Surveillance of occupational noise exposures using OSHA's Integrated Management Information System

Abstract

Noise exposures in manufacturing have been reduced since the late 1970s, except those documented by federal enforcement. Noise exposure data outside manufacturing is not well represented in IMIS.

Patterns and trends in OSHA occupational noise exposure measurements from 1979 to 2013

“…PEL and AL noise data collected between 1979 and 1999 were analysed previously by Middendorf, who found that most of the then-available 155 378 PEL and AL measurements occurred within the manufacturing industry 22. Middendorf showed a decrease in non-compliant measurements (those exceeding 90 dBA using PEL criteria, and 85 dBA using AL criteria) between 1989 and 1998, but the final 5 years of the analysis indicated increasing PEL levels within manufacturing 22.…”

“…PEL and AL noise data collected between 1979 and 1999 were analysed previously by Middendorf, who found that most of the then-available 155 378 PEL and AL measurements occurred within the manufacturing industry 22. Middendorf showed a decrease in non-compliant measurements (those exceeding 90 dBA using PEL criteria, and 85 dBA using AL criteria) between 1989 and 1998, but the final 5 years of the analysis indicated increasing PEL levels within manufacturing 22. No other large-scale longitudinal analyses of trends in US occupational noise exposures appear to have been published, and comprehensive industry-specific temporal analyses appear to be available for only two industries: construction23 and metals manufacturing 24…”

Occupational Noise Exposure and the Risk of Hypertension

“…Information on the use of hearing protection devices would have been useful but is not feasible in a register-linked study. 21,22 To conclude, our study showed no increased risk of hypertension at noise exposure levels within the lower half of the 80-90 dB(A) range.…”

“…21,22 For this reason, we categorized participants by first year of exposure as a sensitivity check of noise exposure level at the ear.…”

Using OSHA inspection data to analyze respirator protection program compliance

“…Second, we see that the percentage of violations cited as serious ranges from 11 percent for sections 134(c) (2) (i) and 134(k) (6) to 85 percent for section 134(i) (7). Thus, whether a particular violation of a standard is cited as "serious" depends upon the context of the violation.…”