Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HCP) is required by the Hearing Conservation Amendment (1983) which requires that a hearing conservation program be administered when employee noise exposures are 85 dBA TWA on slow meter response. OSHA recommends using a 5 dB rate.įrequency the measure of the rapidity of alterations of a periodic acoustic signal, expressed in cycles per second, or Hz. The preferred method of noise control is engineering to reduce the noise at its source by engineering controls.Įxchange or doubling rate defined as how dB value and exposure duration are exchanged or traded.

If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within OSHA PEL exposure limits, personal hearing protective equipment shall be provided to the employee by the employer and used to reduce sound levels to within OSHA PEL limits. quieter machinery, noise path absorbers or barriers, mufflers, or equipment isolation) or administrative controls shall be utilized. The rate for OSHA is 5 dB increase per halving of time.Įngineering controls when OSHA PEL exposures are exceeded, feasible engineering controls (i.e. It continuously computes TWA and noise dose using a specified exchange rate for trading sound level and exposure duration. it is flat).ĭecibel (dB) Unit of measurement of sound level.ĭose percentage representation of exposure level, based on an 8 -hour criterion.ĭosimeter a special battery-powered sound level meter that is worn by the worker being monitored for noise exposure.

In this case, the SLM reading contains no weighting network in the circuit (i.e. B-weighting is a pitch/frequency response filter adjustment which simulates the human ear response at a loudness level of 70 phons.ĭB(C) unit of measurement of sound level in dB of the C scale on a SLM. A-weighting is a pitch/frequency response filter adjustment which makes its reading conform, very roughly, to the human ear response at a loudness level of 40 phons.ĭB(B) unit of measurement of sound level in dB using a weighting network of the B scale on a SLM. An annual audiogram is required thereafter.īaseline audiogram The audiogram against which future audiograms are compared.Ĭontinuous noise type of constant, unchanging noise which is generated by turbines, air conditioners or fans.Ĭriterion sound level The dB level at which permissible exposure level is reached for OSHA, criterion is 90 dBA (which will result in a maximum dose of 100%).ĭB(A) unit of measurement of sound level in dB using a weighting network of the A scale on a SLM. moving out-of-doors or down an air-conditioning duct system).Īudiogram The chart, graph, or table showing hearing threshold level as a function of frequency a method of measuring degree of hearing loss.Īudiologist A professional, specializing in the study and rehabilitation of hearing, who is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or licensed by a state board of examiners.Īudiometry A baseline audiogram must be obtained for each employee at the beginning of employment or within 6 months of the first noise exposure.

If administrative or engineering controls fail to reduce sound levels within OSHA PEL exposure levels, personal hearing protective devices shall be provided to the employee by the employer, and used to reduce sound levels to within the levels of OSHA PEL exposure levels.Īttenuation is the reduction in sound pressure level in dB which occurs as a person moves further and further away from a noise source (i.e. worker-machine rotation, breaks from noise) or engineering controls shall be utilized. Action Level The noise level (85 dBA), calculated as an eight-hour, time-weighted average, at which OSHA requires exposed employees be included in the Hearing Loss Prevention Program.Īdministrative controls when OSHA PEL exposure levels are exceeded, feasible administrative (i.e.

Osha decibel chart