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

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels or the adjusted TWA sound level in dBA for an extended work shift: At the welding area, employees were exposed to noise hazards. An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by the employer. Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA that triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program (HCP) can be adjusted for work shifts less than or greater than 8 hours. When making the adjustment, the following formula is used: AL = 90 + 16.61 log [50/10 (hours)]. Affected employees were exposed to continuous noise levels over a 10-hour work shift. Therefore, the TWA sound level that triggers the requirement for a HCP is adjusted or reduced for the affected employees to 83.4 dBA. 1) On or about April 2, 2024, employee #1 was engaged in welding activities, was exposed to continuous noise levels 88.4 dBA of the allowable 10-hour time-weighted average sound level (83.4 dBA). 2) On or about April 2, 2024, employee #2 was engaged in welding activities, was exposed to continuous noise levels of 86.9 dBA of the allowable 10-hour time-weighted average sound level (83.4 dBA). 3) On or about April 2, 2024, employee #3 was engaged in welding activities, was exposed to continuous noise levels of 88.8 dBA of the allowable 10-hour time-weighted average sound level (83.4 dBA). 4) On or about April 2, 2024, employee #4 was engaged in welding activities, was exposed to continuous noise levels of 93.1 dBA of the allowable 10-hour time-weighted average sound level (83.4 dBA). 5) On or about April 2, 2024, employee #5 was engaged in welding activities, was exposed to continuous noise levels of 86.7 dBA of the allowable 10-hour time-weighted average sound level (83.4 dBA). 6) On or about April 2, 2024, employee #6 was engaged in welding activities, was exposed to continuous noise levels of 86.4 dBA of the allowable 10-hour time-weighted average sound level (83.4 dBA).