September 1, 2022

For many people, nothing is more distracting at work than lots of noise, whether it’s coming from the outside or inside of the building. Excessive workplace noise has several adverse outcomes, such as decreased productivity, more difficult communication, permanent hearing loss and increased health issues and hearing-related accidents among employees.

To avoid these harmful consequences, it’s essential to regularly analyze the noise levels at your workplace and address anything so loud that it’s distracting or unsafe. There are several indicators of harmful workplace noises, as well as multiple solutions and methods of prevention. It all starts with understanding how the ear works and the noise levels that are appropriate for your workplace and comply with OSHA.

CONTACT US

GettyImages-1463616218

Request a Workplace Noise Survey or Workplace Safety Consulting Services

CONTACT THE EXPERTS AT TRC TODAY

GettyImages-962534932

How the Ear Works

The auditory system is one of the most complex bodily functions in humans, but we can generally break it up into two parts:

  • Peripheral: The peripheral system includes the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear, each of which has a unique role. The outer ear has three parts within it — the ear canal, the pinna and the eardrum. Next, the middle ear consists of three small bones called the incus, malleus and stapes, collectively referred to as the ossicles. These tiny bones are how the outer ear and inner ear connect. Finally, the inner ear is in charge of controlling both our balance and our hearing. It consists of the cochlea, which connects to the central auditory system and contains sensory cells that are crucial in the process of hearing.
  • Central: Though it is much smaller than the peripheral hearing system, the central hearing system is still an essential part of our auditory experience. It is responsible for connecting the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex of the brain via a pathway through the brain stem. This system enables us to not only hear sounds but to also interpret them.

The sound waves that come from the various machinery, vehicles and tools in your workplace are vibrations in the air that travel through the ear canals and cause our eardrums to vibrate. Since the eardrum is so sensitive, it can pick up even the slightest noises, and intense sounds are difficult for it to take in repeatedly.

Interpreting Sound Waves

The process of interpreting sound waves starts at the tiny chain of bones in the middle ear, then travels into the inner ear’s cochlea. The cochlea has fluids within it that move due to the vibration of the sound wave, which activates our “hair cells.” These tiny organisms will then react to the sounds based on their frequency — this means high-pitched and low-pitched sounds will be interpreted differently and in different parts of the cochlea.

Auditory Nerve Impulses

The next phase is where the real interpretation of these sounds begins — it’s where we begin to assign meaning to different noises based on their sound waves and frequencies. Each of those microscopic “hair cells” will pick up on a sound’s frequency, then generate a response via auditory nerve impulses. These impulses then travel to the auditory cortex of the brain via the brain stem, which will translate them into a meaningful sound.

This entire process happens almost instantly — the time it takes for something to create sound waves and then travel to our brain is a fraction of a second.

CONTACT US

Dangerous Noise Levels and Their Damaging Effects

Due to the sensitivity of the ear and the intricacy of the auditory system as a whole, humans must understand dangerous noise levels and their damaging effects. Avoiding excessively loud noises will help keep your ears healthy and well-functioning for as long as possible. That is why it’s vital to be able to address and mitigate dangerously loud noises in the workplace. Keeping your staff safe should always be your top priority as a business owner or manager.

Experts say hearing damage can occur from any noise level higher than 85 decibels, which is comparable to heavy traffic. As the decibels increase, so does the risk of hearing loss. On top of this, people who experience prolonged exposure to excessively loud noises will have a much higher potential to develop hearing problems. A good “rule of thumb” for determining if your work area or activity requires hearing protection is as follows. If you have difficulty hearing or understanding a “normal” tone of voice at a distance of about 3 feet, noise levels are probably exceeding safe levels and you should be using hearing protection.

CONTACT US

While those numbers and suggestions are practical for the average person, employees who are working in an abnormally loud environment should take extra precautions to avoid permanent hearing loss. A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed U.S. workers to identify how many encounter dangerous noise levels in the workplace. They found hazardous noise levels affect about 22 million workers in America, and that hearing loss accounts for around $242 million of the nation’s workers’ compensation payments annually.

In a follow-up study, the NIOSH found that of those 22 million workers, 23% of them went on to experience significant difficulty hearing. Another 15% have tinnitus, a condition that leads to a continuous buzzing or ringing in the ear, despite a lack of sound. People can experience tinnitus in one or both ears. A separate 9% of the workers in the study suffer from both tinnitus and hearing difficulty. These statistics make hearing loss and auditory issues among the country’s most common work-related health issues.

To protect American workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces limits on the noise levels workers should encounter during their eight-hour days. Here’s how the formula works:

  • An employee or contractor working a full eight-hour day can get exposed to no more than 90 A-weighted decibels (dBA).
  • For every additional five dBA, the length of a worker’s exposure decreases by 50%.
  • For example, if the noise level increases from 90 to 95 dBA, four hours is the longest a worker should be around the source of the noise.

These, of course, are general guidelines, and the exact time of exposure and decibels your staff will experience depend on your industry and work environment. The NIOSH study also found the risk of hearing damage is higher for workers in specific sectors and professions. The manufacturing and mining sectors especially had increased risks for the frequency of dangerous workplace noise exposure and the chance of experiencing hearing difficulty in the future. No matter the type of work setting, though, these types of long-term hearing loss are irreversible, and hearing aids or surgery cannot treat them. Workers may also experience side effects such as:

  • Mental and physical stress
  • Decreased productivity
  • Difficulty communicating and concentrating
  • Increased occurrences of work-related injuries and accidents

As you can see, the effects of long-term hearing loss and dangerous workplace noise levels are significant and difficult to avoid without addressing the issue at its root — by either lowering the noise levels at your workplace or reducing the amount of time your workers must hear hazardous noises. Luckily, there are typically several warning signs your staff is struggling with the noise levels at your place of business, such as:

  • A humming or ringing in their ears at the end of the day
  • Having difficulty hearing a co-worker or manager who’s standing close to them
  • Experiencing spurts of temporary hearing loss, whether they are brief or prolonged

Industrial Noise Control Benefits

Controlling noise levels in the workplace does more than eliminate hazards. It also offers a number of advantages to your workforce. Effective noise control in industrial settings often contributes to:

  • Increased productivity and efficiency: While some people find that music or other background noises enhance their focus, loud industrial noises are unlikely to contribute to anyone’s focus. By keeping noise levels to a minimum, on-site staff can choose to work in quiet or with background sounds they know contribute to their productivity. Without excessive noise serving as a distraction, staff can keep their focus where it needs to be and become more productive and efficient during their workdays.
  • Better employee retention: Over time, excess noise can become more than an irritant. Some people may become so bothered that the noise overshadows all the work they do for you, leading them to decide to leave and find employment elsewhere. Minimizing sound distractions means minimizing the reasons your staff may have to seek new employment, boosting staff retention over time.
  • Improved staff health and safety: High noise levels can lead to both short- and long-term issues, including hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines and other health concerns. Keeping noise levels low eliminates the possibility of these problems occurring.
  • Enhanced communication and concentration: Lower noise levels can mean better focus among staff. The more work they do, the more likely it is that they will have to collaborate or communicate with other people around them. Maintaining workplace noise standards allows your people to connect with one another more effectively without distracting others.
  • Regulation compliance: By making sure your property’s noise levels are in accordance with OSHA regulations, you can avoid fines and citations while gaining recognition for being OSHA-compliant.

CONTACT US

Noise Hazards and Control Measures

The effects of excessive noise on health are well-documented. What can you do to ensure your business is minimizing sound hazards everywhere possible? First, you must consider where your noise pollution is coming from. In industrial settings, the source is often machinery, though other common sources are the manufacturing process and overzealous communication. Once you identify your sources, you can begin implementing specific processes to mitigate them, such as:

Personal protective equipment (PPE): Ear plugs and headphones are some of the best protective options for staff working around loud machinery, especially if there are no other options to reduce their noise levels. When you introduce these staff-based noise reduction tools, be sure to train your staff on how to use them properly for maximum auditory protection.

Engineering controls: In some cases, especially with newer machine models, there may be control settings you can adjust to minimize noise without affecting workflow. Check your equipment settings and consult with professional engineers to see if there are ways for you to lower sound levels right at their source.

Administrative controls: Another avenue you could pursue is implementing administrative rules, such as limiting staff members’ time in noise-heavy areas or requiring PPE during specific operations. Managers and noise specialists should feel empowered to develop rules and standards that help their employees stay safer in the workplace.

How to Reduce Workplace Noise Exposure

Although they are more prevalent in some industries than others, hazardous workplace noises exist in more workplaces than construction sites and manufacturing facilities. People working in restaurants, offices, call centers, schools and more are all at risk of experiencing prolonged exposure to dangerously loud noises.

So, how can business owners and managers work to reduce their staff’s exposure to excessively loud noises? Here are a few tips from OSHA and other reputable workplace safety organizations:

CONTACT US

If possible, the most direct way to address high-decibel noises at the workplace is to use engineering controls to decrease the noise levels. You can accomplish this by lowering the decibels at the source or as they travel from the source to the ear. This solution is not always possible, depending on the tools and devices needed to complete tasks, but things you can try include switching to low-noise tools, addressing any maintenance issues with your equipment or using sound walls or curtains to enclose the source of hazardous noises.

On the administrative side, you can keep your employees safe by limiting the length of time an individual can spend near the source of high-decibel noises. You can also provide soundproof rooms for workers to recover from loud noises during breaks.

For deafening work environments, sometimes decreased length of exposure isn’t enough to protect your workers. It might not be possible to lower the decibels of the noise sources at your workplace, either. In these cases, OSHA recommends providing your staff with protective hearing devices such as earplugs or earmuffs. If you do need to use this method, be sure you attempt to make engineering and administrative changes first, as protective hearing devices are typically not as effective on their own.

Often, the upper-level management and owners of a workplace are not in the thick of it every single day like your staff is. It is, however, the responsibility of higher-ups to train workers on when to speak up about excessively loud noises. Give your team the tools to be able to recognize dangerous noises in their work environment, so they know when it’s appropriate to inform you of them. You should also provide your staff with information about OSHA’s recommendations on the relationship between decibel levels and exposure time, as we discussed above.

The final tip to protect your staff from long-term hearing loss is to monitor your noise levels regularly so you can act fast to correct them. Even if you correct hazardous noise levels, you should continue to monitor for any changes you may need to adapt to. It’s always best to stay ahead of dangerous occupational noise levels to keep your workers as safe as possible. After all, if you end up having to establish a hearing test program at your workplace, it’s likely some of your workers have already experienced some damage that puts them at risk of developing long-term hearing problems.

GettyImages-1837427894-e1728418740688

Integrating Noise Control Into EH&S Management Systems

Implementing workplace noise standards is only the start of managing your environment, health and safety (EH&S) standards in regard to sound. Even the best-laid plans require consistent monitoring and surveying to ensure the application is going as planned. Keep these tips in mind as you integrate your strategies:

  • Use multiple acoustic minimizing methods: Noise mitigation is often completed in three ways — absorption, blocking and covering. Use strategies that employ each method and see which ones are most beneficial for your job site.
  • Create workplace noise surveys: Get information on how your guidelines are working straight from your staff. These surveys can give you valuable information on how your standards may help or hinder your staff.

The Purpose of Occupational Noise Evaluations

By investing in occupational noise evaluations at your workplace, you’re showing your staff that you care about their long-term health and safety. Occupational noise testing has several benefits, such as:

  • Getting ahead of and potentially avoiding expensive or time-consuming solutions to sources of hazardous noises
  • Staying abreast of the maintenance of noise-producing equipment and tools
  • Knowing the status of your workplace noise levels
  • Being proactive about keeping your workers safe

Investing in regular occupational noise evaluation is so valuable that OSHA has specific testing requirements for employers who provide their staff with hearing protection devices. These employers must offer their staff auditory tests at the following points:

  • Within three months after starting to work with the hearing protection
  • Anytime a health and safety representative requires it
  • Annual for individuals having a standard threshold shift (STS)
  • At least every two years, as a standard practice

Gain
Peace-of-Mind

Partner With TRC’s Tested Practitioners

Contact Us

Occupational Noise Evaluations Levels & Tools

Occupational noise evaluations test the levels in a work environment to ensure they do not equal or exceed 85 decibels, which is the maximum level averaged over an 8-hour workday that a worker can encounter before they are required to be enrolled in a Hearing Conservation Program. For a 12-hour work shift the action level is 82 decibels. A sound level meter and a noise dosimeter are two tools used to evaluate a person’s exposure to dangerous noise levels. You can count on a reliable workplace health and safety company such as TRC to provide these services. You should invest in noise level testing regularly, and especially when you make changes to your production process, tools or equipment.

When you conduct annual audiometry testing, look for specific figures to ensure your employees are safe at the workplace. Be sure to conduct the first audiometry exam within a worker’s first six months at your office or another workplace to serve as a baseline for any changes that may occur due to noise exposure. You can use the results from this initial audiogram to determine if an employee is suffering from exposure to hazardous noise levels as they continue to work for you. Conduct tests at several frequencies — 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 and 6,000 Hz — for each ear for the most accurate and inclusive results.

If any employee’s audiogram results are alarming — whether during the initial exam or a follow-up test — it is your responsibility as the employer to notify them in writing within 21 days after verifying the results. This step is especially vital if a significant change in hearing has occurred in a short amount of time.

Contact TRC Today

If you’re ready to start addressing the noise levels at your workplace, you need a team of professionals who is ready and willing to help you analyze and adjust them. You can request a quote for workplace noise survey and consulting services from TRC. We are the experts at all things related to noise exposure control. We’ll come to your workplace to conduct quantitative measures of your noise levels, then provide effective solutions to this issue.

Keep browsing our site to learn more about our occupational noise evaluations, which can address noise-related issues such as vehicle traffic, ventilation and dust collectors, cooling towers, grinding equipment and more.

CONTACT THE EXPERTS AT TRC TODAY

GettyImages-1490467378-a

Sharing Our Perspectives

Our practitioners share their insights and perspectives on the trends and challenges shaping the market.

osha-national-program-warehouses-distribution
Insights

OSHA Enforces New National Emphasis Program to Address Concerns with Warehouses and Distribution Centers

August 23, 2023

Why is OSHA concerned with Warehouses and Distribution Center Operations? The warehousing and distribution centers industries are growing rapidly, with employment increasing from 668,900 workers in 2011 to 1,713,900 in 2021. Within these same industries, there have been high rates of illness and injury. Specifically, within the warehousing and storage industry, top illnesses and injuries in 2020 included:

Petrochemical-Plant-Illuminated-at-Dusk
Regulatory Updates

Changes to EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) Regulations Are Coming

April 14, 2023

Changes to the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations were signed into a final rule on February 27, 2024, by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

badabb4a-engineers-showing-his-colleagues-online-data-in-tablet-1207928632
Insights

Routinely Evaluating the Health & Effectiveness of Integrated Systems to Manage EHS/ESG Risks – Part 2

March 15, 2023

Systematic monitoring and continuous improvement is important to achieve an effective EHS/ESG management system within an organization.

3256d36b-woman-labor-and-factory-exterio-858529688
Insights

Recognizing, Identifying, Prioritizing and Addressing EHS & ESG Risks

March 3, 2023

A clear view and understanding of the environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks created by a business is paramount to its success and longevity.

2612967a-two-heavy-industry-engineers-1290244410
Insights

Routinely Evaluating the Health & Effectiveness of Integrated Systems to Manage EHS/ESG Risks – Part I

March 1, 2023

Once established, an EHS/ESG management system must be routinely evaluated to ensure it remains effective to identify and control risks, as well as accommodate and adjust for changes that occur to/within the organization.

GettyImages-1330995587
Insights

How to Prevent Infectious Disease in the Workplace

September 1, 2022

There are various ways infectious diseases can spread throughout the workplace. Learn how they spread and what to do next to prevent ill-health.

08-workplace-fatigue
Insights

Workplace Fatigue Explained

September 1, 2022

Workplace fatigue can happen as a result of factors both inside and outside of the workplace. No job is exempt and no employee is immune. Learn more.

05-noise-control-for-health
Insights

Importance of Workplace Noise Control for Health

September 1, 2022

Excessive workplace noise has adverse outcomes, such as decreased productivity, more difficult communication and permanent hearing loss. Find out more.

indoor-air-quality-1
Insights

Conducting an IAQ Inspection

September 1, 2022

Many investigation strategies can help you uncover IAQ concerns and sources. An initial inspection can help you get started. Learn more from our guide.

GettyImages-1506288038
Insights

How to Prevent Accident & Injury in the Workplace

September 1, 2022

Workplace accidents are all too common and can cause major problems for employees and employers. Learn how to prevent common accidents with this guide.

GettyImages-1475192553
Insights

Safety and Health Audits Benchmarking for Performance Improvement

September 1, 2022

Safety and health benchmarks help employers track company progress in improving employee health and safety and is critical to long-term success. Learn more.

b585ce4f-ehs-white-paper-blog-e1677870757155
Insights

Optimizing EHS/ESG Information Management and Reporting Systems by Leveraging Innovative Digital Technology Solutions

August 10, 2022

A single, integrated enterprise wide EHS/ESG IMS can significantly improve performance and communicate progress towards organizational requirements and goals.

c20ba008-microsoftteams-image-18
Insights

Support an Integrated EHS/ESG Management System

June 10, 2022

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), an employee is injured on the job every seven seconds. Workplace accidents are all too common and can cause major problems for employees and employers. We’re going to look at some of the most common workplace accidents and discuss how to avoid and prevent them so you and your employees can enjoy the benefits of a safe work environment.

b517ce45-manage-ehs-esg-risks-blog
Insights

How to Use an Integrated Approach To Manage EHS and ESG Risks

April 20, 2022

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), an employee is injured on the job every seven seconds. Workplace accidents are all too common and can cause major problems for employees and employers. We’re going to look at some of the most common workplace accidents and discuss how to avoid and prevent them so you and your employees can enjoy the benefits of a safe work environment.

GettyImages-1460822484
Insights

OSHA Returns to In-Person Inspections As COVID-19 Restrictions Lift

August 4, 2021

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) to assure employers provide safe and healthful work conditions free of recognized hazards and by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education and technical assistance. OSHA has recently announced the return to in-person inspections as COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift.

GettyImages-2155903870
White Papers / Reports

Managing EHS & ESG Risks Through Integrated Systems Today and Beyond

July 22, 2021

It has been more than 50 years since the development and establishment of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) which were formed to protect our environment and workplaces across the United States. Significant laws, policies and regulations followed to establish the “regulatory programs” that all applicable businesses and entities must address and meet to ensure these compliance-driven legislative programs would create a foundation to protect our society.

GettyImages-1837363459
Insights

Reshoring – Warehouse Space Increases the Need for Chemical Security

January 14, 2021

Expanding warehouse & distribution facilities increase need for chemical security with CFATS to ensure compliance, safety and security.

49d320b3-refinery-at-sunset-637140248-b

TRC’s Reporting Tool Can Help Identify New PFAS under the TRI

May 19, 2020

While utilities often work in technical silos, NERC auditors are trained to cross check compliance evidence and data between interrelated standards.