DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY SERVICES
BUREAU OF SAFETY AND REGULATION
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STANDARDS COMMISSION
OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE
(By authority conferred on the occupational health standards commission by section 24
of Act No. 154 of the Public Acts of 1974, as amended, being S408.1024 of the
Michigan Compiled Laws)
R 325.60131 Noise exposure; conservation program.
Rule 1. (1) An employer shall ensure that protection against the effects of noise
exposure is provided when the sound levels exceed those shown in Table D-2 of this
rule when measured on the A-scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response.
[1926.52(a)]
(2) An employer shall utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls if
employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table D-2 of this rule.
If the controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table, then an
employer shall ensure that personal protective equipment is provided and used to
reduce sound levels within the levels of the table. [1926.52(b)]
(a) An employer shall ensure that ear protective devices inserted in the ear are fitted or
determined individually by competent persons.[1926.101(b)]
(b) An employer shall ensure that plain cotton is not used as a protective device.
[1926.101(c)]
(3) If the variations in noise level involve maxima at intervals of 1 second or less,
then it is to be considered continuous. [1926.52(c)]
(4) An employer shall implement a continuous and effective hearing conservation
program if sound levels exceed the values shown in Table D-2. [1926.52(d)(1)]
TABLE D-2--PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURES
Duration per day, hours:
Sound Level dBA Slow Response
8
6
4
3
2
90
92
95
97
100
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