Occupational noise

Occupational noise is the amount of acoustic energy received by an employee's auditory system when they are working in the industry.

The EAV or PEL can be seen as equations which manipulate the allotted exposure time according to the intensity of the industrial noise.

As the industrial noise intensity increases, the allotted exposure time, to still remain safe, decreases.

There are also special exposure meters available that integrate noise over a period of time to give an Leq value (equivalent sound pressure level), defined by standards.

But in practice, the Compliance Safety and Health Officer must record the excess of these values with a margin, in order to take into account the potential measurement error.

These factors have been taken into account by the governing occupational health and safety organization to determine the unsafe noise exposure levels and durations for their respective industries.

Noise can be a causal factor in work accidents as it may mask hazards and warning signals and impede concentration.

High intensity noise interferes with vital workplace communication which increases the chance of accidents and decreases productivity.

In particular, toxic materials (e.g., some solvents, metals, asphyxiants and pesticides) have some ototoxic properties that may affect hearing function.

Acoustic quieting is the process of making machinery quieter by damping vibrations to prevent them from reaching the observer.

If elimination and substitution are not sufficient in reducing the noise exposure, engineering controls should be put in place by the employer.

[37] Additionally, the Safe-In-Sound Award was created to recognize successes in hearing loss prevention programs or initiatives.