CREST Restaurant Insurance Tips: Protect Your Workers From Hearing Loss

Every year, 30 million people in the United States are exposed to dangerous noise levels at work. Thousands of people endure hearing loss, and high noise levels on the job can cause emotional stress and reduce productivity. Excessive noise levels can interfere with communication and concentration, making it hard to hear warning signals or even someone shouting a warning, leading to accidents or injuries at your worksites.

OSHA sets limits on noise exposure on the job based on a worker’s time weighted average over an eight-hour day. OSHA’s permissible exposure limit for noise is 90dBA. In addition, if your employees endure noise levels averaging 85 dBA or greater over an eight-hour day, your organization must implement a hearing conservation program.

Visit OSHA’s website to learn more about the agency’s standards and guidance for general industry and for construction in particular. There, you’ll also find links to helpful guidance from other federal agencies and national organizations.

Pinnacol Resources

Pinnacol’s industrial hygienists can evaluate employee exposure to noise in your workplace and determine if your organization needs to develop and implement a hearing conservation program. This service is free to policyholders. Contact your Pinnacol safety consultant to learn more.

Additionally, enter your policyholder number to access the noise and hearing conservation page on Pinnacol’s website. There you’ll find the following helpful downloads:

  • Sample Hearing Conservation Program
  • General Estimates of Work-Related Noises
  • Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss – A Practical Guide
  • Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss – Compliance Checklist
  • Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss – Program Evaluation Checklist
  • Tips on Using Hearing Protection

You can also contact Pinnacol’s Safety On Call hotline at 303.361.4700 or 888.501.4752. Our Safety Services team is committed to helping you protect your employees from occupational hearing loss.

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