ML12192A131

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development 2010 Noise

ML12192A131
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	10/26/2011
From:	State of TN, Dept of Labor & Workforce Development
To:	Watts Bar Special Projects Branch
Poole J
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Download: ML12192A131 (2)

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Welcome - Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Department of Labor and Workforce Development GOVERNOR Bill Haslam Karla Davis, Commissioner Visit Bill's Web Site Search Special Emphasis Program For Residents For Visitors Noise For Business Transparency Tennessee OSHA has instituted a Special Emphasis Program for occupational noise ex-posure and Job Seekers hearing conservation. This is established to focus statewide attention on occupational noise and to Employers prevent occupational hearing loss in employees. Each day, thousands of workers are exposed on the job TNRecovery.gov to excessive noise levels capable of causing permanent hearing loss. Open Government Labor Laws Unemployment During all health and safety inspections the TOSHA compliance officer or consultant will make the employer aware of the Special Emphasis Program on noise and measure the noise levels in the Labor Market workplace. Interventions will be made where there are noise levels above 85 decibels (dB). TOSHA laws Information for occupational noise exposure require a Hearing Conservation Program when noise exposures exceed Adult Education 85 dB averaged over 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br />.

Workplace Safety What Can Noise Do to You? Featured Sites Mission Statement Workplace Regs Excessive noise can destroy the ability to hear and may also put stress on other parts of the body, Publications Workers' including the heart. Workers exposed to noise sometimes complain of nervousness, sleeplessness, and Public Notices Compensation fatigue. For most effects of noise, there is no cure, so prevention of excessive noise exposure and Unemployment Rates hearing conservation are very important. The damage done by noise depends mainly on how loud it is Newsroom and on the length of exposure. The frequency or pitch can also have some effect, since high-pitched sounds are more damaging than low-pitched ones. Noise may tire out the inner ear, causing temporary Agency Services Sitemap hearing loss. After a period of time off away from noise, hearing may be restored. With continued noise Boiler Inspections Contact Us exposure, the ear will lose its ability to recover from temporary hearing loss, and the damage will be Training Providers permanent. Permanent hearing loss results from the destruction of hair cells in the inner ear - cells which Workforce Development can never be replaced or repaired. Normally, workplace noise first affects the ability to hear high Division frequency (high-pitched) sounds. This means that even though a person can still hear some noise, Related Topics speech or other sounds may be unclear or distorted. Distortion occurs especially when there are TN.GOV Services FMLA background noises or many people talking. A hearing aid can make speech louder, but not make it Renew Driver's License Minimum Wage clearer. One Stop Business Overtime Registration Suggestions for Employers: More Monitor noise exposures to determine who is exposed above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 dB.

You can buy or rent a sound level meter, arrange for a consultant from your workers' compensation carrier or other consultant to conduct the survey. You may call Tennessee OSHA Consultative Services at 1-800-325-9901.

Develop, implement, and maintain (at no cost to employees) a hearing conservation program. For an acceptable program you must:

Conduct mandatory annual hearing tests Make hearing protectors available Make hearing protectors mandatory above 90 dB Conduct annual training on the effects of noise Keep accurate records of audiograms and review them to ensure that your program is "effective" Reasons People Lose Their Hearing People think noise is no threat to them. Noise is not like an air contaminant, which they can smell or see.

The initial injury to their hearing is not evident and may be hard to detect.

Noise induced hearing loss is cumulative.

Serious damage may take years to occur. It may take 10-20 years to become evident.

People feel hearing protection is too much trouble.

When audiograms are reviewed, appropriate action is not always taken.

The importance of using hearing protection was not explained.

There is a false belief that medical science can correct noise induced hearing loss.

There is no pain associated with noise in the 85-100 dB range.

People believe hearing loss is normal.

For more information and publications on noise contact your local Tennessee OSHA office or call 1-800-249-8510.

http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/tosha_noise.html[10/26/2011 10:03:49 AM]

Welcome - Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development TOSHA 220 French Landing Drive Nashville, Tennessee 37243 Ph: (615) 741-2793 Fax: (615) 253-1623 Toll Free: 1-800-249-8510 Send comments to Division of Occupational Safety and Health TN.gov Services TN.gov Directory Web Policies Accessibility Web Awards Survey Department of Labor and Workforce Development 220 French Landing Drive Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 741-6642 http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/tosha_noise.html[10/26/2011 10:03:49 AM]