Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.95
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29 CFR 1910.95 - Occupational noise exposure. | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
CFR › Title 29 › Subtitle B › Chapter XVII › Part 1910 › Subpart G › Section 1910.95 29 CFR 1910.95 - Occupational noise exposure.
Table G-16 - Permissible Noise Exposures 1
1 When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels, their combined effect should be considered, rather than the individual effect of each. If the sum of the following fractions: C1/T1 C2/T2Cn/Tn exceeds unity, then, the mixed exposure should be considered to exceed the limit value. Cn indicates the total time of exposure at a specified noise level, and Tn indicates the total time of exposure permitted at that level.
(c)Hearing conservation program.
(d)Monitoring.
(i) All continuous, intermittent and impulsive sound levels from 80 decibels to 130 decibels shall be integrated into the noise measurements.
(e)Employee notification. The employer shall notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring.
(f)Observation of monitoring. The employer shall provide affected employees or their representatives with an opportunity to observe any noise measurements conducted pursuant to this section.
(g)Audiometric testing program.
(5)Baseline audiogram.
(ii)Mobile test van exception. Where mobile test vans are used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the employer shall obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level. Where baseline audiograms are obtained more than 6 months after the employee's first exposure at or above the action level, employees shall wearing hearing protectors for any period exceeding six months after first exposure until the baseline audiogram is obtained.
(6)Annual audiogram. At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer shall obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
(7)Evaluation of audiogram.
(8)Follow-up procedures.
(9)Revised baseline. An annual audiogram may be substituted for the baseline audiogram when, in the judgment of the audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician who is evaluating the audiogram:
(10)Standard threshold shift.
(i) As used in this section, a standard threshold shift is a change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of an average of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear.
(h)Audiometric test requirements.
(2) Audiometric tests shall be conducted with audiometers (including microprocessor audiometers) that meet the specifications of, and are maintained and used in accordance with, American National Standard Specification for Audiometers, S3.6-1969, which is incorporated by reference as specified in § 1910.6.
(5)Audiometer calibration.
(i)Hearing protectors.
(j)Hearing protector attenuation.
(k)Training program.
(1) The employer shall train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.
(l)Access to information and training materials.
(1) The employer shall make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of this standard and shall also post a copy in the workplace.
(m)Recordkeeping - (1)Exposure measurements. The employer shall maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements required by paragraph (d) of this section.
(2)Audiometric tests.
(3)Record retention. The employer shall retain records required in this paragraph (m) for at least the following periods.
(4)Access to records. All records required by this section shall be provided upon request to employees, former employees, representatives designated by the individual employee, and the Assistant Secretary. The provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1020 (a)-(e) and (g)-(i) apply to access to records under this section.
(5)Transfer of records. If the employer ceases to do business, the employer shall transfer to the successor employer all records required to be maintained by this section, and the successor employer shall retain them for the remainder of the period prescribed in paragraph (m)(3) of this section.
(n)Appendices.
(o)Exemptions. Paragraphs (c) through (n) of this section shall not apply to employers engaged in oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations.
Appendix A to § 1910.95 - Noise Exposure Computation
(i) When the sound level, L, is constant over the entire work shift, the noise dose, D, in percent, is given by: D = 100 C/T where C is the total length of the work day, in hours, and T is the reference duration corresponding to the measured sound level, L, as given in Table G-16a or by the formula shown as a footnote to that table.
D = 100(C1 / T1 C2 / T2 Cn / Tn),
(2) The eight-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA), in decibels, may be computed from the dose, in percent, by means of the formula: TWA = 16.61 log10 (D/100) 90. For an eight-hour workshift with the noise level constant over the entire shift, the TWA is equal to the measured sound level.
A-weighted sound level, L (decibel)
Reference duration, T (hour)
Compliance with paragraphs (c)-(r) of this regulation is determined by the amount of exposure to noise in the workplace. The amount of such exposure is usually measured with an audiodosimeter which gives a readout in terms of “dose.” In order to better understand the requirements of the amendment, dosimeter readings can be converted to an “8-hour time-weighted average sound level.” (TWA).
If the dose as read on the dosimeter is less than or greater than the values found in Table A-1, the TWA may be calculated by using the formula: TWA 6.61 log10 (D/100) 90 where TWA = 8-hour time-weighted average sound level and D = accumulated dose in percent exposure.
Table A-1 - Conversion From “Percent Noise Exposure” or “Dose” to “8-Hour Time-Weighted Average Sound Level” (TWA)
Dose or percent noise exposure
Appendix B to § 1910.95 - Methods for Estimating the Adequacy of Hearing Protector Attenuation
Instead of using the NRR, employers may evaluate the adequacy of hearing protector attenuation by using one of the three methods developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which are described in the “List of Personal Hearing Protectors and Attenuation Data,” HEW Publication No. 76-120, 1975, pages 21-37. These methods are known as NIOSH methods #1B1, #1B2 and #1B3. The NRR described below is a simplification of NIOSH method #1B2. The most complex method is NIOSH method #1B1, which is probably the most accurate method since it uses the largest amount of spectral information from the individual employee's noise environment. As in the case of the NRR method described below, if one of the NIOSH methods is used, the selected method must be applied to an individual's noise environment to assess the adequacy of the attenuation. Employers should be careful to take a sufficient number of measurements in order to achieve a representative sample for each time segment.
The employer must remember that calculated attenuation values reflect realistic values only to the extent that the protectors are properly fitted and worn.
Appendix C to § 1910.95 - Audiometric Measuring Instruments
(D) The audiometer shall remain at each required test frequency for 30 seconds (±3 seconds). The audiogram shall be clearly marked at each change of frequency and the actual frequency change of the audiometer shall not deviate from the frequency boundaries marked on the audiogram by more than ±3 seconds.
Appendix D to § 1910.95 - Audiometric Test Rooms
Table D-1 - Maximum Allowable Octave-Band Sound Pressure Levels for Audiometric Test Rooms
Appendix E to § 1910.95 - Acoustic Calibration of Audiometers
(1)Sound Pressure Output Check
B. Set the audiometer's hearing threshold level (HTL) dial to 70 dB.
D. At each frequency the readout on the sound level meter should correspond to the levels in Table E-1 or Table E-2, as appropriate, for the type of earphone, in the column entitled “sound level meter reading.”
(2)Linearity Check
(3)Tolerances
When any of the measured sound levels deviate from the levels in Table E-1 or Table E-2 by ±3 dB at any test frequency between 500 and 3000 Hz, 4 dB at 4000 Hz, or 5 dB at 6000 Hz, an exhaustive calibration is advised. An exhaustive calibration is required if the deviations are greater than 15 dB or greater at any test frequency.
Table E-1 - Reference Threshold Levels for Telephonics - TDH-39 Earphones
Reference threshold level for TDH-39 earphones, dB
Sound level meter reading, dB
Table E-2 - Reference Threshold Levels for Telephonics - TDH-49 Earphones
Reference threshold level for TDH-49 earphones, dB
Appendix F to § 1910.95 - Calculations and Application of Age Corrections to Audiograms
In determining whether a standard threshold shift has occurred, allowance may be made for the contribution of aging to the change in hearing level by adjusting the most recent audiogram. If the employer chooses to adjust the audiogram, the employer shall follow the procedure described below. This procedure and the age correction tables were developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the criteria document entitled “Criteria for a Recommended Standard . . . Occupational Exposure to Noise,” ((HSM)-11001).
Appendix G to § 1910.95 - Monitoring Noise Levels Non-Mandatory Informational Appendix
Appendix H to § 1910.95 - Availability of Referenced Documents
Paragraphs (c) through (o) of 29 CFR 1910.95 and the accompanying appendices contain provisions which incorporate publications by reference. Generally, the publications provide criteria for instruments to be used in monitoring and audiometric testing. These criteria are intended to be mandatory when so indicated in the applicable paragraphs of § 1910.95 and appendices.
Paragraph designation
Referenced publication
Available from - Appendix B
“List of Personal Hearing Protectors and Attenuation Data,” HEW Pub. No. 76-120, 1975. NTIS-PB267461
National Technical Information Service, Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.
“Specification for Sound Level Meters,” S1.4-1971 (R1976)
American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.
§ 1910.95(k)(2)
, appendix E
“Specifications for Audiometers,” S3.6-1969
“Specification for Octave, Half-Octave and Third-Octave Band Filter Sets,” S1.11-1971 (R1976)
Back Numbers Department, Dept. STD, American Institute of Physics, 333 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017; American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.
The referenced publications (or a microfiche of the publications) are available for review at many universities and public libraries throughout the country. These publications may also be examined at the OSHA Technical Data Center, Room N2439, United States Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7500 or at any OSHA Regional Office (see telephone directories under United States Government - Labor Department).
Appendix I to § 1910.95 - Definitions
Action level - An 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels measured on the A-scale, slow response, or equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.
Audiologist - A professional, specializing in the study and rehabilitation of hearing, who is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or licensed by a state board of examiners.
Baseline audiogram - The audiogram against which future audiograms are compared.
Criterion sound level - A sound level of 90 decibels.
Decibel (dB) - Unit of measurement of sound level.
Medical pathology - A disorder or disease. For purposes of this regulation, a condition or disease affecting the ear, which should be treated by a physician specialist.
Noise dose - The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of (1) the time integral, over a stated time or event, of the 0.6 power of the measured SLOW exponential time-averaged, squared A-weighted sound pressure and (2) the product of the criterion duration (8 hours) and the 0.6 power of the squared sound pressure corresponding to the criterion sound level (90 dB).
Representative exposure - Measurements of an employee's noise dose or 8-hour time-weighted average sound level that the employers deem to be representative of the exposures of other employees in the workplace.
Sound level - Ten times the common logarithm of the ratio of the square of the measured A-weighted sound pressure to the square of the standard reference pressure of 20 micropascals. Unit: decibels (dB). For use with this regulation, SLOW time response, in accordance with ANSI S1.4-1971 (R1976), is required.
Sound level meter - An instrument for the measurement of sound level.
Time-weighted average sound level - That sound level, which if constant over an 8-hour exposure, would result in the same noise dose as is measured.
[ 39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, as amended at 46 FR 4161, Jan. 16, 1981; 46 FR 62845, Dec. 29, 1981; 48 FR 9776, Mar. 8, 1983; 48 FR 29687, June 28, 1983; 54 FR 24333, June 7, 1989; 61 FR 9236, Mar. 7, 1996; 71 FR 16672, Apr. 3, 2006; 73 FR 75584, Dec. 12, 2008]
29 CFR 1910.261 — Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills.
29 CFR 1904.10 — Recording Criteria for Cases Involving Occupational Hearing Loss.
29 CFR 1910.95 — Occupational Noise Exposure.