Recommended workplace noise limits
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Recommended workplace noise limits
The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends noise level limits to prevent hearing loss in the workplace. This is based on hearing workday noise over 40 years. The recommended exposure limit is no more than 85 decibels (dB) for 8 hours a day.1 Above this level, hearing loss may occur. As the noise level rises, the time you can be exposed to the noise decreases.
| Example | Noise level | Approximate maximum exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy traffic, power lawn mower | 85 dB | 8 hours |
| Subway, shouted conversation | 90 dB | 2.5 hours |
| 92 dB | 1.5 hours | |
| 95 dB | 47 minutes | |
| Boom box, ATV, motorcycle | 96 dB | 37 minutes |
| 98 dB | 23 minutes | |
| 100 dB | 15 minutes | |
| School dance | 101 dB | 12 minutes |
| 105 dB | 4 minutes | |
| Chain saw, leaf blower, snowmobile | 109 dB | 1.5 minutes |
| 115 dB | 28 seconds | |
| Sports crowd, rock concert | 120 dB | 9 seconds |
| Stock car races | 130 dB | Less than 1 second |
People who may be regularly exposed to harmful noise because of their jobs include:
- Those who work with loud machines, vehicles, or power tools, such as construction workers, factory workers, farmers, truck drivers, mechanics, or airport ground crew workers.
- Military personnel.
- Police officers and firefighters.
- Musicians.
References
Citations
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1998). Recommendations for a noise standard. In Criteria for a Recommended Standard, Occupations Noise Exposure, Revised Criteria 1998 (DHHS [NIOSH] Publication No. 98-126). Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-126/chap1.html.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology |
| Last Updated | April 30, 2007 |
| Last updated: | April 30, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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