Ear protection required in this area

Authored by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

On a recent trip to San Francisco, my wife and I took the ferry to Sausalito. I had my earplugs in my pocket because I’ve found boats to be noisy, but to my surprise the ferry was quiet. 

What I did see, for the first time ever, was a sign on the door for the stairway going to the engine room, stating “Ear protection required in this area.” There are no federal recommendations or standards for noise levels for the public, but there are National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure limits and Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limits for noise applicable to workers.

Photo credit: Daniel Fink

I wish there were federal, state and local standards or regulations for non-occupational noise exposure. Until then, everyone should know that the only evidence-based safe noise exposure level to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is a time-weighted average of 70 decibels for a day. Impulse noise may have a disproportionate impact on hearing and the actual safe noise exposure level may be only 55 A-weighted* decibels (dBA) for a single noise event and a daily average of 55-60 decibels for 24 hours. 

For workers or for the public, if it sounds loud, it’s too loud and one’s auditory health is at risk. Use ear protection, turn down the volume or leave the noisy environment to protect your ears.

* A-weighting adjusts noise measurements to approximate the frequencies head in human speech. Difficulty understanding speech is the compensable workplace injury from occupational noise exposure.