Compare and contrast the OSHA noise standard and the ACGIH noise exposure recommendations - Essay Example

Running Head: OSHA noise standard ACGIH noise exposure recommendations Compare and Contrast the OSHA noise standard and the ACGIH noise Exposure Recommendations(Name)(University Affiliation)(Date)Compare and Contrast the OSHA noise standard and the ACGIH noise Exposure Recommendations There is a significant comparison from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), such that OSHA was established in 1971 to provide safety measures on creating a better working environment for all employees in the United States.

The organization focuses of the following strategies: first, they aim to have a strong, fair and effective enforcement in safety and health; second to outreach, educate and to comply on the assistance; and lastly, to develop partnership and cooperative programs. That is why every year they developed new research and study to protect the workers towards its environment. Recently, one of the standards that they have developed was the noise standard. OSHA releases the reasons why they believe that workers should be protected from noise.

According to them, noise creates a fatal effect to people. Those who are exposed to too much noise results to common hearing impairedness, which is more often ignored because the symptoms occurred in the later stage of the illness. What is distinct about the OSHA noise standard was that it aims to protect the workers from the noise pollution. They provided guidelines on the required “safe” maximum exposure of a person in a noisy environment. Also, they mentioned that workers should wear ear protective devices that fits the ear perfectly as to no sound shall go in (plain cotton is not advisable).

Also, they proposed that industries should provide safety measures on controlling the noise they create especially to industries that are heavy on construction and production. On the other hand, ACGIH proposed the same principle. They also aim to secure and protect the citizens (not only the workers and employees) on controlling the noise pollution that is created everyday. Like OSHA, they also require to regulate noise and encourage the industries to take charge in protecting the ears of their employees.

For instance, they require (as noise exposure limit):“(a) 85 dBA Lex daily noise exposure level; (b) 140 dBC peak sound level” (ACGIH, 2005) So technically, both organization aids the sole purpose of noise standard. The difference now lies on how each organization provides a more in-depth assistance in noise safety and health hazard towards the employers. ACGIH have the entire Part 7 for these purpose, entitled, “Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature”. In this part, it enumerated a concrete provision on noise standards.

It included exemption of noise control for workers, also with engineering noise control. They provided a hearing protection and warning signs for the safety of the workers and employers under heavy industries. In addition, they also require keeping records and conducting hearing tests for workers before allowing them to work in a noisy area. On the other hand OHSA together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, was established in the U.S. Department of Labor to manage and oversee the safety and health of all workers under their jurisdiction which in addition they (unlike ACGIH) would develop a series of research to acquire recommendations for occupational safely and health standards of the workers, and within their regulation in Section 20 and 21 they would also seek to conduct research both for the safety and health standards of the workers and also conduct a training which will provide them the appropriate information on noise pollution.

Also, included under the OSHA was the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977, which ensures the safety, and protection of the miners in the United States. ReferenceOSHA. Regulations: (Standards - 29 CFR), Occupational noise exposure. - 1926.52. United States Department of Labor. Accessed: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10625 ACGIH. Part 7: Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature. Accessed: http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/OHSRegulation/Part7.asp?_from=regulation.

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