Document Z4m80dow3Z90135RdNpbexXX7
THU DOW
MB1CI AL COMPANY
RISTRICTID PN UM or DO* IMPLOYIIt ONLY
HWUMilHT ............................................................ Safety & Loss Prevention
~..... fcAYl , May 21,
1971
R. G. Vaughn Tim-- ---- --- --
Evaluation of environmental noise exposures in the CA #2 Plant, Plaquemine, Louisiana
INFORMATIVE SUMMARY WITH CONCLUSIONS
An environmental noise survey was conducted at the CA #2 Plant, Plaquemine, Louisiana. The noise exposure of the Power^Area Senior Operating Technician exceeded the standards for occupational exposures as set forth by federal regulations under the Walsh-Healey Act. The Dow profile for the Power Area SOT is "C1!. All other job classifications are within the federal criteria and are profiled "B" under the Dow noise exposure profile system.
Problem A request was made by supervision to evaluate the noise exposures of personnel in CA #2 plant (Chlorine-Caustic), Louisiana Division, Plaque mine, Louisiana. The evaluation was made according to criteria set forth by the United States Department of Labor under the Walsh-Healey Act, as well as the Dow noise exposure profile system.
Conclusion 1. The noise exposures, as measured by A-scale readings, indicate that the job classification of Senior Operating Technician in the Power Area exceeds federal criteria for acceptable noise exposures. Federal regulations according to the Walsh-Healey Act require that feasible engineering noise control be exercised and ear protection considered MANDATORY until noise control can reduce exposures.
2. All other job classifications in the CA #2 plant are within acceptable levels as determined by the Walsh-Healey Act.
3. The noise exposures as determined by the Dow noise profile system are as follows:
Job Classification Power Area SOT Caustic Area SOT Chlorine Area SOT O. S. "A" Shift Chlorine Area OT
Dow Profile C B B B B
Ear Protection Mandatory Not Needed Not Needed Not Needed Not Needed
4. A baseline audiogram is needed for all personnel in the CA #2 plant. Periodic follow-up audiograms are necessary for those individuals profiled "C". These individuals should be informed of the hazards of
high noise levels and made aware of the possible individual loss of
hearing.
_____ ___________________
DO 083618 CONFIDENTIAL
PRESENTATION OF DATA
Hearing Conservation Data In the interest of providing a satisfactory method for helping supervision and the Safety and Medical Departments to properly place employees in noisy jobs, hearing conservation criteria have been developed which provide for the profiling of job classifications.
All job classifications within departments are to be profiled A, B, B-, C, or D, with the following requirements.
Jobs Profiled D Extra noisy job, 10% or more of time is spent in noise that exceeds the basic damage risk noise levels. A. Before Job Placement
1. Base line audiogram record. 2. Medical evaluation of hearing. B. Follow Up 1. Periodic audiogram records. 2. Medical reevaluation of hearing. C. Ear Protection MANDATORY; noise exposure exceeds acceptable level as defined by the Walsh-Healey Act Federal regulations.
DO 083619 CONFIDENTIAL
Jobs Profiled C
Noisy job, <10% of time is spent in noise that exceeds the basic damage risk noise levels, but 10% or more of time is spent in noise within a 10 db range below these basic levels.
A. Before Job Placement
1. Base line audiogram record. 2. Medical evaluation of hearing. B. Follow Up
1. Periodic audiogram records. 2. Medical reevaluation of hearing.
C. Ear Protection
MANDATORY; noise exposure exceeds acceptable levels as defined by the Walsh-Healey Act Federal regulations.
Jobs Profiled B-
All jobs which would be profiled C, except that they are within acceptable noise levels as defined by the Walsh-Healey Act Federal regulations.
A. Before Job Placement
Base line audiogram record.
B. Ear Protection
RECOMMENDED.
Jobs Profiled B Quiet job within a noisy department, <10% of time is spent in noise approaching the basic damage risk noise levels. A. Before Job Placement
Base line audiogram record.
Jobs Profiled A Quiet job within a quiet department. NO HEARING CONSERVATION NEEDED.
No employees working in jobs profiled C, B-, B, or A should be allowed to change to a job profiled D without first obtaining the approval of the Medical Department. Where the term ear protection RECOMMENDED is used, it means that the noise exposure is such that a few individuals could have some loss of hearing after a period of time due to the noise exposure.
Noise Measurement and Job Profiling A General Radio, Type 1558-BP, octave band noise analyzer was used to make noise measurements in the various work areas. Several readings were taken in each area and the noise levels determined for octave bands ranging from 20 cycles per second to 20,000 cycles per second.
DO 08362^ CO^F
Ill.
Federal Supply Contracts Safety and Health Standards, Part 50-204.10, Occupational Noise Exposure
The Walsh-Healey regulations, as published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on May 20, 1969, and effective on that date, prescribe a maximum permissible steady (or equivalent) noise level in the work environment at 90 decibels as measured on the A-scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response. If noise levels exceed the maximum permissible (or equivalent) level, a continuing effective hearing conservation program shall be administered.
The regulations are interpreted to mean in all cases feasible engineering controls must first be determined and implemented. If the noise levels cannot be restricted within the maximum permissible (or equivalent) level by such methods, employee hearing shall be safeguarded by adequate personal protective equipment.
DO 083&22 CONFIDENTIAL
The table of permissible noise exposures* is as follows.
Duration/Day (minutes)
480 418 364 317 276 240 209 182 158 139
120
104 91 79 69 60 52 45 40 34 30 26 23 20 17 15
Sound Level (db A)
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109
110 111 112
113 114 115
*When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels, their combined effect should be considered, rather than the individual effect of each. If the sum of the following fractions
C Co
C
+_e.... -H ,
T. T_ 12
T n
exceeds unity, then the mixed exposure should be
considered to exceed the limit value. C indicates the total time
of exposure at a specified noise level, and T^ indicates the total
time of exposure permitted at that level. Where the noise is
below 90 db A, no fraction of time is included.
DO 083623 CONFIDENTIAL
IV. Evaluating Noise Exposures Using the Federal Regulations Criteria In addition to octave band analysis of the noise, readings were taken with a sound level meter on the A weighting scale at slow response. From permitted time values provided in Table I of the regulations, composite equivalent exposure ratios were calculated to determine acceptable ratings.
D0 0S3624 CONFIDENTIAL
IV Cont
Charts 0-39 show the noise levels at various work areas in the CA #2 Plant using both octave band analysis and overall readings of A-Scale and C-Scale weightings.
Tables 1-5 indicate the approximate time spent by plant personnel in each work area. The Dow noise exposure profile is designed as is the equivalent exposure ratios from A-Scale readings. The need for ear protection is indicated as well as the type of protection which will attenuate the noise to safe levels.
Figure 1 indicates the locations of noise level readings.
11-24-71/lv
DO 083625 CONFIDENTIAL
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Department
- 'poujerfc Job Classification
Ear Protection
fy\ ft si
-'Da.nJ it) Type of Protection
ftTDfl^y
1
tfWFP
Profile -
<L.
Federal Regulation Rating - (90 db A/8 hours) combined equivalent exposures >1 are unacceptable
Work Area Coo^iMt, T&^oe'SL <Xom P
u'Tenxseru
Noise Description
Charts
<r
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7-7-
feoom)
70 (Lf>( V-C *S eOo 9 Leu ex - C N>ocrHs)
t C-^TVort-/^
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2-7
rLb A: o u3 An-( - ,oF^ <eO" X 7S>
LomcH OoKJfO/^O S/V^PccS
O ^
Exposure Time
(min.) 5fo
ao vo
Average dbA <7 L
<7 V flu lOl
Equivalent Exposure Ratios
6 U e>-i w 0-l o
O ll
lc& l*o %*> 2.040
V6
lb 06
V* Cj L
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DO 083661 CONFIDENTIAL
'7'/ye>u? 2.
Department - <la -m
Job Classification -
cA
Ear Protection _ !00< .0^
S'OT"
Type of Protection -
Profile
Federal Regulation Rating - (90 db A/8 hours) combined equivalent exposures >1 are unacceptable
Work Area
Noise Description
Charts
Exposure Time
(min.)
Average dbA
Equivalent Exposure Ratios
. e P b ?>iV U.OP 'S 3' * >"-
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08366.2
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Department
Job Classification Ear Protection
Type of Protection Profile
Federal Regulation Rating
(LLt, AriA 'SOT
k3 oki 7
(90 db A/8 hours) combined equivalent exposures >1 are unacceptable
Work Area CfLL CjO i-I TIU) C_ (l^Cw
Noise Description
Charts
Exposure Time (min.)
Average dbA
Equivalent Exposure Ratios
^oo
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mch H fcfLeftics
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DO 083663 CONFIDENTIAL
Department - <2 A-- #*
Job Classification Ear Protection
Type of Protection Profile
Federal Regulation Rating
6.S.
hi err K rAoo
(90 db A/8 hours) combined equivalent exposures >1 are unacceptable
Work Area
Co SlT3LC (2-C> Or*
Noise Description
Charts
Exposure Time
(min.)
Average dbA
Equivalent Exposure Ratios
O
4*0
/ 0.00
DO 083664 CONFIDENTIAL
Department
(L Pi &
Job Classification Ear Protection
Type of Protection Profile
Federal Regulation Rating
ClU-i.
- OT
Mot- JuererpeD
" s"
(90 db A/8 hours) combined equivalent exposures >1 are unacceptable
Work Area Q-Cu.
C_o O <T {lo (JlLcyts*vt
Noise Description
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(min.)
Average dbA
Equivalent Exposure Ratios
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DO 083665 CONFIDENTIAL