The stats don't lie: According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year. In turn, $242 million is spent every year on workers' compensation for hearing loss, per OSHA.
Whether in manufacturing, construction, or other noisy industries, workers must remain vigilant of noise hazards-and for employers to ensure a safe working environment.
Fortunately, OSHA offers numerous rules, regulations, and worker protections to mitigate noise hazards. Here's a look at those hazards-and what OSHA has to say about hearing protection on the job.
Noise is measured in decibels, which measures the intensity of a specific sound on a logarithmic scale. This means that even a small change in the number of decibels can lead to a severe change in the noise level and increase the potential for hearing damage.
The impacts of noise hazards can range from short-term damage (such as tinnitus) to permanent damage (such as total hearing loss). It doesn't take much for noise hazards to pose a risk; even brief exposure at high sound levels can cause permanent damage, but so can long exposures at lower sound levels.
When left unaddressed, noise hazards can have several debilitating impacts on your workforce. Those may include:
Fortunately, employers can take several steps to reduce workplace noise hazards. Here are a few:
OSHA's standard for occupational noise exposure (29 CFR 1910.95) establishes limits on workplace noise exposure.
Whenever noise exposure levels reach a time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels for eight hours or longer (or 90 decibels in the construction industry), employers must take steps to protect employee health.
When noise levels exceed that amount, 29 CFR 1910.95 outlines the following steps for establishing a hearing conservation program and protecting employee health:
Duralabel carries a variety of preprinted signs and labels that warn employees when hearing protection is required. The durable signs and labels are available in numerous materials and sizes, with several messages available to meet your facility's unique needs. Browse our selection of hearing protection signs.
Ensure your staff is aware of hearing protection requirements with OSHA compliant safety and PPE signs. Our free OSHA Safety Signs Guide will show you the standard templates required to meet OSHA guidelines. Download your copy today!