Report by the International Institute of Noise Control Engineering Working Group on "Upper limites on noise in the workplace"

The primary goal of this report is to contribute to the reduction of risk and magnitude of long-term hearing damage, towards a practical minimum for those people habitually exposed to noise in the workplace. A secon¬dary result of reducing noise in the workplace is likely to be some increase in worker safety due to enhanced ability to hear warning signals, and reduced stress on the job. The regulations, and terms of financial com¬pensation for loss of hearing in several industrialized countries are summarized as examples of current prac¬tice. It is hoped that this summary and resulting recom¬mendations may eventually promote international uniformity, and encourage jurisdictions currently with¬out control of noise levels in the workplace to enact regulations, by showing what is considered by legislators to be socially desirable and economically feasible in other countries.