What is a noise dosimeter?
A noise dosimeter is a small, light device that clips to a person’s belt with a small microphone that fastens to the person’s collar, close to an ear. The dosimeter stores the noise level information and carries out an averaging process. It is useful in industry where noise usually varies in duration and intensity, and where the person changes locations. A noise dosimeter requires the following settings: (a) Criterion Level: exposure limit for 8 hours per day five days per week. Criterion level is 90 dB(A) for many jurisdictions, 85 dB(A) for some and 87 dB(A) for Canadian federal jurisdictions. (b) Exchange rate: 3 dB or 5 dB as specified in the noise regulation. (c) Threshold: noise level limit below which the dosimeter does not accumulate noise dose data. Wearing the dosimeter over a complete work shift gives the average noise exposure or noise dose for that person. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the maximum permitted exposure. If a person has received a noise dose of
