A Pennsylvania company recently learned of the expensive cost associated with failing to meet OSHA’s hearing conservation requirements.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined a pallet repair and rental company a whopping $53,100 for violations of 29 CFR 1910.95, the OSHA Noise Exposure Standard.

OSHA cited the company as follows:

• Serious violation for failure to provide baseline hearing tests for those exposed at or above the Action Level of 85 dBA TWA.
• Serious violation for failure to provide annual hearing tests for those exposed at or above the Action Level.
• Willful violation for lack of feasible administrative or engineering controls.  The company was previously cited for this issue in August of 2014.  This Willful citation alone is $49,500 of the entire $53,100 fine.
• Two Other-than-Serious violations of requirements not related to hearing conservation.

Noise levels in the facility measured as high as 93.3 dBA TWA, high enough to cause hearing loss over time.  OSHA does not permit employee exposures higher than 90 dBA TWA, called the Permissible Exposure Level or PEL.

When exposures exceed the PEL, OSHA can (though not necessarily will) issue a citation for lack of feasible engineering and administrative noise controls.

At an exposure level of 85 dBA TWA, called the Action Level, a multitude of requirements are specified to include baseline and annual hearing testing, annual hearing conservation training, the provision of hearing protection and periodic noise surveys.  OSHA takes these requirements seriously because they are necessary for an effective hearing conservation program, one that significantly reduces the long-term risk of hearing loss and workplace accidents.

The AMA team brings decades of professional experience and quality to the table in every facet of our business. For additional information, related services, and more, contact AMA at 410-684-3327 or info@amaconsulting.com, or visit amatraining.com.