Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program: On or about May 19, 2021, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not implement a monitoring program in the Surface Preparation Room for employees exposed to noise above the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. (a) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 120% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 120% is approximately 91.1 dBA. Sampling was performed for 562 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 38 minutes not sampled. Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift. Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA. (b) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 83.3% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 83.3% is approximately 88.6 dBA. Sampling was performed for 559 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 41 minutes not sampled. Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift. Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA. (c) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 81% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 81% is approximately 88.4 dBA. Sampling was performed for 563 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 37 minutes not sampled. Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift. Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA. (d) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 70.3% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 70.3% is approximately 87.4 dBA. Sampling was performed for 563 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 37 minutes not sampled. Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift. Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA. (e) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 108% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 108% is approximately 90.5 dBA. Sampling was performed for 566 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 34 minutes not sampled. Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift. Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA.