WAC 296-817-20010   Control employee noise exposures that equal or exceed 90 dBA TWA₈.  

     IMPORTANT:

     Hearing protection provides a barrier to noise and protects employees but is not considered a control of the noise hazard. Separate requirements apply to hearing protection and are found in WAC 296-817-20015.

     You must:

     • Reduce employee noise exposure, using feasible controls, wherever exposure equals or exceeds 90 dBA TWA₈.

Note:	• Once noise exposures are brought below 90 dBA TWA8, no further reduction is required. However, further reduction of noise may reduce the need for other hearing loss prevention requirements
	• Controls that eliminate noise at the source or establish a permanent barrier to noise are typically more reliable. For example:
	– Replacing noisy equipment with quiet equipment
	– Using silencers and mufflers
	– Installing enclosures
	– Damping noisy equipment and parts.
	• Other controls and work practices may also be useful for reducing noise exposures. Examples include:
	– Employee rotation
	– Limiting use of noisy equipment
	– Rescheduling work.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 03-11-060, § 296-817-20010, filed 5/19/03, effective 8/1/03.]