Noise and hearing protection

Skills you'll practise

• Recognize the signs that noise in an area may be hazardous, using OSHA's published rule of thumb
• State the OSHA, NIOSH and UK exposure values and what each one triggers, and explain why a few decibels make a large difference
• Follow hearing protection zone signs and wear, fit-check and look after earplugs and earmuffs correctly
• Describe what hearing tests are for and what a standard threshold shift means for the employee
• Report noise changes, damaged protectors and hearing symptoms through the site process

Course outline

1. 1.Noise and hearing protectionVideo · 3 min
2. 2.How noise harms hearingLesson · 16 min
3. 3.The limits and what they triggerLesson · 17 min
4. 4.Wearing protection and hearing checksLesson · 17 min
5. 5.Noise and hearing protection: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 23 questions
6. 6.Noise and hearing protection: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
7. 7.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• OSHA: Occupational Noise Exposure (PEL 90 dBA, action level 85 dBA, NIOSH REL comparison, signs of hazardous noise)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95: Occupational noise exposure
• NIOSH: About occupational hearing loss (REL 85 dBA; hearing loss is permanent; tinnitus)
• NIOSH: Understand noise exposure (3 dBA exchange rate)
• NIOSH: Provide hearing protection (types, fit check, double protection, overprotection)
• HSE: Noise at work, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (action values 80 and 85 dB(A), limit 87 dB(A)) (UK)
• HSE: Hearing protection (zones, wear at all times in noise, not an alternative to noise control) (UK)
• HSE: Health surveillance for noise (UK)
• Your employer's safety procedures, risk assessments and site rules (these govern)