1. Identification of Hazardous Noise Areas
2. Noise Measurements and Exposure Assessments
3. Area Measurements
4. Personnel Monitoring
5. Remonitoring of Hazardous Noise Areas
6. Remonitoring Due to Changes
The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety (EHRS)
will identify work areas within University of Pennsylvania facilities
where noise levels equal or exceed 85 dBA. Signs will be posted at
the entrance to any work area where noise levels exceed 85 dBA,
requiring anyone entering the area to wear proper hearing protection.
Personnel who work in these areas shall have hearing protection
supplied to them, shall be instructed in its proper use, and be
required to wear this equipment when in these identified areas. It is
the responsibility of the area supervisor to ensure that these
precautions are maintained.
All noise monitoring will be conducted by EHRS. The monitoring of
employees for noise exposure is made up of two parts, area and
personal monitoring. Area measurements are generally obtained first.
If noise levels are at or above 80 dBA, personal monitoring using
dosimeters is then performed. Sample data sheets will be used to
record monitoring data for both area and personal noise monitoring
results. EHRS will provide observation of the monitoring to employees
who work in the area.
In an area survey, measurements of environmental noise levels are
recorded using a sound level meter to identify work areas where
employees' exposures may be above hazardous levels, and where more
thorough exposure monitoring may be needed. Area monitoring is
conducted using a calibrated sound level meter set to the A scale,
slow response. Within the area of interest, several different
locations will be measured. Typical measurement locations would
include:
- In the hearing zone at the employee's normal work
location.
- Next to the noise source(s).
- At the entrance(s) to the work area.
- At other locations within the area where the employee might
work.
A rough sketch of the area will be included with the results
showing the locations where the noise readings were obtained.
If the noise levels are below 80 dBA on a time-weighted average
basis in the area, no further routine monitoring will be required for
that area. Should any of the noise measurements equal or exceed 80
dBA, records shall be maintained as to the noise levels recorded,
where they were taken, and the source(s) of the noise. These records
shall be updated at least once every two years to determine if any
changes have occurred that would warrant remonitoring of exposed
personnel. If any of the measurements equal or exceed a noise level
of 80 dBA, employees who work in or near the high noise area or
equipment shall have their noise exposure determined through
personnel monitoring using dosimeters.
Determination of the noise exposure level will be accomplished
using calibrated noise dosimeters. Each employee to be monitored will
have a dosimeter placed on him/her at the beginning of his/her normal
work shift with the microphone placed in the "hearing zone". The
dosimeter will be worn for the full duration of the work shift while
the employee performs his/her normal work routine. At the end of the
work shift, the dosimeter will be removed and information printed out
as soon as possible. Background information will be collected from
each employee detailing job description, unusual job activities,
etc., for the time period sampled. Those employees whose noise
exposure equal or exceeds 80 dBA on an 8-hour TWA will be referred to
the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center's Occupational Medicine
Service for inclusion in the Hearing Conservation Program.
All areas where noise levels equal or exceed 80 dBA shall be
remonitored at least every two years. Whenever an employee exhibits a
standard threshold shift, as determined by Occupational Medicine, the
employee's work place shall be remonitored to identify and rectify
the cause.
Any area with noise levels that equal or exceed 80 dBA shall also
be remonitored whenever a change in production process, equipment, or
controls increase the noise exposure such that additional employees
are exposed to noise levels at or above 80 dBA on a time-weighted
average basis. Areas where the noise levels have dropped below 80 dBA
due to alterations in equipment, controls or process changes may be
eliminated from the monitoring program after a period of two
months.