Washington Administrative Code
Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of
Chapter 296-817 - Hearing loss prevention (noise)
Section 296-817-20010 - Control employee noise exposures that equal or exceed 90 dBA TWA[8]
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 296-817-20015.
You must reduce employee noise exposure, using feasible controls, wherever exposure equals or exceeds 90 dBA TWA8.
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1. Once noise exposures are brought below 90 dBA T WA8, no further reduction is required. However, further reduction of noise may reduce the need for other hearing loss prevention requirements. |
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2. Controls that eliminate noise at the source or establish a permanent barrier to noise are typically more reliable. For example: |
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a. Replacing noisy equipment with quiet equipment. |
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b. Using silencers and mufflers. |
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c. Installing enclosures. |
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d. Damping noisy equipment and parts. |
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3. Other controls and work practices may also be useful for reducing noise exposures. Examples include: |
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a. Employee rotation. |
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b. Limiting use of noisy equipment. |
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c. Rescheduling work. |
Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-11-060, § 296-817-20010, filed 5/19/03, effective 8/1/03.
