Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
exposure.received.in.8.hours.where.the.noise.level.is.constantly.85.dBA..
The.exposure.measurement.must.include.all.continuous,.intermittent,.and.
impulsive.noise.within.an.80-dBA.to.130-dBA.range.and.must.be.taken.
during.a.typical.work.situation..This.requirement.is.performance.oriented.
as.it.allows.employers.to.choose.the.monitoring.method.that.best.suits.each.
individual.situation..Monitoring.should.be.repeated.when.changes.in.pro-
duction,.process,.or.controls.increase.noise.exposure..Such.changes.may.
mean.that.additional.employees.need.to.be.monitored,.and/or.their.hearing.
protectors. may. no. longer. provide. adequate. attenuation.. Under. this. pro-
gram,.employees.are.entitled.to.observe.monitoring.procedures,.and.they.
must.be.notiied.of.the.results.of.exposure.monitoring..The.method.used.
to.notify.employees.is.left.to.the.discretion.of.the.employers..Instruments.
used. for. monitoring. employee. exposures. must. be. carefully. checked. or.
calibrated.to.ensure.that.the.measurements.are.accurate..Calibration.pro-
cedures. are. unique. to. speciic. instruments.. Employers. have. the. duty. to.
ensure.that.measuring.instruments.are.properly.calibrated..They.may.ind.
it.useful.to.follow.the.manufacturer's.instructions.to.determine.when.and.
how.extensively.to.calibrate.
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2.. Audiometric. testing. not. only. monitors. the. sharpness. and. acuity. of. an.
employee's.hearing.over.time,.but.also.provides.an.opportunity.for.employ-
ers. to. educate. employees. about. their. hearing. and. the. need. to. protect. it..
The.employer.shall.establish.and.maintain.an.audiometric.testing.program.
(see  Figure  23.10).. The. important. elements. of. an. audiometric. testing. pro-
gram.include.baseline.audiograms,.annual.audiograms,.training,.and.follow-
up.procedures..Audiometric.testing.must.be.made.available.at.no.cost.to.all.
FIgure 23.10 Example.of.a.testing.booth.for.conducting.hearing.test..( Source: .Courtesy.
of.the.National.Mine.Health.and.Safety.Academy.)
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