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Policy Area

ESH-Environment Safety & Health

Procedure Number

ESH100.2.IH.8

Procedure Title

Evaluate and Control Noise Hazards

Procedure Manager

HOOPER, LISA Z.

Status

Active

Subject Matter Expert

  • Brad Lackey
  • Daniel Kuey (Dan) (CA)

 

Applicability, Exceptions, and Consequences

This corporate procedure applies to all Members of the Workforce who are exposed on Sandia-controlled premises to sources of noise hazards.

Exceptions to, or deviations from, this procedure must be approved through the Executive Policy Sponsor or Policy Area Manager, if delegated. Click here to view Contacts for Corporate Policy System Policies, Processes, and Procedures. See CG100.1.7, Request an Exception to a Policy, Process, or Procedure, for directions on how to obtain an exception to this procedure.

Granting or permitting exceptions or violations of policy, process, or procedure without authority, regardless of position or title, may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Violating a policy, process, or procedure may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A printed copy of this document may not be the document currently in effect. The official version is located on the Sandia National Laboratories Sandia Restricted Network (SRN).

Procedure Overview

This procedure details the requirements to protect Members of the Workforce who are exposed to sources of noise hazards.  

Procedure Requirements

Training

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Ensure Required Training Is Completed Managers

Ensure that Members of the Workforce complete the required training identified in ESH100.2.IH.8 prior to performing the indicated work activity or fulfilling the indicated role.

Note: See Sandia corporate procedure HR100.2.1, Identify and Complete Sandia Required Training for all Members of the Workforce.

Identification, Evaluation, and Control of Noise Hazards

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Identify, and Evaluate Noise Hazards Managers

Ensure that:

  • All potential exposures to sources of noise hazards are identified, evaluated, and controlled.
  • The division ES&H team industrial hygienist is contacted to perform an exposure assessment.
  • The division ES&H team industrial hygienist is contacted to re-evaluate noise levels when a change in workplace conditions indicates a new or increased noise hazard.
Control Noise and Protect Hearing Managers

Ensure that:

  • All control measures specified as a result of the exposure assessment are implemented and maintained.
  • When feasible, engineering or administrative controls are used to mitigate or abate noise exposures to below the occupational exposure limits.
  • Hearing protection is provided and used to protect the hearing of Members of the Workforce if engineering and administrative controls fail to reduce noise exposures to below the occupational exposure limit.
  • Members of the Workforce who are exposed to noise levels equaling or exceeding an occupational exposure limit as determined by an exposure assessment receive the required training, and baseline and annual audiometric testing.
Control Noise and Protect Hearing Members of the Workforce and Visitors
  • Use identified engineering or administrative controls, as specified in the exposure assessment to eliminate or reduce exposure to noise levels.
  • Wear specified hearing protectors when performing activities and/or working in areas identified in the exposure assessment as requiring hearing protection.
  • Wear hearing protection when performing work in a high noise area as designated by the noise area warning sign.
  • Inform their manager of any potential workplace noise hazards which have not been identified or assessed.

Providing and Maintaining Hearing Protectors

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Provide and Maintain Hearing Protectors Managers

Ensure that:

  • Hearing protectors are provided to Members of the Workforce when they are required to reduce exposure to below the applicable occupational exposure limit and/or if work requires access to high noise areas.
  • Hearing protectors attenuate effective noise exposure to below the occupational exposure limit as determined by the exposure assessment.
  • A variety of suitable hearing protectors are made available to Members of the Workforce to accommodate differences in physiology and personal preference.
  • Hearing protectors are fitted properly and used correctly as demonstrated in annual training (NSE100).
  • Hearing protectors are replaced, as necessary.
  • Members of the Workforce are trained in the use and care of hearing protectors (NSE100).
  • Use of hearing protectors is re-evaluated by performing an exposure assessment whenever noise exposure increases to the extent that they may no longer provide adequate protection.

Warning Signs and Labels

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Post Warning Signs and Labels Managers and Space Owners
  • Post the Evaluate and Control Noise Hazards Warning Sign (ES&H Sign Generator–Noise Area Warning Sign),at the entrance to high noise areas (e.g. buildings, rooms).

Audiometric Testing

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Enroll in Audiometric Testing Program Managers
  • Ensure Members of the Workforce who are exposed to noise levels exceeding an occupational exposure limit as determined by an exposure assessment, receive baseline audiograms within 6 months of their first exposure by enrolling in the Audiometric Testing Program.
  • Follow HR100.4.7, Participate in Medical Monitoring/Surveillance, to enroll Members of the Workforce in the Audiometric Testing Program.
Oversee Members of the Workforce determined to have a Standard Threshold Shift Managers

When Sandia Health Services has determined that a Member of the Workforce has experienced a standard threshold shift, ensure that the Member of the Workforce is:

  • Retested within 30 days to validate the threshold shift.
  • Provided additional training (NSE200).
  • Properly using hearing protectors, is trained in their use and care, and is required to use them.
Removal from Audiometric Testing Managers
  • Remove Members of the Workforce who are no longer exposed (e.g., change in job assignment, hazard no longer present) to noise levels exceeding an occupational exposure limit from the Audiometric Testing Program.
  • Follow HR100.4.7, Participate in Medical Monitoring/Surveillance, to remove Members of the Workforce from the Audiometric Testing Program.

 

Implementing Tools

Sign

  • ES&H Sign Generator–Noise Area Warning Sign

Tool

  • ES&H Sign Generator

Website

  • Hearing Conservation

 

Additional Drivers

  • 10 CFR 851, Worker Safety and Health Program

 

Training Requirements

Responsible Individual Required Recommended
Members of the Workforce who are exposed to noise levels equaling or exceeding an occupational exposure limit as determined by an exposure assessment.

NSE100

N/A
Members of the Workforce who have experienced a Standard Threshold Shift in hearing as determined by audiometric testing.

NSE200

N/A

 

Related Processes and Procedures

Process

Procedures

 

Required Reviews

Review Completion Dates
In Process

Change Summary

Date Summary
03/29/2012

Administrative

Modified

  • Changed text from "Post SF 2001-NSE, Evaluate and Control Noise Hazards Warning Sign,..." to "Post the Evaluate and Control Noise Hazards Warning Sign (ES&H Sign Generator–Noise Area Warning Sign),..." (Requirements & Instructions, Warning Signs and Labels)
  • Updated sign information from "SF 2001-NSE," to "ES&H Sign Generator–Noise Area Warning Sign." (Forms, Links & Tools)

Added

The ES&H Sign Generator was added as a tool.  (Forms, Links & Tools)
06/27/2011

Administrative

Modified

Corrected link to "Hearing Conservation."  (Forms, Links & Tools)
06/23/2011

Administrative

Modified

Corrected link to "industrial hygienist."  (Requirements & Instructions, Identification, Evaluation, and Control of Noise Hazards)
12/08/2010

Administrative

Modified

Corrected links to industrial hygienist and hearing protection.  (Requirements & Instructions)
11/17/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Updated SAPLE link to subject matter expert for system consistency.
  • Un-merged cells in Requirements & Instructions for display purposes.
  • Updated all dictionary terms to contain term identification numbers for system consistency.
08/04/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Corrected link to Visitors in Identification, Evaluation, and Control of Noise Hazards, under Control Noise and Protect Hearing.
07/21/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Under Warning Signs and Labels, Required Action, deleted the second bullet reading: "When feasible, provide appropriate hearing protectors at the entrance to posted high noise areas when access is not controlled and Members of the Workforce, roving personnel, and visitors do not have other readily available means of obtaining hearing protectors."
  • Under Training Requirements, Responsible Individual, deleted the first requirement reading: "Managers of Members of the Workforce who are exposed to noise levels equaling or exceeding an occupational exposure limit as determined by an exposure assessment. N/A NSE100."
06/30/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Corrected link to exposure assessment in Requirements & Information and in Training Requirements.
06/22/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Updated the Change Summary.
06/17/2010

Administrative

Added

  • Website to Forms, Links, and Tools
06/15/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Changed "Forms" to "Sign" in Requirements and Instructions, Forms, Links, and Tools.