
Hours Per Day | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
Sound Level (dBA) | 85 | 86 | 88 | 89 | 91 | 92 | 94 | 97 |
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Content kindly provided by HSE Solutions.
www.hsesolutions.co.za