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

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment: On or about August 13, 2015, in the facility, employees required to perform plating operations were exposed to noise in excess of 85 dBA (8-hr TWA) or 50% of the permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA. A continuing, effective hearing conservation program had not been instituted to protect employees against the hazard of hearing loss: 1. An employee performing Line 4 basket duties was exposed to continuous noise at 107.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 90.5 dBA during the 408 minute sampling period. Zero exposure assumed for the 72 minutes not sampled. 2. An employee performing Line 1 operator duties was exposed to continuous noise at 104.4% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 90.3 dBA during the 408 minute sampling period. Zero exposure assumed for the 72 minutes not sampled. 3. An employee performing Line 2 basket duties was exposed to continuous noise at 96.7% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.8 dBA during the 392 minute sampling period. Zero exposure assumed for the 88 minutes not sampled. 4. An employee performing Line 4 operator duties was exposed to continuous noise at 93.1% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.5 dBA during the 412 minute sampling period. Zero exposure assumed for the 68 minutes not sampled. 5. An employee performing Line 1 basket duties was exposed to continuous noise at 81.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 88.5 dBA during the 403 minute sampling period. Zero exposure assumed for the 77 minutes not sampled.