b'YOUR TOOLKIT FOR BUILDING EXCELLENCElayers:elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and personalprotective equipment (PPE). The most effective control measure is at the top of the pyramid, and the least effective control is at the bottom. Oftentimes, more than one control measureisneeded, but one should always consider control measures higher on the hierarchymeter (currently only available for iOS devices). A first. good rule of thumb is that you may have a noise Engineering and administrative controls areproblem if workers have to shout to communicate not just a recommended best practice, they arewith each other.required by federal regulation when noise levelsWhen noise exposure equals or exceeds the action are too high. OSHAs standard on occupationallevel of 85 dBA, employees must be enrolled in a noise exposure states that feasible administrativeHearing Conservation Program to protect their or engineering controls must be utilized first,hearing. Elements of a Hearing Conservation and only then can PPE be used to further lowerProgram include audiometric testing, training, employee noise exposure. Hearing protection inand hearing protection. Audiometric testing the form of ear plugs or ear muffs should be aestablishes a workers baseline hearing level, which last resort after engineering and administrativeis compared to annual rechecks to catch potential controls have been used. hearing loss as early as possible. Training must Like most OSHA health standards, the standardalso be conducted annually, with an emphasis on occupational noise exposure starts with anon the effects of noise exposure on hearing and exposure assessment. There are two trigger levelsthe importance of hearing protectors. The cost of in the noise standard: a permissible exposureannual audiograms, annual training, and hearing limit of 90 decibels, measured on the A scale (90protective devices should always be considered dBA); and an action level of 85 dBA. Both arewhen determining the economic feasibility of measured using an 8-hour, time-weighted averageengineering controls. Noise control engineering (TWA). Noise exposure can be determined withwill often be cheaper in the long run than a a sound level meter for area sampling, or with aHearing Conservation Program.personal noise dosimeter worn by employees forExposure to loud noise does not just damage your a full shift that determines their dose of noisehearing; it can have a detrimental effect on overall exposure (100% dose is equal to the permissiblequality of life. Noise-induced hearing loss can lead exposure limit of 90 dBA TWA). NIOSH has ato social isolation and depression. Stress from free app that turns your phone into a sound levelnoise exposure can raise blood pressure and theFRAME BUILDER - VOL4 6 / 31'