PDFWAC 296-307-63210
Control employee noise exposures that equal or exceed 90 dBA TWA8.
important:
Hearing protection provides a barrier to noise and protects employees but is not considered a control of the noise hazard. Separate requirements apply to hearing protection and are found in WAC 296-307-63215.
The employer must reduce employee noise exposure, using feasible controls, wherever exposure equals or exceeds 90 dBA TWA8.
Notes: | 1. Once noise exposures are brought below 90 dBA TWA8, no further reduction is required. However, further reduction of noise may reduce the need for other hearing loss prevention requirements. |
2. Controls that eliminate noise at the source or establish a permanent barrier to noise are typically more reliable. For example: | |
a. Replacing noisy equipment with quiet equipment; | |
b. Using silencers and mufflers; | |
c. Installing enclosures; | |
d. Damping noisy equipment and parts. | |
3. Other controls and work practices may also be useful for reducing noise exposures. Examples include: | |
a. Employee rotation; | |
b. Limiting use of noisy equipment; | |
c. Rescheduling work. |