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Audiology Review: Preparing for the Praxis and Comprehensive Examinations
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Recognizing administrative and engineering controls that can reduce noise exposure
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Recommending and fitting hearing protection devices (HPDs)
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Evaluating the effectiveness of HPDs
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Providing education to help children and adults protect their hearing
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Monitoring hearing conservation programs to ensure compliance with occupational noise
regulations
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Advocating for effective hearing loss prevention
Through these services, audiologists work to prevent NIHL in children and adults.
Overview of NIHL
NIHL develops when the sensitive structures of the inner ear are damaged by exposure to high noise levels for extended periods of time or to intense impulsive sounds. Although exposure to noise in the workplace is a common cause of NIHL, many nonoccupational activities can also produce noise levels high enough to damage hearing. As a result, NIHL is seen in people of all different ages and backgrounds.
Effects of Noise Exposure
Exposure to loud noise can damage the auditory system and cause other nonauditory problems. Some of these problems may appear during or immediately after the noise exposure, while others can develop slowly over time with repeated exposure to loud noise. In some cases, the symptoms improve over time after the noise exposure ceases. However, in other cases, the damage is permanent.
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Temporary threshold shift (TTS): Exposure to high noise levels can cause temporary
metabolic changes to the cochlea, including swelling of the hair cells and auditory nerve terminals. As a result, a listener may experience decreased hearing, tinnitus, perception of speech sounding dull or muffled, and aural fullness. These symptoms typically last less than 1hour to several hours or days. In some cases, the symptoms may completely resolve (indicating complete recovery), but in other cases, there may be effects that persist long term (indicating incomplete recovery).
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Permanent threshold shift (PTS): When the effects of a TTS do not completely resolve, the
effect on hearing is considered to be a PTS (i.e., permanent NIHL). A PTS occurs when noise exposure causes the hair cells to swell to the point of rupturing. Because human hair cells do not regenerate, the damaged hair cells are replaced by scar tissue. The stereocilia on the tops of the hair cells can become fused together, thus interfering with the hair cell transduction process. Over time, the auditory nerve terminals connected to the damaged hair cells will degenerate. Although NIHL can be prevented by avoiding exposure to loud noise or wearing effective hearing protection, there is no treatment to reverse the damage once it occurs.
The classic presentation of a PTS includes permanent bilateral sensorineural hearing loss,
with a “noise notch” in the high frequencies. In adults, a noise notch presents as decreased hearing sensitivity at 3000, 4000, or 6000 Hz, with better hearing at lower and higher frequencies. In children, the noise notch typically occurs at 6000 Hz (Niskar et al., 2001). NIHL is often symmetrical between ears for most types of industrial noise exposure,
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whereas musicians and hunters/shooters typically have asymmetrical hearing loss (i.e., primarily for those who shoot rifles and shotguns).
In addition to hearing loss, those with permanent NIHL also often experience tinnitus and
hyperacusis.
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Acoustic trauma: Exposure to impulse noise greater than 140 dB SPL can cause instant,
permanent hearing damage called acoustic trauma. At this level, the pressure wave traveling through the auditory system is so intense that it can cause mechanical damage. The tympanic membrane may rupture. The ossicles can disarticulate, and the delicate structures of the cochlea may be torn. The resulting hearing loss is typically severe to profound and permanent.
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Nonauditory effects: Exposure to loud noise can also cause various nonauditory problems,
such as increased stress, anxiety, depression, distractibility, and annoyance, as well as increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease (Basner et al., 2014; Dzhambov & Dimitrova,
2016). Communicating in high-noise environments can also cause vocal strain due to the need to talk over the noise. Working in a high-noise environment can decrease job performance, especially when the task is complicated or involves multitasking. As a result, a higher incidence of accidents is seen in high-noise work environments (e.g., Neitzel et al., 2017; Picard et al., 2008).
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AUDIOLOGY NUGGET
Noise exposure resulting in a TTS can cause cochlear synaptopathy, which is permanent damage to the synapses between the inner hair cells of the cochlea and the auditory nerve fibers (e.g., Kujawa & Liberman, 2009). Some studies have found a significant correlation between cochlear synaptopathy (indirectly measured by evoked auditory potentials) and hearing in noise performance in patients with behavioral hearing thresholds that fall within normal limits for 250 to 8000 Hz on the pure-tone audiogram (e.g., Grant et al., 2020). Difficulty understanding speech in background noise when audiometric thresholds are clinically normal has been termed “hidden hearing loss.” Cochlear synaptopathy following noise exposure has been documented in various animal species, with some species showing spontaneous synaptic recovery (Kauer et al., 2019) while others do not (Kujawa & Liberman, 2009; Liu et al., 2012). However, much remains unknown about cochlear synaptopathy in humans because human studies must rely on indirect electrophysiological measures due to inability to directly measure cochlear synaptopathy in vivo (i.e., within a living organism). Human studies have reported inconsistent results, with some finding evidence of permanent cochlear synaptopathy in listeners with a history of noise exposure and clinically normal audiometric thresholds (Bramhall et al., 2017) and others finding no synaptic deficits in similar groups of adults (Grinn & Le Prell, 2022).
Causes of NIHL
As a general rule, exposure to any noise 85 dBA or greater has the potential to damage hearing, depending on the length of exposure. For occupational noise exposure, mining, manufacturing, con­struction, farming, military, law enforcement, and forestry are associated with the highest noise levels
Audiology Review: Preparing for the Praxis and Comprehensive Examinations
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and highest prevalence of NIHL (Masterson et al., 2013). Power tools, guns, and music are among the most common sources of hazardous nonoccupational noise exposure. In most cases, occupational and nonoccupational noise sources cause gradual onset of NIHL, with repeated TTSs that eventually progress to permanent NIHL. However, immediate permanent NIHL is possible with exposure to a single loud impulse noise, such as a gunshot. Bomb blasts, jet engines, firecrackers detonating near the ear, and airbag deployment can also generate noise levels above 140 dB SPL, thus creating the potential for acoustic trauma.
Prevalence of NIHL
NIHL can begin at any age and affects millions of children and adults in the United States. It is ranked as the second most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss, with presbycusis being the most common cause (Rabinowitz, 2000). Approximately 24% of adults in the United States have audiometric notches, but more than 50% of adults with NIHL do not have noisy jobs (Carroll et al.,
2017). Among the general population, an estimated 12.5% of children 6 to 19 years of age have NIHL (Niskar et al., 2001). Older children (12–19 years) have a higher prevalence at 17.1%. A significantly higher prevalence has been reported among rural children, with 22.5% of children 6 to 19 years of age and 26.5% of children 12 to 19 years of age having NIHL (Renick et al., 2009). Together, these findings highlight the need for hearing conservation efforts, not only for workers in high-noise job settings but also for children and adults exposed to nonoccupational noise.
Industrial Audiology
Most recommendations regarding safe versus hazardous noise exposures, when hearing protection should be worn, and when a hearing conservation program should be implemented come from con­sensus noise standards developed for occupational safety based on basic and applied research. These recommendations are often also applied to nonoccupational noise exposure due to the lack of specific recommendations related to prevention of nonoccupational NIHL.
OSHA Noise Regulation/Standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Noise Regulation 29 CFR 1910.95 (last revised in 1983) includes OSHA’s requirements for hearing conservation programs. OSHA (2022, December 6) covers most, but not all, private-sector workers and employers. It is worth noting that although some sources (e.g., Bruce et al., 2014) differentiate between a “standard” and a “regulation, OSHA (2023, May 24) uses the terms interchangeably, defining both as “a regulatory requirement established and published by the agency to serve as criteria for measuring whether employers are in compliance with the OSH Act laws” (“What Is a Standard/Regulation?” section).
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Purpose: OSHA creates and enforces the federal noise regulation/standard and issues citations
when there are violations (Bruce et al., 2014). OSHA takes into consideration the economic effects of the noise regulations/standards issued.
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Exchange rate: Also known as the time-intensity tradeoff or doubling rate, the exchange
rate refers to the relationship between noise levels and their allowable exposure times. Stated differently, the allowed exposure time is cut in half for every increase in exposure level of
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5dBA or doubled for every decrease in exposure level of 5 dBA. OSHA (1983) uses a 5-dB exchange rate. Therefore, exposure to 90 dBA for 8 hours is expected to cause the same amount of auditory damage as exposure to 85 dBA for 16 hours or to 95 dBA for 4 hours.
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Action level (AL): Workers must be enrolled in a hearing conservation program, and HPDs
must be made available when noise exposure is an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85dBA or greater (or the equivalent). A TWA combines all of the sound levels measured during a work shift into one integrated overall exposure value.
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Permissible exposure level (PEL): Workers exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 90 dBA or
greater (or the equivalent) must be enrolled in a hearing conservation program, and feasible administrative or engineering controls must be used. If these controls fail to reduce noise exposure to the PEL or less, HPDs must be worn.
NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) makes noise standard recom­mendations (last revised in 1998) to protect workers from developing occupational NIHL.
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Purpose: NIOSH conducts research and makes recommendations for best practice based
on current research, without factoring in economic considerations (Themann et al., 2013). NIOSH recommendations for noise exposure and hearing conservation are generally more conservative (i.e., offer greater protection) than the OSHA standard.
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Exchange rate: NIOSH (1998) uses a 3-dB exchange rate. As such, every 3-dB increase in
the noise exposure level results in a halving of the allowable exposure time, and every 3-dB decrease in the noise level results in a doubling of the allowable exposure time.
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Recommended exposure level (REL): Workers exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA or
greater (or the equivalent) must be enrolled in a hearing conservation program, and feasible administrative and engineering controls must be used to reduce noise exposure below the REL. If these controls fail to reduce noise exposure below the REL, HPDs must be worn.
See Appendix 8–A for a summary of key components of the OSHA regulation/standard and NIOSH noise recommendations.
MSHA Regulations
The purpose of the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA, 2000) Noise Regulation 30 CFR Part 62 is to prevent NIHL among workers in the underground and surface mining industry.
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Exchange rate: MSHA uses a 5-dB exchange rate.
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Action level (AL): Miners must be enrolled in a hearing conservation program, and HPDs
must be made available when noise exposure is an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA or greater (or the equivalent).
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PEL: Miners exposed to an 8-hour TWA greater than 90 dBA (or the equivalent) must be
enrolled in a hearing conservation program, and all feasible engineering and administrative controls must be used to reduce noise exposure to the PEL. If the noise exposure cannot be reduced below the PEL using all feasible engineering and administrative controls, the miner must wear hearing protection.
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Other Noise Regulations
Other U.S. agencies and organizations have their own noise regulations for workers. Examples include:
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Federal Railroad Association: Applies to employees exposed to noise in the locomotive cab
(U.S. Department of Transportation, 2006)
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Department of Defense: Applies to U.S. military personnel and civilian personnel exposed to
hazardous occupational and operational noise (U.S. Department of Defense, 2019)
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Department of Transportation: Applies to truck and bus drivers through the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (1994)
AUDIOLOGY NUGGET
The OSHA maximum PEL and the NIOSH REL are not designed to protect all workers from any degree of NIHL (Johnson, 2018; Neitzel, 2008; NIOSH,
1998). Excess risk is the “percentage of people in a noise-exposed population who develop a material hearing impairment (as defined by OSHA or NIOSH) above and beyond the percentage of people in a non-noise-exposed population who develop a material hearing impairment” (Johnson, 2018, p. 5). Calculation of excess risk is based on an 8-hour workday, 5 days per week, over a 40-year working lifetime. Using the NIOSH definition of material hearing impairment (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz), an average exposure level of 90 dBA over a working lifetime will result in an estimated 25% excess risk of developing hearing loss, compared to an excess risk of only 8% if the average exposure is 85 dBA (NIOSH, 1998). While neither limit protects all workers from all hearing loss, the NIOSH REL of 85 dBA is more protective and results in fewer workers developing significant hearing loss. In order to protect the most sensitive individuals, NIOSH recommends hearing protection be worn any time noise exposure exceeds 85 dBA for any duration (Kardous et al., 2016).
Noise Measurement and Exposure Analysis
In occupational settings, measurement of noise levels can serve different purposes (Moritz, 2014). While audiologists may perform basic noise measurements, industries typically engage the services of industrial hygienists to measure and identify noise exposures as part of comprehensive assessment of worksite health and safety risks. The results of noise monitoring can be used to:
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Identify workers with exposures that exceed occupational standards who must therefore be
enrolled in a hearing conservation program
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Determine if administrative and/or engineering controls are needed
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Decide how much attenuation is needed from HPDs
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Educate and motivate workers to protect their hearing
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Predict if a worker’s hearing loss could be caused by their noise exposure in workers’
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compensation cases
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Determine if ambient noise levels in rooms where audiometric testing is performed meet
recommended standards
Equipment Used for Noise Measurement
Noise levels are measured using a SLM or a noise dosimeter. SLMs can be held by the user or attached to a stand/tripod and are used mainly for area noise monitoring to determine if noise levels in specific work locations could be potentially hazardous to hearing. The SLM should be calibrated before and after each use by placing the acoustic calibrator on top of the microphone. SLMs must meet the American National Standards Institute Specification for Sound Level Meters (ANSI S1.4, 1983, as cited in Gelfand, 2009) if used for measuring noise for compliance with occupational noise require­ments. There are several types of SLMs (ANSI, 2006, as cited in Gelfand, 2009):
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Type 0: Also called a laboratory standard SLM, a Type 0 SLM has an accuracy of ± 0.7 dB.
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Type 1: Known as a precision SLM, a Type 1 SLM has an accuracy of ± 1 dB.
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Type 2: Considered a general-purpose SLM, a Type 2 SLM has an accuracy of ± 2 dB. This is
the minimum required by OSHA and NIOSH for occupational noise measurements.
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Type S (Special purpose): A Type S SLM has limited capabilities/settings and is not used for
occupational noise measurements.
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Integrating: An integrating SLM has the same functions as a Type 1 or Type 2 SLM, but it
averages the measured noise levels over a period of time.
A noise dosimeter is a small, integrating SLM that can be worn for extended periods of time (i.e., a work shift) to determine a worker’s noise exposure. The noise dosimeter is typically clipped to the listener’s shirt at the shoulder to be closer to ear level. Since SLMs are rather unwieldly for measuring the noise exposure of individual workers who change locations and tasks during their work shift, noise dosimeters are preferred for such scenarios. Noise dosimeters can be set to measure according to different occupational noise standards, with some capable of measuring using different settings simul­taneously (e.g., measuring using the OSHA and NIOSH settings at the same time). Noise dosimeters should be calibrated before and after each use, and they must meet the American National Standards Specification for Personal Noise Dosimeters (ANSI S1.25, as cited in Moritz, 2014) if used for measur­ing noise for compliance with occupational noise standards.
Settings and Features
SLMs and noise dosimeters have various settings and features that can be changed depending on the purpose of the noise measurement. For occupational noise measurement, it is important that these settings comply with recommendations or regulations specified by the governing safety organization. Examples of the most common settings include:
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Threshold: The threshold represents the lowest sound level to be measured by an integrating
SLM/noise dosimeter. OSHA requires that occupational noise measurements include all continuous, intermittent, and impulse noise levels between 80 dBA and 130 dBA. NIOSH
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recommends including all continuous, intermittent, and impulse noise levels between 80 dBA and 140 dBA.
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Criterion: The criterion level is the maximum allowable “safe” noise level. For OSHA, the
maximum PEL of 90 dBA is considered the criterion. In contrast, NIOSH recommends 85dBA as the REL or criterion.
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Exchange rate: Based on the equal energy principle, the exchange rate represents the
relationship between the permissible exposure time and different noise levels. OSHA uses a 5-dB exchange rate, and NIOSH uses a 3-dB exchange rate.
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Response time: The response time refers to the amount of time needed for the SLM/noise
dosimeter to reach 63% of its maximum reading (Gelfand, 2009). OSHA and NIOSH require use of a slow response time, which has a time constant of 1 second, allowing sound level fluctuations to be averaged out. A fast response time has a time constant of 0.125 seconds, which is more appropriate for measuring variability in noise levels.
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Frequency weighting scales: The weighting given to the frequencies measured by a SLM/noise
dosimeter can be changed by selecting different weighting scales (Figure 8–1). A linear scale applies no weighting and measures the overall SPL for all sound detected by the microphone (Gelfand, 2009).
The dBA scale deemphasizes the low frequencies considerably below 1000 Hz and thus
mimics the ear’s response to low-intensity sounds (i.e., less sensitivity to low frequencies). The dBA scale is required by OSHA and NIOSH for occupational noise exposure measurements to assess hearing damage risk.
The dBB scale deemphasizes the low frequencies but not as much as the dBA scale, thus
mimicking the ear’s response to moderate-intensity sounds. This scale is rarely used.
FIGURE 8–1. Sound level meter weighting.
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Very similar to the linear response, the dBC scale only slightly deemphasizes very low
and very high frequencies. The dBC scale is designed to mimic the ear’s response to high-intensity sounds, so it is used when assessing peak sound pressures from very loud impulsive sources.
Finally, newer SLMs and noise dosimeters include the dBZ scale as an option. The dBZ
scale provides a flat frequency response (±1.5 dB) for 10 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This replaces the older “linear” response (which did not define the frequency range over which the meter would be linear) (NoiseMeters Inc., 2022).
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Octave and one-third octave band analysis: Some SLMs and noise dosimeters have octave-
band or one-third octave band filters that allow measurement of noise in specific frequency ranges/bands. Octave band filters span one octave (e.g., 2800 to 5600 Hz with a center frequency of 4000 Hz), whereas one-third octave band filters span one-third of an octave (e.g., 450 to 560 Hz with a center frequency of 500 Hz). These features are necessary when noise must be measured in specific frequency bands, such as when determining if background noise levels meet requirements for audiometric test rooms (ANSI, S3.1–1999, as cited in Frank, 2000; OSHA, 1983) or when acoustical engineers consider options for effective noise controls.
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Q & A
Question: Why do OSHA and NIOSH require use of the dBA scale?
Answer: The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies. Sensitivity
is best at about 4000 Hz and poorest in the low frequencies. SLMs can be set to different frequency weighting scales that represent responses of the human ear at different intensity levels. The dBA scale mimics the human ear’s response to moderate sound levels. OSHA and NIOSH require use of the dBA scale for noise measurements because it most closely correlates with the risk of developing NIHL.
Quantification of Noise Exposure
SLMs and noise dosimeters provide a variety of numerical values that can help quantify a person’s noise exposure and subsequent risk of NIHL. Fortunately, current integrating SLMs and noise dosimeters can calculate these values automatically. However, the same values can be calculated manually if an integrating SLM or noise dosimeter is not available. Some of the most commonly used values include:
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Peak level: The peak level is the highest instantaneous sound level that the SLM/noise
dosimeter measures without using a frequency weighting scale or response time.
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Maximum level: The maximum level is the highest sound level measured using the selected
frequency weighting scale and response time.
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Lavg (or LAVG): The Lavg represents the logarithmic average sound level measured, but when
a threshold is set, the Lavg does not include any sound at levels below the threshold.
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Leq: The Leq represents the true equivalent sound level. The Leq is equivalent to the Lavg,
but it is only used when the exchange rate is 3 dB and the threshold is 0 dB.
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Time-weighted average (TWA): The TWA represents a constant sound level lasting 8 hours
that would result in the same amount of sound energy as the noise that was measured. The TWA is less than the Lavg for a duration less than 8 hours and is equal to the Lavg at 8hours.
Using OSHA’s (1983) 90 dBA exposure limit and a 5-dB exchange rate, the TWA is
calculated as:
TWA = 16.61 × log(D/100) + 90
Where:
D = dose
Using NIOSH’s (1998) 85 dBA exposure limit and a 3-dB exchange rate, the TWA is
calculated as:
TWA = 10.0 × log(D/100) + 85
Where: D = dose
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Noise dose: The noise dose describes the amount of actual noise exposure relative to the
amount of allowable exposure, where 100% and above represents noise-hazardous exposures (NIOSH, 1998). Table 8–1 shows OSHA’s (1983) maximum PELs and NIOSH’s (1998) RELs expressed as an 8-hour TWA and a noise dose. The noise dose is calculated as:
D = [C1/T1 + C2/T2 + Cn/Tn] × 100
Where:
Cn = total time of exposure at a specified noise level
Tn = exposure time at which noise for this level becomes hazardous
The total time of exposure at each noise level and the exposure time at which noise at that level becomes hazardous can be reported in hours or minutes as long as the same unit is used for each noise level in the calculation.
TABLE 8–1. OSHA’s (1983) Maximum Permissible Exposure Levels (PELs) and NIOSH’s (1999) Recommended Exposure Levels (RELs) Expressed as an 8-Hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) and a Noise Dose
DOSE OSHA 8-HOUR TWA NIOSH 8-HOUR TWA
25% 80 dBA 79 dBA
50% 85 dBA 82 dBA
100% 90 dBA 85 dBA
200% 95 dBA 88 dBA
400% 100 dBA 91 dBA
800% 105 dBA 94 dBA
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CASE EXAMPLE
A worker is exposed to the following noise levels during his 8-hour work shift:
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94 dBA for 3 hours
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88 dBA for 2 hours
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97 dBA for 3 hours
One can use the formulae described above to determine the worker’s noise dose and his 8-hour TWA using the NIOSH recommendations. First calcu­late the noise dose. Remember each numerator (i.e., the top number in each fraction) represents how long the worker was exposed at a specific noise level. The denominator (i.e., the bottom number in each fraction) represents how long the worker can safely be exposed at that level using the NIOSH recom­mendations. These values can be reported in hours or minutes as long as the same unit is used for all of the fractions. In this example, the length of time the worker can safely be exposed at each level can be determined either by using the table provided in the NIOSH noise standard recommendations or by using the quick rule of decreasing the exposure time by half for every 3-dB increase in noise level, with an exposure of 85 dBA for 8 hours as the reference point.
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D = [180 minutes/60 minutes + 120 minutes/240 minutes
+ 180 minutes/30 minutes] × 100
= 950%
Therefore, the worker is exposed to a daily noise dose of 950%, which is well above the maximum allowable 100% dose. To calculate the 8-hour TWA associated with a 950% dose, simply use the following NIOSH formula:
TWA = 10.0 × log (950/100) + 85
= 94.78 dBA
The worker is exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 94.78 dBA. This is above the NIOSH REL of 85 dBA. As a result, the worker would need to wear HPDs at work, have an annual audiometric evaluation, and participate in a hearing conservation program.
Noise Control
Results of noise monitoring can be used to determine the most appropriate options for reducing workers’ noise exposure. Noise can be controlled at the source, the path, and/or the receiver.
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Source: Reducing noise at the source involves implementing engineering controls. Examples
include replacing older equipment with newer, quieter equipment or modifying existing equip­ment to be quieter. This is the best long-term option for noise control, but it can be expensive.