Advanced Industrial Hygiene

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for the noise of 90 decibels on the A scale (dBA) for an eight-hour work shift with an action level of 85 dBA for an eight-hour shift or an equivalent exposure of 50%. OSHA also uses a 5 dB doubling rate, meaning for every 5 decibels (dB) increase in exposure, the allowable time for the exposure is cut in half. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) both recommend an eight-hour occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 85 dBA for an eight-hour shift and using a 3 dB doubling rate. Discuss what you perceive as the pros and cons of each method and whether you believe companies should use the OSHA PEL or the recommended OEL.

(Note: In order to comment on this, we would need to have an explanation of what the "doubling rate " is, so please include this in the intro portion of your Discussion Board. What is the "intro portion" ? this is where you begin your Discussion Board by identifying the topic and then introducing the reader to the key information being provided. Please include the in-text citations and reference list for reference sources you are using when you research this topic)

Please include the name of the person or question to which you are replying in the subject line. For example, "Tom's response to Susan's comment."

ALSO PLEASE REPLY TO ANOTHER STUDENTS COMMENT BELOW 

Frank:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the only organization that has a legal standard for implementing and enforcing the standards for worker safety (OSHA, n. d.).The  American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offer only guidelines (via scientific research) to be utilized only as a minimum of protection from exposure. OSHA, for example, set their guidelines back in 1970, and even acknowledge being outdated. The delay in providing a more strict exposure level, is that OSHA, as a Federally funded and operated organization, that has become tied up in red-tape, meaning that even with new information of lower noise levels, it must be cleared by many levels of courts before it can become implemented. This is only delayed further by the endless appeals and legalese from company attorneys saying how unfair it would be to companies to alter their operations to make necessary changes to become “SAFE”. If, and when, companies allow for these best practices to come into their workplace, they would see the financial benefits, as well as employee cooperation and morale increases. It does take time to make good changes according to scientific results but look at the changes adopted by members of the fire department who now are required to wear headsets with microphones and earmuff combinations, every time they leave their stations.

Reference 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (n. d.). Occupational Noise Exposure; Standards. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/standards.html