Document zQgN4B7vBw191ggJYYNM8Rmwm

DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. August 6, 1984 LOUISIANA DIVISION P. O. BOX ISO PLAOUEMINE. LOUISIANA 707SB-01B0 BOA SSS'SOOO TO: Power-I Employees YEARLY NOISE LEVEL SURVEY This report is written and circulated in an attempt to increase your awareness of the known fact that we in the Power block are exposed daily to levels of sound that have the potential to be detrimental to our health. It has been proven in numerous lab tests with lab animals that long-term exposure to low lev 1 noise or short-term exposure to high level noise may deteriorate portions of the inner ear. This can result in hearing losses at the respective frequencies and can also indirectly lead to stress related disorders. Therefore, we re-emphasize that the use of hearing protection is MANDATORY anywhere within this block outside of the office buildings, shops, and auxiliary rooms. The following list is categorized with respect to descending noise levels with the forced draft fans topping the list. In an attempt to better communicate this data, you will find a color-coded map of Power-I graphically showing various noise levels throughout the block posted on the computer room window in the control room. Hopefully, you will take a few minutes - if for nothing more than to compare what you feel to be our noisiest areas with what is listed as such - to look at the noise levels and the amount of time experts feel you can be exposed to those levels without suffering damage. Marcus R. James Mechanical Engineer Power-I lml attachment AN OPERATINQ UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY 00 076810 CONFIDENTIAL POWER ONE SOUND LEVEL SURVEY SOUND LEVEL - db 126 126 120 120 118 117 116 114 112 110 107 107 107 107 105 104 104 103 103 102 102* 102 101 101 100 100 100 100 100 99 98 97 97 97 96 96 95 95 95 95 95 95 95 f AREA FD4A (inside wall) FD4B (Inside wall) FD5A (inside wall) FD3B (inside wall) FD1B, 2A, 2B, & 3A FD5B (inside wall) #3 Blr. Firing, Aisle Gas Turbine #2 & #3 - Turbine Lower & Upper Firing Aisle - #2 Blr. FD1A #8 BFP Lower Fire Aisle - #1 Blr. FD4B (outside wall) Beneath #4 Turbine Upper Fire Aisle #1 Blr. #4, 5, 6, BFP Beneath #2 Turbine FD4A (outside wall)' FD4B (outside wall) BFP #7 Beneath #3 Turbine ID 1A, IB, 2A, 2B Beneath #2 Generator CO- Blower #172,3 EDTA pumps #1 & #2 Boiler Steam Header Level #3 Boiler Steam Header Level #2 & #3 G/T Generator #1 S/T Deck West East Stairs to 2801 #4 Boiler Burner Levels Top Level #3 Boiler Make-Up Pumps East Door to 2801 Gas Regulators #1,2,3 Air Compressors 1,2,3 #4 & #5 Gas Regulators #4 Boiler Chemical Feed Exciters BFP's 1,2, & 3 Blrs. #1,2,3 Chemical Feed Station #5 Blr. Burner Levels #2 Turbine Deck - East DO 07AS11 r.ONF SOUND LEVEL - db 94 94 94 93 93 92 92 92 92 91 90 90 90 90 90 88 85 85 84 83 79 78 76 75 ' 70 69 65 64 62 60 AREA Beneath #1 Generator Top Level #5 Boiler Boiler #5 EDTA Pump FD3B (outside wall) PD5A & 5B (outside wall) #2 & #3 Gas Turbine Auxilliaries #2 Water Intake #1 Water Intake #2 15KV & 2900V Sw. Gr. Room Top Level #1 & #2 Boiler #1 Turbine Deck - East #2 Turbine Deck - West Top Level #4 Boiler Deaerators 1,2,3/ & 4 Boiler #5 Chemical Peed Station Warehouse w/ door open #1 D.C. Control Room Day Tank Area #1 Battery Room #1 - 15KV Switchgear Room #2 & #3 Gas Turbines - Control Board #1 Aux. Control Room Hall near #1 D.C. Control Room H_ Trailer Electrical Shop #2 Aux. Control Room Main Control Room Electrical & Instrument Offices Staff Offices - East End Staff Offices - West End Survey Conducted by: Marcus James________________ Sound Level Meter: Bruel & Kjaer, Type 2205 Weighting Network: __ A MJ: vg 1/84 07681? conftdfnttal. V CONSEQUENCES OF OVEREXPOSURE COMPOUND: Noise Prolonged and repeated exposure to levels EXCEEDING 90 dB-A MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE NERVES IN THE INNER EAR. The INITIAL EFFECT IS TO REDUCE THE ABILITY TO HEAR SOUNDS IN THE HIGH FREQUENCY RANGE. If unchecked, the hearing loss can extend TO THE FREQUENCIES IN THE NORMAL SPEECH RANGE. METHODS OF CONTROL DIHG - 85 dB-A - to prevent hearing loss for exposures OF MORE than 8 hours per day. DO 076813 CONFTDFNTT Al.  ^22 g s iau C/5* J UJ Cfi o uj D l-iJJ U>J Cutcr/5t CL 8 V) ;------ HRESHC LD OF 1 AIN AN DTJOCL Ev 111 miNSATK N OF F :eling T HRESHI LD OF DISCOW ORT- iH 1 riii [/K A AUDI 3LE FIE RESHOI.0 3 3 C5 1--i- i i 1 :s too z *>0 l a90 10 DO 20 00 4C 00 OC 00 te.0 X) 1 .'.rt 1---------- --.--* ..... .... . L_ S 1000 X 5 10000 X FREQUENCY IN HERTZ DO 076814 C0NF7DFNTTAI We have seen that with excessive exposure to noise hearing loss can be permanent. Thus* the need for a standard that represents safe exposure to noise is evident. The present OSHA and the Dow Standards or,- given in Table 2. Table 2 TLV FOR NOISE EXPOSURE TIME (HRS) OSHA STANDARD DECIBELS (A) 16 85 8 90 6 4 3 2 1 0.5 0.25 92 95 97 100 105 110 115 0.125 (no exposure to noise greater than 115oBA is allowed) DOW STANDARD DECIBELS (A) 80 85 87 90 92 95 100 105 110 115 (.Impact noise -- maximum allowed is 140 dBA.) OO 076815 OONFTDFNTTAI