Question 1:

You have been tasked with establishing and implementing an effective hearing conservation program for a metal stamping facility. Noise monitoring shows that employees working in the press areas of the facility are exposed to 8-hour TWA noise exposures between 85.0 dBA and 89.0 dBA. Based on the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95, summarize the requirements for an effective hearing conservation program and discuss steps to make the program as effective as possible.

Please refer to 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(2) for the formula.

Your response must be a minimum of 200 words in length.

Question 2:

Summarize the characteristics and abilities of sound level meters (SLMs) and noise dosimeters and how they can be used to evaluate noise exposures at a facility.

Your response must be a minimum of 200 words in length.

Question 3:

Three workers (8-hour work shift) were monitored for work in different areas of a facility using calibrated noise dosimeters. The results are summarized in the following table. Time for Monitoring

Worker 1      Worker 2       Worker 3

3 hours     80.5 dBA       98.5 dBA        92.5 dBA

2 hours     81.0 dBA       86.5 dBA        85.0 dBA

2 hours     82.0 dBA       84.5 dBA        83.5 dBA

1 hour       95.0 dBA         83.5 dBA       80.0 dBA

a. Calculate the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) noise exposure for each of the three workers.

b. Summarize which (one) of the exposures exceeds OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) and/or action level for noise.

c. Discuss what factors about the noise monitoring may have affected the accuracy of the noise measurements.

Show your work for all mathematical calculations.

Please refer to Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.95 for assistance on how-to solve this problem.

Your response must be a minimum of 200 words in length.

Question 4:

Define the following terms associated with occupational noise:

a. Wavelength

b. Frequency

c. Sound Pressure

d. Decibel

e. Octave Band

Your response must be a minimum of 200 words in length