Industrial Noise and Noise Exposure

Noise is defined as unwanted sound or sound that is capable of degrading or damaging some human quality. Noise can have many adverse effects including damage to hearing, disruption of normal activity, and general annoyance. In industrial situations, noise can also cause worker fatigue and irritability and difficulty in communications and on-the-job training. These can all lead to a loss of productivity and decreased efficiency. The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of May, 1969 specifies that all agencies wishing to sell goods to the Federal Government, valued at more than $10,000 (or services valued at more than $2,500), must initiate a program to protect their employees from excessive noise exposure. Excessive noise exposure is considered to be a noise level of over 90 CIBA. Many of the typical machining operations in woodworking produce a noise level in excess of 90 dBA.

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