b'SAFETY CSIA 21T heCentersforDiseaseControlandOSHAs standard on occupational noise exposure Preventionhavecallednoiseinducedstatesthatfeasibleadministrativeorengineering hearinglossthemostcommonwork- controls must be utilized first, and only then can PPE relatedinjury.Workersinthemining,be used to further lower employee noise exposure. construction,andmanufacturingindustriesareHearing protection in the form of ear plugs or ear most likely to be exposed to dangerous levels ofmuffs should be a last resort after engineering and noise.Manytimes,hearinglossisaccompaniedadministrative controls have been used.bytinnitus,aringingintheearsthatcanaffect concentration and disrupt sleep. Exposure to loudLikemostOSHAhealthstandards,thestandard noisealsocancausestress,anxiety,highbloodonoccupationalnoiseexposurestartswithan pressure,heartdisease,depression,andotherexposure assessment. There are two trigger levels health issues.in the noise standard: a permissible exposure limit of 90 decibels, measured on the A scale (90 dBA); andCENTRAL STATES INSULATION ASSOCIATIONControllingnoiseexposureisakeyelementofan action level of 85 dBA. Both are measured using anyworkplacesafetyandhealthprogram.Thean8-hour,time-weightedaverage(TWA).Noise Hierarchy of Controls is a method of selecting theexposurecanbedeterminedwithasoundlevel most appropriate control measure when a workplacemeter for area sampling, or with a personal noise hazardhasbeenidentified.Itisoftendepicteddosimeter worn by employees for a full shift that graphicallyasanupside-downpyramidwithfivedetermines their dose of noise exposure (100% layers:elimination,substitution,engineering,dose is equal to the permissible exposure limit of administrative, and personal protective equipment90 dBA TWA). NIOSH has a free app that turns (PPE). The most effective control measure is at theyour phone into a sound level meter (currently only top of the pyramid, and the least effective control isavailable for iOS devices). A good rule of thumb is at the bottom. Oftentimes, more than one controlthat you may have a noise problem if workers have measure is needed, but one should always considerto shout to communicate with each other.control measures higher on the hierarchy first.When noise exposure equals or exceeds the action Engineering and administrative controls are not justlevel of 85 dBA, employees must be enrolled in a a recommended best practice, they are required byHearingConservationProgramtoprotecttheir federal regulation when noise levels are too high.hearing.ElementsofaHearingConservation continued on pg.22csiaonline.org'