NOISE AND HEARING LOSS PREVENTION

Occupational hearing loss is the most common work-related injury in the United States. Approximately 22 million U.S. workers exposed to hazardous noise levels at work, and an additional 9 million exposed to ototoxic chemicals. An estimated $242 million is spent annually on worker’s compensation for hearing loss disability.

NIOSH recommends removing hazardous noise from the workplace whenever possible and using hearing protectors in those situations where dangerous noise exposures have not yet been controlled or eliminated.

Features

NIOSH Noise Meter
This Flash application plays different sounds and sound intensities of everyday objects, and shows how long it takes before a particular sound level becomes dangerous to the human ear.
NIOSH Power Tools Database
This database of commonly used power tools contains such information as sound power levels, sound pressure level and downloadable exposure files.
Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss – A Practical Guide
Intended to assist employers and employees to develop and maintain hearing loss prevention programs.
Hearing Protector Compendium
A searchable database for selecting hearing protectors available from US hearing protector manufacturers
Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Noise Exposure
This document reevaluates and reaffirms the recommended exposure limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure established by NIOSH in 1972.

NIOSHTIC-2 Search

NIOSHTIC-2 search results on Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.