Wash. Admin. Code § 296-817-20010
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.
Note: | 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. |
2. Controls that eliminate noise at the source or establish a permanent barrier to noise are typically more reliable. For example: | |
a. Replacing noisy equipment with quiet equipment. | |
b. Using silencers and mufflers. | |
c. Installing enclosures. | |
d. Damping noisy equipment and parts. | |
3. Other controls and work practices may also be useful for reducing noise exposures. Examples include: | |
a. Employee rotation. | |
b. Limiting use of noisy equipment. | |
c. Rescheduling work. |
Wash. Admin. Code § 296-817-20010
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.