1. Three workers (8-hour work shift) were monitored for work in different areas of a facility using calibrated noise dosimeters. The results are summarized in the following table.
Time for Monitoring Worker 1 Worker 2 Worker 3
3 hours 80.5 dBA 98.5 dBA 92.5 dBA
2 hours 81.0 dBA 86.5 dBA 85.0 dBA
2 hours 82.0 dBA 84.5 dBA 83.5 dBA
1 hour 95.0 dBA 83.5 dBA 80.0 dBA
a. Calculate the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) noise exposure for each of the three workers.
b. Summarize which (one) of the exposures exceeds OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) and/or action level for noise.
c. Discuss what factors about the noise monitoring may have affected the accuracy of the noise measurements.
