Noise and Hearing Conservation
For supervisors, coordinators, committee members and workers in noisy workplaces: how noise destroys hair cells and causes the noise notch and tinnitus, decibel arithmetic, distance, weighting and octave bands, the OSHA 90 dBA PEL, 85 dBA action level and 5 dB exchange rate in 29 CFR 1910.95 and 1926.52 compared with the NIOSH 85 dBA, 3 dB limit and MSHA rules, sound level meters, dosimeters and monitoring, dose and TWA for mixed and long shifts, engineering controls from source to receiver and buy quiet, administrative controls and hearing conservation program elements, NRR derating under Appendix B, OSHA and NIOSH methods and dual protection, fitting, fit testing and wear time, baseline and annual audiograms, standard threshold shifts and 1904.10 recordkeeping, impulse noise, ototoxic chemicals and special settings, and a capstone plant program.
HSE-241 12 lessons · 5 h 28 min
Offered by HSM University · Safety Training
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Explain how the ear works, how noise destroys hair cells and auditory nerve connections, and how noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus appear on audiograms and in daily life.
- Apply decibel arithmetic to combine and subtract sources, estimate the effect of distance, interpret A-weighted and C-weighted levels and octave band data, and recognize low-frequency noise.
- Apply the OSHA PEL, action level and 5 dB exchange rate in 29 CFR 1910.95 and 1926.52, compare them with the NIOSH REL and MSHA rule, and describe the program requirements that follow.
- Plan noise measurements for different purposes, choose and set up sound level meters and dosimeters, check calibration, and average readings on an energy basis.
- Calculate noise dose, Lex,8 and TWA for mixed and extended shifts under different rules, identify the tasks that drive the dose and allow for measurement uncertainty.
- Rank noise sources and select engineering controls at the source, along the path and at the receiver, including enclosures, barriers, absorption, silencers, isolation and buy-quiet purchasing.
- Use administrative controls appropriately and describe the elements, roles and evaluation of a hearing conservation program.
- Compare hearing protector types, apply the NRR under Appendix B, the OSHA 50 percent derating and NIOSH derating, use dual-protection rules and avoid over-protection.
- Fit hearing protectors correctly, explain individual fit testing and personal attenuation ratings, and quantify the effect of wear time on protection.
- Describe baseline and annual audiometric testing under 1910.95(g), the standard threshold shift, follow-up, recordkeeping under 1904.10 and confidentiality.
- Assess and control impulse noise, recognize ototoxic substances, and adapt noise programs to construction, entertainment, call centers, firing ranges and other special settings.
- Design, cost and evaluate a hearing conservation program for a workplace, and identify the weaknesses of an inadequate draft program.
Course content
12 lessons · 5 h 28 min total · final exam
- 1 How hearing works and how noise damages it 32 min · quiz
- 2 Sound basics for noise control 30 min · quiz
- 3 Exposure limits and the law 25 min · quiz
- 4 Measuring noise: instruments and surveys 30 min · quiz
- 5 Interpreting exposure: dose, TWA and Lex,8 27 min · quiz
- 6 Engineering noise control 27 min · quiz
- 7 Administrative controls and hearing conservation programs 26 min · quiz
- 8 Hearing protectors: types, ratings and derating 27 min · quiz
- 9 Fitting, fit testing and wearing hearing protection 26 min · quiz
- 10 Audiometric testing and hearing loss records 25 min · quiz
- 11 Impulse noise, ototoxic substances and special settings 26 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: a hearing conservation program 27 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
For supervisors, coordinators, committee members and workers in noisy workplaces: how noise destroys hair cells and causes the noise notch and tinnitus, decibel arithmetic, distance, weighting and octave bands, the OSHA 90 dBA PEL, 85 dBA action level and 5 dB exchange rate in 29 CFR 1910.95 and 1926.52 compared with the NIOSH 85 dBA, 3 dB limit and MSHA rules, sound level meters, dosimeters and monitoring, dose and TWA for mixed and long shifts, engineering controls from source to receiver and buy quiet, administrative controls and hearing conservation program elements, NRR derating under Appendix B, OSHA and NIOSH methods and dual protection, fitting, fit testing and wear time, baseline and annual audiograms, standard threshold shifts and 1904.10 recordkeeping, impulse noise, ototoxic chemicals and special settings, and a capstone plant program.