ModuleOverview

NoiseandHearingProtection
CourseDescription
Thistrainingmodulecoversexposureto,controlof,
andprotectionfromexcessiveworksitenoiseinthe
constructionindustryasrequiredbyOccupational
SafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA).Itis
designedtosupplementotherformalpresentationson
noiseandhearingsafetystandards.
Estimatedlength:15minutes
Audience:Foremen,Supervisors,otherworkers
Audience:Foremen,Supervisors,otherworkers
 ModuleOverview

CourseObjective
Uponcompletion,thestudentshouldbe
familiarwithwhyOSHAhasanoiseprotection
standard,whatthenoiseprotectionstandard
covers,andbasicrequirementsfornoise
protection.
References
Title29oftheCodeofFederalRegulations,
sections1910.95(General)and1926.52
sections1910.95(General)and1926.52
(Construction)
 ModuleOverview

SubjectsCovered
Sourcesofnoisehazards
Methodsofnoisecontrol
Typesofhearingprotectionandproperuse
RelevantterminologyandOSHAdefinitions
RelevantterminologyandOSHAdefinitions
OSHAregulations
 ModuleOverview

Thismaterialisprovidedonlyasasupplement
torelatedtrainingprovidedbyClickSafety.Itis
notintendedtobeallinclusiveorcomplete.Itis
forinformationalpurposesonlytoassistthe
studentwithhis/hercoursework,andno
warrantyismadewithrespecttoitsaccuracyor
suitabilityforwhichthestudentmayuseit.
suitabilityforwhichthestudentmayuseit.
 ModuleOverview

Links
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.sh
ow_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=
10625
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingcons
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingcons
ervation/index.html
 NoiseandHearingProtection

WelcometoClickSafetyLevelIITraining.
Inthismoduleyouwilllearnaboutbasicnoise
issues,particularlyinregardsto:
Exposure
Control
Protection

ThismaterialisprovidedonlyasasupplementtorelatedtrainingprovidedbyClickSafety.Itisnotintendedtobeallinclusive
ThismaterialisprovidedonlyasasupplementtorelatedtrainingprovidedbyClickSafety.Itisnotintendedtobeallincl
orcomplete.Itisforinformationalpurposesonlytoassistthestudentwithhis/hercoursework,andnowarrantyismadewit
orcomplete.Itisforinformationalpurposesonlytoassistthestudentwithhis/hercoursework,andnowarrantyismadewith
respecttoitsaccuracyorsuitabilityforwhichthestudentmayuseit.
respecttoitsaccuracyorsuitabilityforwhichthestudentmayuseit.
 SourcesofNoise

Activitiesthatmay SafetyTip
requirehearing Everyyear,
approximately30
protectioninclude:
millionpeoplein
Jackhammering theU.S.are
Sawing,sanding, occupationally
exposedto
andgrinding
hazardousnoise.
Piledriving
Heavyequipment
operations
 EffectsofNoise

Thehumanearhas SafetyTip
nonaturaldefenseto Fortunately,the
incidenceofnoise
blockexcessivenoise inducedhearingloss
Exposureto canbereducedor
eliminatedthroughthe
excessivenoise successfulapplication
withoutprotectionwill ofengineeringcontrols
damage,andpossibly andhearing
destroy,yourabilityto conservation
programs.
hear
 OSHARegulations

OSHAhasdefined SafetyTip
permissibleexposure Noiseandhearing
levels(PELs)for conservationis
addressedinspecific
noise
standardsfor
Title29oftheCodeof constructionandthe
FederalRegulations generalindustry.
(CFR),sections
1910.95(General)
and1926.52
(Construction)
 OSHARegulations

Ifyouworkinanoisyenvironment,your
employermustmonitorandmeasurethenoise.
IfexposuresexceedOSHAs8hourtime
IfexposuresexceedOSHAs8
weightedaverageof85decibels,ahearing
conservationprogrammaybeneeded.
conservationprogrammaybeneeded.
 OSHARegulations

Ahearingconservationprogramincludes:
Monitoringnoiselevelsandinforming
employeesofresults
Hearingteststoidentifybaselinehearing
Waystominimizenoiseexposure(i.e.,
engineeringorworkpracticecontrols)
Useofhearingprotection
Informationandtraining
Informationandtraining
 Definitions

Sound:
Vibratingenergyorwavesofmotionthatare
heardwhentheystriketheear.
heardwhentheystriketheear.
Noise:
Unwantedsound.
 SoundandNoise

Hearingresultfromthefollowingsequence:
Soundenterstheouterearcausesvibrations
Vibrationstraveldownearcanaltomiddle
eareardrumvibratesbonesininnerear
vibrate
Causeshairlikecellscalled
likecellscalledciliatomove
stimulatestheauditorynerve
Auditorynervesendssoundsignaltothe
brainwehearthesound
brainwehearthesound
 SoundandNoise

Mostnoisedamageis SafetyTip
tothemiddleear. Estimatednumbersof
constructionworkers
Repetitiveloudnoises exposedtopotentially
causewearandtear. hazardouslevelsof
Damagetoyour noiserangefrom
aboutmillionto
hearingisnearly
750,000.
alwaysirreversible.
 SoundandNoise

Decibel(dB)isameasureofsoundandnoise
(dB)isameasureofsoundandnoise
Typicalnoiselevelsinclude:
Whisper:10dB
Quiethouse:30dB
Normaltalking:65dB
Busystreet:70dB
Powersander:85dB
Powersaw:110dB
Jettakeoff(at100feet):145dB
off(at100feet):145dB
 HazardAwareness

Prolongednoise SafetyTip
aboveOSHAsaction Studieshaveshown
levelof85dBA thatthehighest
(averagedoveran8 percentagesof
hourworkday)may overexposedworkers
causehearingloss occurinhighwayand
streetconstruction,
Singleexposure carpentry,and
above115dBAmay concretework.
causehearingloss
 HazardAwareness

Ifyouneedtoraiseyourvoiceorshouttobe
heardbysomeonelessthananarmslength
away,noiseisprobablyinexcessof85dB,
andyouwillneedtowearearprotection.
Note:Itisnotcommontohaveanoisemeter
Note:Itisnotcommontohaveanoisemeter
withyouatthejobsite.
 HazardAwareness

Highfrequencynoise(shrill)mostdamaging
frequencynoise(shrill)mostdamaging
Loudnoisemaycauseringinginearscalled
tinnitus(warningofpotentialhearingloss)
(warningofpotentialhearingloss)
Hearinglossmaybetemporaryorpermanent,
increasesriskofaccidents,interfereswithlife
Excessivenoisecauses:
Stress
Inabilitytocommunicate
Medicalproblems(e.g.,headaches)
Medicalproblems(e.g.,headaches)
 ControllingNoise

Selectquietequipment.
Locatenoiseproducingoperationsawayfrom
producingoperationsawayfrom
workareaswhenpossible.
Usesoundbarriersorenclosures.
Followroutinemaintenanceschedules.
Replacewornpartsandkeepequipment
lubricated.
Remember,lessexposuretime=lessdamage.
Remember,lessexposuretime=lessdamage.
 NoiseProtection

Hearingprotectionisdesignedtoblock
damagingnoisefromtheeardrum.
damagingnoisefromtheeardrum.
2basictypes:
Earmuffs
Earplugs
 Earplugs

Manydifferenttypes SafetyTip
Employersshould
ofearplugs: provideemployees
Reduceor withaselectionofat
leastonevarietyof
attenuatenoise hearingplugandone
varietyofhearingmuff.
Premoldedorfoam Employeesshould
Mustbeinserted decide,withthehelp
ofapersontrainedto
correctly fithearingprotectors,
whichsizeandtype
Alwaysuse protectorismost
approvedearplugs suitable.
 Earmuffs

Consistofheadband,earcaps,earcushions
Requireagoodseal(keephair,etc.outofway)
Benefitsinclude:
Generallyofferthemostprotection
Canuseincombinationwithearplugs
Drawbacksinclude:
Uncomfortable(hotweather,tightconditions)
Requirecarearoundmobileequipment
(becausehearingislimited)
(becausehearingislimited)
 Testing

Audiometrictestsareconductedbyalicensed
professional,i.e.,audiometrictechnician
Willidentifyifyouhavealreadysufferedany
Willidentifyifyouhavealreadysufferedany
hearingloss
 Testing

Seekmedicalassistanceifyou:
Experienceringingintheears
Havetroubleclearlyhearingwhatothersare
sayinginnormalconversation
Havetroublehearinghighpitchedsounds,
Havetroublehearinghigh
suchasnotesfromaflute
suchasnotesfromaflute
 NoiseProtection

Offthejobactivitiescandamagehearing,too.
jobactivitiescandamagehearing,too.
Itsagoodideatowearhearingprotection
duringnoisyactivitiessuchas:
Playingloudmusicorgoingtoconcerts
Usingpowertools,chainsaws,lawnmowers
Shootingandhunting
Racingmotorcycles,boats,orcars
Racingmotorcycles,boats,orcars
 Summary

Continuousorshort SafetyTip
termimpactnoisecan Learnmoreabout
destroyyourhearing. noiseandhearing
conservation.Check
Hearinglossis outhttp://www.osha
painlessandgradual. .gov/SLTC/noisehear
Avoidexcessivenoise ingconservation/inde
atworkorplay. x.html.

Properprotectioncan
preventhearingloss.
 LearntheLaw

ClickSafetycannotassureknowledgeof
Federal,state,andlocallaws.
Youhaveresponsibilityforyourpersonal
safety,whichincludeslearningallregulations
regardingyourworkplacesafety.
Bymasteringworkplacesafety,youincrease:
Knowledge
Professionalism
Careeropportunitiesandsuccess!
Careeropportunitiesandsuccess!