PPE Selection
» Hearing Protection
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Figure 1: Workers with appropriate
hearing protection.
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The OSHA
Hierarchy of Controls
- Engineering Controls
- Administration Controls
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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Workers exposed to excessive noise must
use appropriate PPE including ear plugs, muffs, or both when
engineering or administrative
controls are not feasible to reduce exposure.
Hearing protection is part of a hearing conservation program,
which is required when noise exposure exceeds the action level [85
decibels on the A scale (dBA)].
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Selection and Use of Hearing Protection |
Potential Hazards:
Some operations in the shipyard produce excessive
noise, which may lead to hearing loss. Some of the loudest ship
repair operations
include:
- Abrasive blasting (105-112 dBA)
- Needle gunning (113 dBA)
- Scaling
- Grinding (108-110 dBA)
- Carbon Arcing/Arc gouging (102-118 dBA)
- Pneumatic pumps (100 dBA)
- High-pressure steam cleaning
- Ventilation equipment
Requirements and Example Solutions:
- Develop and implement an effective Hearing
Conservation Program when action level is exceeded. [1910.95(c)]
- Follow hearing protection requirements. [1910.95(a)]
- Hearing protectors are required when noise levels exceed the
OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dBA measured as a
time-weighted average (TWA). [1910.95(b)(1)]
- Hearing protectors must reduce noise to acceptable levels
which may require dual use of ear plugs and muffs.[1910.95(j)]
- Review the Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) for the specific
hearing protection devices. [1910.95
Appendix B: Methods for estimating the
adequacy of hearing protector attenuation]
- Note: 5 dB can be added to the NRR of the most protective
device when using both ear plugs and muffs.
Additional Resources:
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Figure 2: Grinder with ear muffs.
Figure 3: Ear plugs.
Figure 4: Ear muffs. |
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Hearing Conservation Program |
When the worker's noise exposure equals or exceeds an
8-hour time-weighted average of 85
decibels on the A scale (dBA), the employer shall develop and implement a
hearing conservation program. [1910.95(c)]
A
hearing conservation program consists of the following elements:
- Monitoring noise levels
- Audiometric testing (hearing test)
- Training
- Hearing protection
Additional Resources:
- Hearing
Conservation. OSHA Publication 3074 (2002), 160 KB
PDF, 32 pages.
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www.osha.gov
