The noise level at construction sites has serious and sometimes overlooked health and safety consequences. The bottom line of noise control in construction worksites is that permanent hearing loss is a reality. Thousands of workers every year suffer from preventable hearing loss due to high workplace noise levels. Since 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that nearly 125,000 workers have suffered permanent hearing loss.
Because of this potential long-term damage, exposing workers to a high level of noise over an extended period time is subject to the same type of oversight and fines as exposing workers to hazardous chemicals. Just this year, an industrial part manufacturer was fined over $35,000 in repeat citations for the employer’s failure to establish a training program for workers exposed to high noise levels.
While construction sites are by their very nature subject to high levels of noise, there are legal limits to the amount and volume workers can be exposed. Over an eight-hour period, workers can be exposed to 90 decibels (dBA), and with every 5 decibel increase, the amount of time is cut in half.
The first step when considering a noise safety plan is to understand the difference between short-term exposure to loud noise, which can cause a temporary change in hearing, and long-term exposure that can lead to permanent ringing and/or hearing loss–and then putting the proper safety measures in place.
Reducing the Decibel Level: What You Can Do
With the reduction of even a few decibels, the hazard to hearing is reduced. There are several ways to control and reduce worker exposure to noise in a workplace.
Foremost, safety officials would caution construction managers that hearing protection devices, such as earmuffs and plugs are considered an acceptable but less desirable option to control exposure to noise.
Before these safeguards are used, OSHA advises both engineering controls, which involve modifying or replacing equipment, and administrative controls, which involve changes in the workplace that reduce or eliminate the worker exposure to noise. Examples of administrative controls include:
- Operating noisy machines during shifts when fewer people are exposed.
- Limiting the amount of time a person spends at a noise source.
- Providing quiet areas where workers can gain relief from hazardous noise sources.
- Restricting worker presence to a suitable distance away from noisy equipment.
OSHA urges all employers to implement an effective hearing conservation program in general industries whenever worker noise exposure is a concern. To this end, the agency has published an extensive guide that summarizes the monitoring, training and recordkeeping requirements of a solid plan.
For more information, contact Diversified Safety Services.
