The hearing conservation program requires employers to monitor noise exposure levels in a way that accurately identifies employees exposed to noise at or above 85 decibels (dB) averaged over 8 working hours, or an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). – According to OSHA
Overview to hearing conservation program
The purpose of the establishing a hearing conservation program is to significantly reduce the hazardous level of noise within the workplace. Normally, inspection team may identify the locations & areas where noise levels are higher than acceptable levels. These collect of data may use for implement the hearing conservation program of reduce the level of noise. First of all, team may identify the risk level the noise. Than they can review related processes and resources of these particular place and process.
The outputs from the review process is key contents for the implementation of hearing conservation program. Hence, all the safety policy may apply at all the area of workplace, to avoid or prevent hazardous risk levels of noise.
Establish Policy for Control hearing conservation
It is much important to establish proper policy for control hearing conversations within the workplace. Normally the standard procedure may help to identify the locations, areas and sources or noise. These sources and root causes of the noise may help to making a proper policies and procedure for significant policy for control.
It is also important that, each employee should be educate with policy. Management can arrange the training for policy awareness, educate for use of personal protective equipment.
The program may help to ensure that the all employees’ hearing is not permanently impaired. Hence, it is important that the acceptable levels of noise should be maintain as per government requirements. Even it should also include this requirements in hearing conservation program too.
In short, it is necessary that all employee should strict enforcement of this program in regular practice. Hence, program’s essential’s goals can be meet the policy requirements.
Monitoring Noise Level at workplace
First of all, all the areas of workplace should be deploy monitoring system for verify noise levels. Even before any employee expose to noise level, the monitoring system should suspect the noise level at appropriate level. Normally, monitoring system may include noise meter for record noise level.
In case any monitoring results show that the noise level exposure is at above acceptable level, than safety officer should be immediate take the actions for reduce the level. Basically about 80 dBA and above levels, monitoring is require thereafter.
Within new installation of machinery or equipment, each stage of change should be cover with program.
Noise Control
For the noise control, where feasible, excessive noise levels greater than 90 dBA ( or as per government rule) will be reduced to levels below 90 dBA(or as government rule).
Utilizing manufacturing and engineering work practices to controls. All the new machinery, equipment or any installations must utilize engineering controls to reduce noise level as acceptable level defined that is below 85 dBA where feasible.
The hearing protectors should be provided by management. Hearing protectors like earplugs, muffs, ear caps will be provided to all the employees whose noise exposure exceeds 85 dBA, and its mandatory for all employees.