WAC 296-307-63210. Control employee noise exposures that equal or exceed 90 dBA TWA 8

important: Hearing protection provides a barrier to noise and protects employees but is not considered a control of the noise hazard. Separate requirements apply to hearing protection and are found in WAC 296-307-63215 . The employer must reduce employee noise exposure, using feasible controls, wherever exposure equals or exceeds 90 dBA TWA 8 . Notes: 1. Once noise exposures are brought below 90 dBA TWA 8 , no further reduction is required. However, further reduction of noise may reduce the need for other hearing loss prevention requirements. 2. Controls that eliminate noise at the source or establish a permanent barrier to noise are typically more reliable. For example: a. Replacing noisy equipment with quiet equipment; b. Using silencers and mufflers; c. Installing enclosures; d. Damping noisy equipment and parts. 3. Other controls and work practices may also be useful for reducing noise exposures. Examples include: a. Employee rotation; b. Limiting use of noisy equipment; c. Rescheduling work.