Tag: OSHA safety

Sound Level of Cicadas

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

At the time of writing this blog, Cincinnati is experiencing our usual 17-year brood of cicadas. Millions, if not billions, of 17-year cicadas have emerged in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio, making spending any amount of time outside unbearable. My four-year-old’s favorite part of the day is swinging on the back porch, and he even wants to go right back inside after just a few minutes.

I stuck the EXAIR 9104 Digital Sound Level Meter inside of one of our bushes here at the office. Within a 3′ radius, I counted 10–15 cicadas crawling around pretty casually. And they were producing a whopping 90 dBA! And if i shook a branch and really got them worked up, it peeked over 101 dBA.

Now while it takes repeated exposures of sufficient duration to cause hearing loss. And in a few weeks these cicadas will be gone; you probably don’t need to worry about the 2025 cicadas affecting your hearing. Noise exposure is, however, a real issue for most manufacturing facilities. Due to this risk, OSHA strictly enforces standard 29 CFR-1910.95(a).

This directive outlines the effects of noise and limits exposure based on the dBA. The table below indicates the maximum allowable exposure time to different noise levels. Sound levels that exceed these levels should first be addressed by proper engineering controls, such as isolating the source of the sound from personnel or replacing the cause of the sound with something like an engineered compressed air nozzle. When such controls aren’t feasible, proper PPE must be worn to protect the operator.

Hearing loss is the best known, but not the only, ill effect of harmful noise exposure. It can also cause physical and psychological stress, impair concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents or injuries.

Hearing loss can occur in as little as 30 minutes when exposed to sound levels of 110 dBA or greater. Operators have a tendency not to use PPE as directed. If an OSHA inspector comes to your facility and notices that the sound levels exceed the maximum allowable level without PPE protection being worn, hefty fines will soon be following. In this example from the United States Department of Labor, a company was fined a total of $143,000 for failing to protect their employees.

EXAIR 9104 Sound Level Meter

In order to identify the places or processes in your facility that are causing the problems, you’ll need a tool to measure the sound level. EXAIR’s easy-to-use Digital Sound Level Meter allows you to measure and monitor the sound level pressure in a wide variety of industrial environments. The source of the loud noise can then be identified and isolated so that corrective action can be taken. For compressed air-related noise, EXAIR manufactures a wide variety of engineered compressed air products that can reduce the sound level dramatically. In many cases, EXAIR products are capable of reducing noise levels by as much as 10 dBA. Since the dBA scale is logarithmic, this equates to cutting the sound level in half!

If there are processes within your facility that are above these limits, and you’d like to eliminate relying on proper PPE, give an Application Engineer a call. We’ll help walk you through the selection process and make sure that when the OSHA inspector comes knocking you’re prepared! Sorry, but we will not be able to help you with your Cicada problems. We just have to let nature do its thing, and they will be gone in a few weeks. Until 2027, that is, when we get hit with the 10-year brood!

Jordan Shouse, CCASS

Application Engineer

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Twitter: @EXAIR_JS

How Does OSHA Talk About Compressed Air Use?

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

When it comes to OSHA and their safety standards in regard to compressed air, it boils down to two main topics. OSHA standard 1910.242(b) and 29 CFR-1910.95 (a).

OSHA standard 1910.242(b) – Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 psi and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.

For a logical reader, it might seem that this standard requires the air used for tasks like blowing off equipment or cleaning floors to be limited to a maximum of 30 psig. However, this interpretation isn’t entirely accurate. When the standard mentions reducing air pressure to below 30 psig, it specifically refers to the static pressure measured when the air nozzle is blocked against an object, such as a person’s body. The “dynamic” pressure, which is the speed of the air as it flows from the nozzle, can be much higher, provided that the static pressure “Dead end Pressure” remains under 30 psi when the nozzle is obstructed. This is why it’s crucial for employers to educate their workers about the dangers of compressed air and the significance of not modifying air nozzles.

Our Air Nozzles and Jets video shows a great depiction of how this can be achieved with our engineered design of nozzles. The recessed holes and the fact that there are multiple passages for the air to exit are easy to see on the nozzle. Products like the Super Air Knife may not be so easy to see, but the way the air knife cap overlaps prevents the Super Air Knife from being dead-ended in the event an operator comes into contact with the discharged air.

OSHA standard 29 CFR-1910.95 (a) – Occupational noise exposure.

The Occupational Noise Exposure regulation (OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.95) mandates that employees who are exposed to an average noise level of 85dBA TWA (time-weighted average) must be included in a Hearing Conservation Program (HCP). Employers are obligated to ensure that these employees receive hearing conservation training throughout their employment. This training should commence with an initial orientation and be reinforced annually. Section 1910.95(a) of the standard lays the groundwork for a hearing conservation program aimed at safeguarding workers from the detrimental effects of noise exposure in the workplace. Let’s take a brief look at the key aspects of implementing a hearing conservation strategy, including the “what,” “who,” “how,” and “when.”

The first step in understanding and addressing any sound level issues is to measure the sound. The easy-to-use Digital Sound Meter, model 9104 shown below, allows for accurate testing of noise levels throughout the facility.  Noisy areas can be quickly identified, leading to review, design and implementation of the engineering controls.

SoundMeter_new_nist225

Some of the worst offenders for noise violations are compressed air applications.  A prime example would be inefficient blow offs used for cooling, drying, or cleaning.  Open pipe, copper tube or drilled pipe are a few of the common culprits.  Not only do they consume excessive amounts of compressed air, they can produce noise levels above 100 dBA.

Crushed open ended pipes blowing chips away

EXAIR manufactures a wide variety of engineered products that utilize compressed air and deliver it in a controlled manner.  This allows for the most efficient use of compressed air and keeps the sound levels much lower than homemade methods.  A Super Air Knife can replace a drilled pipe, reducing sound by as much as 20 dBA, while using 50-70% less compressed air.  An engineered Super Air Nozzle can replace an open pipe or copper tube and reduce sound levels down to 74 dBA, and even down to 58 dBA for the smallest available nozzles.

If you have questions regarding OSHA standard 1910.242(b) and 29 CFR-1910.95 (a), or how to solve any issue with an EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air® Product, feel free to contact EXAIR . One of our Application Engineers would be pleased to help you determine your best solution.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Twitter: @EXAIR_JS

OSHA 1910.95(a) Explained: Occupational Sound Exposure

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

Hearing loss due to high noise levels is a common problem in many industrial facilities. Without the use of proper PPE, hearing loss can occur quickly. This is a serious concern as hearing loss is permanent and once the damage is done there’s no way to reverse it. Due to this risk, OSHA strictly enforces standard 29 CFR-1910.95(a).

This directive discusses the effects of noise and limits exposure based on the dBA. The table below indicates the maximum allowable exposure time to different noise levels. Sound levels that exceed these levels should first be addressed by proper engineering controls such as isolating the source of the sound from personnel or replacing the cause of the sound with something like an engineered compressed air nozzle. When such controls aren’t feasible, proper PPE must be worn to protect the operator.

Hearing loss can occur in as little as 30 minutes when exposed to sound levels 110 dBA or greater. Operators have a tendency not to use PPE as directed, if an OSHA inspector comes to your facility and notices that the sound levels exceed the maximum allowable level without protection hefty fines will be soon to follow. In this example from the United States Department of Labor, a company was fined a total of $143,000 for failing to protect their employees.

In order to identify the places or processes in your facility that are causing the problems, you’ll need a tool to measure the sound level. EXAIR’s easy to use Digital Sound Level Meter allows you to measure and monitor the sound level pressure in a wide variety of industrial environments. The source of the loud noise can then be identified and isolated so that corrective action can be taken. For compressed air related noise, EXAIR manufactures a wide variety of engineered compressed air products that can reduce the sound level dramatically. In many cases, EXAIR products are capable of reducing noise levels by as much as 10 dBA. Since the dBA scale is logarithmic, this equates to cutting the sound level in half!

If there are processes within your facility that are above these limits, and you’d like to eliminate relying on proper PPE, give an Application Engineer a call. We’ll help walk you through the selection process and make sure that when the OSHA inspector comes knocking you’re prepared!

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer
E-mail: TylerDaniel@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

OSHA and Compressed Air Safety; Things to Review.

Published on by John BallLeave a comment
EXAIR Super Air Nozzles are fully OSHA Compliant – our Compliance Certificate is available upon request (left.) Your power strip and Christmas tree lights should have labels showing their current ratings – check these so you don’t overload the circuit (right.)

At EXAIR, we have a statement that says, “Safety is everyone’s responsibility.”  As a corporation, EXAIR builds its name around this by manufacturing safe and protective compressed air products.  In the United States, we have an organization called the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, that enforces governmental directives for safe and healthy working environments.  They do training, outreach programs, and educational assistance for manufacturing plants to reduce injuries and fatalities.  They can also enforce these directives with heavy fines for violations.  With the compressed air system, the two most common violations are 29CFR 1910.242(b) for dead-end pressure/chip shielding and 29CFR 1910.95(a) for maximum allowable noise exposure.

Unsafe Nozzle

Above is an example of a nozzle that is dangerous.  As you can see, there is only one path where the air can pass through and this path could be blocked.  Other similar types of blow-off devices that would fall into this same group would include copper tubes, flexible lines, and open pipes.  They are dangerous as the compressed air cannot escape if it is blocked by your body or skin.  If operated above 30 PSIG (2 bar), the air from these nozzles could penetrate the skin and create an air embolism within the body, which can cause bodily harm or death.  This is a hazard which can be avoided by using EXAIR Super Air Nozzles and Safety Air Guns.  The nozzles are designed with fins, which allow the air to escape and prevent blockage of the airflow.  So, you can use the EXAIR Super Air Nozzles safely above 30 PSIG (2 bar) and remain OSHA safe.

To counteract the dead-end pressure violation, some nozzle manufacturers create a hole through the side of the nozzle (reference photo above).  This will allow for the compressed air to escape, but now the issue is noise level.  With an “open” hole in the nozzle, the compressed air is very turbulent and very loud.   The CDC reports that in 2007, “82% of the cases involving occupational hearing loss were reported among workers in the manufacturing sector.” Compressed air and pneumatic equipment are significant contributors to the noise exposure. OSHA created a chart to show the maximum allowable noise exposure.  This chart shows the exposure time and noise limits before requiring hearing protection.  The EXAIR Super Air Nozzles, Super Air Knives, and Super Air Amplifiers are designed to have laminar flow, which makes them very quiet.  As an example, the model 1210 Safety Air Gun has a sound level of only 74 dBA, well under the noise exposure limit for 8 hours.

Hearing loss is the best known, but not the only, ill effect of harmful noise exposure. It can also cause physical and psychological stress, impair concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents or injuries.

NIOSH created an overview of how to handle hazards in the workplace.  They call it the Hierarchy of Controls to best protect workers from danger.  The most effective way is by eliminating the hazard or by substituting the hazard.  The least effective way is with Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE.  For unsafe compressed air nozzles and guns, the proper way to reduce this hazard is to substitute it with an engineered solution.

One of the last things that companies think about when purchasing compressed air products is safety.  Loud noises and dead-end pressure can be missed or forgotten.  To avoid any future fines or having to purchase additional personal protective equipment (PPE), it will be less expensive and a preferred safety method to purchase an EXAIR product.  As in that above Hazard Hierarchy of Controls chart, EXAIR products are that engineered solution.  If you would like to improve the safety in your facility, move up to an engineered solution, and reduce energy costs; an Application Engineer at EXAIR can review your current blow-off devices.  Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility. 

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb