It’s Safe + Sound Week
Launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held every August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and provides resources for keeping America’s workers safe. In observance this year, NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) would like to share the following information on how to keep one’s hearing safe and sound.
How loud is too loud?
Noise is measured in units of sound pressure levels called decibels, named after Alexander Graham Bell, using A-weighted sound levels (dBA). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA for eight hours to minimize occupational noise-induced hearing loss.
What can you do?
Noise controls are the first line of defense against excessive noise exposure. Engineering controls, administrative controls, and hearing protection devices are some ways noise exposure can be reduced at the worksite, including:
- Using quieter machines
- Isolating the noise source
- Limiting worker exposure to the noise source
- Using effective personal protective equipment
- Providing quiet areas where workers can gain relief from noise
What devices are available to reduce noise exposure when working at a NYCHA development?
NYCHA’s “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment Catalogue” provides development staff with the proper equipment to prevent hearing loss on the job, such as the below items:
If you have questions about this or any environmental health and safety matter, please email ehs@nycha.nyc.gov. Residents, employees, and any member of the public can submit environmental health and safety concerns at https://on.nyc.gov/submit-concern.
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