ABSTRACT
Over time, exposure to noise above a certain level (generally accepted to be in the range of 75-85 dBA) will cause hearing damage in humans. For this reason, most developed countries have established limits on noise exposure for industrial workers. In the USA these limits are found in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Occupational Noise Exposure Standard and Hearing Conservation Amendment (Code of Federal Regulations 1983), as well as in other regulations for mining, construction and the military. The application of these standards requires a basic knowledge of the physics of sound, the common metrics for noise measurement and the equipment to be used. Other considerations include: measurement of high-level, impulse noises (such as explosions) which can cause instantaneous hearing damage; the frequency characteristics of the noise in question; and the correct settings for the equipment used.
