Technical assessment of upper limits on noise in the workplace

In the 1990s it has become widely recognized that the economic and social costs of high levels of noise in the workplace require significant action to reduce the exposure of workers to noise. Such costs include not only the financial compensation or damages that must be paid, and the reduced enjoyment of everyday life for those with a hearing loss, but also less quantifiable factors such as reduced productivity, increased stress, disturbed speech communication and risk of accidents for a large number of workers. This International INCE Technical Assessment is presented in the form of a report that briefly reviews the extensive scientific and epidemiological evidence relating exposure to noise, including impulsive noise, and risk of hearing damage, and discusses the factors that are relevant to legislation. The basic features of existing legislation from many jurisdictions are tabulated. The setting of specific limits on exposure to noise is a political decision, with results that vary between jurisdictions depending on economic and sociological factors. It is however also important that regulations be harmonized internationally. The report therefore makes specific recommendations for legislation in the areas of daily exposure levels normalized to 8 hours, limitation of peak sound pressure levels for short-duration (impulsive) noises, acceptable sound pressure level changes for longer or shorter daily exposure periods, sound absorption in working areas, the inclusion of sound output requirements in purchase specifications for new machinery, the use of personal hearing protection, and audiometric testing.