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NIOSH Testimony on Noise by E. J. Baier, October 4, 1977.
NIOSH 1977 Oct:13 pages
This testimony discussed NIOSH research on occupational noise induced hearing loss. Research in this area of concern had been aimed primarily at prevention. A criteria document was issued in 1972 containing recommendations for a new workplace standard for noise control. Not only does excessive noise damage the hearing mechanism of the ear resulting in hearing loss, but it also may interfere with the reception of speech, warning signals and other desired sounds, and contribute to physiological and psychological disturbances. The criteria document focused on the need for engineering controls to reduce the intensity of the noise at the workplace and administrative controls to limit the amount of exposure each employee receives. The use of ear protectors was sanctioned only as a temporary measure until engineering and administrative controls are implemented. Formulas for determining hearing loss were discussed, with the most popularly used one having been developed in 1961 by the Subcommittee on Noise of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and adopted by the American Medical Association. The need for a weighting formula for calculating binaural hearing impairment was addressed. Other causes of hearing loss were also considered, including the deterioration of hearing occurring through aging, exposure to airborne contaminants, and preexisting sensitivity to noise. Compensation issues were briefly considered.
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Testimony; Baier-E-J; Ear-disorders; Ear-protectors; Noise-induced-hearing-loss; Industrial-noise; Noise-control; Age-factors;
NTIS Accession No.
Hearing Loss; Disease and Injury; Noise-induced-hearing-loss; Special Populations; Work Environment and Workforce;
NIOSH, 13 pages, 24 references
Page last reviewed: September 2, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division