The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that they will begin the enforcement phase of its emphasis program to prevent workplace hearing loss. Although this program focuses mainly on manufacturing industries, occupational hearing loss is a widespread concern.
OSHA reported that more than 30 million workers in the United States are exposed to hazardous noise each year causing thousands of workers to suffer from hearing loss that could have been prevented. Hazardous noise levels within the workplace are not only a concern for hearing loss but also contribute to other causes of physical and mental stress, ultimately, lowering employee productivity.
With OSHA’s new regulations on occupational noise exposure, employers are now required to implement a hearing conservation program when employee noise exposure is equal to or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels (dBA). The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise is 90 dBA as an 8-hour TWA.
Now, you may wonder, how can I prevent my employees from being exposed to hazardous noise? There are sound-measuring instruments available to measure noise levels which include sound level meters, noise dosimeters, and octave band analyzers. If you have access to mobile iOS devices, you can download the Sound Level Meter app as well. Partnering with a PEO like GMS can also ensure the safety of your employees.
How GMS Can Help With Workplace Safety
We understand that business owners can’t keep operations running and thriving without a healthy and efficient workforce. Your employees need the resources and tools to succeed while you are ensuring you’ve created a safe work environment. GMS helps small business owners take a proactive approach to workplace safety through a variety of services. We provide onsite consulting, job site inspections, accident and injury investigations, training, job hazard analysis and standard operating procedures, and OSHA inspection and citation assistance. If you want to make your workplace a safer place, contact us today.