10.5: Maintain and Retrofit Equipment
- Page ID
- 63362
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Proper maintenance of equipment and tools can result in lower noise levels. Changing seals, lubricating parts, using sharp blades and bits, installing mufflers, and replacing faulty or worn equipment or parts can reduce the noise levels significantly on the job site. Do you know of equipment on your job site that could benefit from regular maintenance to reduce noise levels? Your employer should ensure that there is a regular maintenance program and that everyone follows the maintenance schedule. With some ingenuity, even older, noisier equipment can be modified by adding mufflers, new seals, or insulated panels. Employees can use noise reduction equipment accessories when made available by the employer. Employers can look for ways to reduce the sound intensity of tools in their current inventory. Employers can reduce job site noise levels by following OSHA recommendations:
• Identify major noise sources and possible control solutions.
• Plan ahead and limit worker exposure as much as possible.
• Perform regular maintenance.
OSHA currently allows your employer to rely on any combination of (1) hearing protective devices with a hearing conservation program, (2) engineering controls, and (3) administrative controls to effectively reduce worker exposures below 90 dBA. OSHA also recommends that your employer provide – and that you use – hearing protective devices any time site exposures meet or exceed 85 dBA.
What can be done if engineering and administrative controls are not enough?
Proper Selection and Use of Hearing Protection: If other control strategies to reduce noise levels can’t be used or fail to reduce noise levels below OSHA’s permissible exposure limits (PELs), wear a hearing protective device (29 CFR 1926.52). There are many different types of hearing protection. Each type is designed for certain noise conditions. They include the types listed in the following table. But remember – unless you wear them properly and wear them all the time in high noise areas, the devices will not be effective. Convenience and comfort are important for frequent use of hearing protective devices. Earmuffs and foam earplugs in most cases offer the most noise reduction. However, performed plugs or canal caps may be more convenient where construction work generates moderate daily average noise levels. There is no one device that is the best type for all situations.
Your employer is responsible for selecting, fitting, and maintaining hearing protective devices and must provide them to you at no cost and train you in their use (29 CFR 1926.101). If you are not provided with hearing protection for high noise work tasks, ask for it. If the employer refuses to provide hearing protectors, you can request an OSHA inspection.
Contractors and workers should consider the following when selecting and wearing protective gear: the noise level of the task, communication needs, convenience, comfort, hygiene, noise reduction of the hearing protective devices, and hearing ability.
Each type of hearing protection has manufacturer’s directions for use and maintenance. Follow these directions and replace or fix the devices when they appear worn, dirty, or broken. Always wear hearing protection to protect yourself from high noise exposures, both on the work site and at home. Neither portable music player headphones nor hearing aids are substitutes for hearing protective devices.