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Ontario is lowering workplace noise exposure limits!
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What are the new regulations?

INDUSTRIAL NOISE EXPOSURE LIMITS

The Ontario Government is strengthening protection for industrial workers who are exposed to high levels of noise. Hearing loss, due to exposure to high levels of noise in the workplace, is a serious occupational illness. According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), it resulted in an estimated $100 million in compensation costs being paid between 1995 and 2004.

What is changing?

Currently, the Regulations for Industrial Establishments and for Offshore Oil and Gas Operators allow workers to be exposed to up to 90 decibels of noise for an eight-hour period. The new regulations will lower the allowable limit to 85 decibels. It will also introduce a new time-weighted averaging method that will provide a more accurate way of determining the actual amount of noise a worker is exposed to.

This is the first time these noise regulations have been significantly updated since they were introduced 30 years ago.

Who is covered by this?

All workplaces in Ontario covered by the Regulations for Industrial Establishments and the Regulations for Offshore Oil and Gas Operators will be covered by the new noise exposure limit. While other sectors, such as the mining and construction sectors, do not have set noise exposure limits, the Occupational Health and Safety Act still requires employers in these workplaces to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of these workers. This includes situations where they are exposed to high levels of noise.

Is your workplace too loud?

If you have to shout at someone who is standing at arm's length, the noise levels are probably greater than 85 dB.

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, if you answer yes to any of the following questions, your workplace may have a noise problem.

• Do people have to raise their voices?
• Do people who work in noisy environments have ringing in their ears at the end of a shift?
• Do they find when returning home from work that they have to increase the volume on their car radio higher than they did when going to work?
• Does a person who has worked in a noisy workplace for years have problems understanding conversations at parties or restaurants, or in crowds where there are many voices and "competing" noises?

How to comply with the new limit

First identify areas with high noise levels, then assess what levels workers are exposed to, and develop a noise control/hearing conservation program.

Engineering controls that reduce noise at the source are often the most efficient and productive way to protect workers. They eliminate potential risks further down the prevention ladder, such as inadequate or improper use of PPE, and may eliminate the need for hearing protection.

Engineering control methods include substitution, modification, isolation, and maintenance. However, these controls are just one component of a hearing conservation program.  Other components include administrative controls or procedures for performing specific jobs or tasks personal protective equipment.  Training in the following areas: health effects of noise use, care and fit of personal protective equipment job procedures other program components as required, such as periodic exposure monitoring and audiometric testing

What the ministry expects

If the Industrial Establishments Regulation applies to your workplace, then the ministry expects you

• to take all measures reasonably necessary in the circumstances to protect workers from exposure to sound levels exceeding 85 dBA (8-hour time-weighted average exposure).
• when the exposure limit is exceeded, to put in place protective measures that reduce worker exposure, such as engineering controls, work practices such as equipment maintenance or scheduling that limits worker exposure time, and personal protective equipment.
• to post clearly visible warning signs at the approaches to areas where the sound level regularly exceeds 85 dBA.

Were consultations with interested parties held?

Consultations were held in the winter of 2005 - 2006. The noise consultation stakeholders included: Industry associations Labour organizations including relevant unions Health and safety partners including hearing associations Media--general and industry-specific MOL enforcement team members The Canadian Hearing Association was also consulted and is supportive of the changes being made.

When does this new exposure limit come into effect?

The new exposure limit will come into effect on July 1, 2007. This will allow workplaces enough time to come into compliance with the new noise exposure limit.

Article Referenced from Ministry of Labour: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/news/2007/07-01b.html

Article also referenced from the IAPA newsletter: http://www.iapa.ca/apmag/2007_enews_jun.asp#a