What noise levels will be prohibited?
The current standard sets 90dBA (decibels) as the permissible level for an 8-hour time-weighted average of exposure. The standard permits exposure to a higher level, but only for a lesser period of time-the so-called 5dBA doubling rate. This means that exposure to 95dBA would be permitted for 4-hours, and so on. The 90dBA level is not changed in the proposed standard, although OSHA is giving serious consideration to a more restrictive 85dBA level at the insistence of the Environmental Protection Agency and organized labor. OSHA has proposed an 85dBA, 8-hour time-weighted average as the action level at which audiometric testing and noise monitoring must begin. How would you equate these noise levels to common, everyday sounds? First, it should be noted that the difference between 90dBA and 85dBA is substantial. It is not merely an arithmetic difference of 5dBA. Actually, 85dBA is approximately one-half as loud as 90dBA-so we are not talking about a small reduction in noise levels. For e
