flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

OSHA starts evaluation of construction industry noise standards

Codes and Standards

OSHA starts evaluation of construction industry noise standards

New studies indicate significant number of construction workers suffer hearing loss.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | June 29, 2016

Photo: mosambers/Creative Commons.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun evaluating the potential for a new process noise in construction standard.

The potential standard was included on the agency’s regulatory agenda published in May. OSHA is planning to issue a request for information in November to gauge the effectiveness and feasibility of adopting more noise-hazard requirements.

Two recent studies on occupational hearing loss conducted by the Department of Energy and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health concluded that a significant percentage of construction workers have suffered hearing loss during their careers. The permissible exposure limit for construction noise is 90 A-weighted decibels over an eight-hour period, but NIOSH's recommended exposure level is 85 A-weighted decibels over that timeframe.

The more stringent rule impacts workers in factories, and experts say that making the tougher standard apply to construction workers would make a real difference in protecting their hearing.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | May 26, 2020

Is CLT really a green solution?

Sustainability depends upon forest stewardship, product manufacturing process.

Codes and Standards | May 20, 2020

St. Louis is first Midwest city to pass building energy performance standard

Allows owners broad flexibility on how to achieve goals.

Codes and Standards | May 20, 2020

Supreme Court says Georgia cannot copyright its entire official code

Ruling may have implications for other states claiming copyright for building codes.

Codes and Standards | May 18, 2020

Strategies to reduce personal contact in multifamily properties

Design can improve health amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Codes and Standards | May 18, 2020

Canada Green Building Council says building industry lacks zero-carbon skills, knowledge

Net-zero target requires shift in thinking and practices.

Codes and Standards | May 18, 2020

California’s grid can support all-electric buildings

Load-shifting will help reduce peak demand.

Codes and Standards | May 15, 2020

European cities to revamp transportation after pandemic reopening

Road closures, new rules for public transit will be imposed.

Codes and Standards | May 14, 2020

Washington State construction industry restart plan has three phases

In state with earliest COVID-19 cases, advisory group developing priorities based on risk.

Codes and Standards | May 14, 2020

More mass timber beam and column options available in the U.S.

Freres Lumber unveils new line of structural elements suitable for high-rise buildings.

Codes and Standards | May 13, 2020

Researchers flag insufficient training for construction workers on healthcare projects

May contribute to fungal disease outbreaks that endanger patients

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021