User:Leon8711/sandbox

• Sound Level Meter (SLM)

A SLM is a device that provides a nearly instantaneous readout of environmental sound. Employers required to institute a Hearing Conservation Program due to employee exposure to excessive noise levels are required to monitor noise levels with either a SLM or noise dosimeter. SLMs are the preferred instrument for spot checking noise dosimeter recordings, when noise levels do not fluctuate for the majority of worker's shift, and engineering control feasibility analysis. SLMs are divided into different types depending on microphone sensitivity and intended use. Type 1 SLMs are accurate to plus or minus 1 dBA and are used for precision measurements in the field. Type 2 SLMs are accurate to plus or minus 2 dBA and are considered the minimum for general purpose measurements for monitoring noise levels for OSHA compliance. A quick internet search revealed prices ranging from $1,400 to over $8,800 for Type II SLMs. Other less expensive SLMs are widely available and are useful as prescreening tools or finding equipment that is excessively loud for designation of engineering control purposes. By some estimates, there are over 190 million smart phone users in the U.S. today, and that number could climb to over 236 million by 2019. Some recent studies suggest that some smart phone applications may be able to measure noise as precisely as a Type 2 SLM.

Measurements for employee exposure:

To properly use a SLM it must first be calibrated. This is accomplished by a piece of equipment supplied with the SLM. After measurements are taken the SLM should be calibrated again to ensure readings did not shift over the course of measurements. After calibration, employee exposure measurements should be taken in the "hearing Zone". This is a sphere approximately 2 feet in diameter surrounding the employee's head. If this is dangerous or impractical, measurements should be taken as close as possible to this zone. The SLM should be set for A-weighting. SLMs may also be used

Measurements for octave band analyzer:

A SLM may be used as an octave band analyzer. Measurements should be made in the "Z" or "Flat-weighted" condition to ensure low frequency components in the sound source are not attenuated. The SLM will break the sound it records into octave bands that will assist instituting engineering controls or noisy equipment.

• Noise Dosimeter

A noise dosimeter is a device used to measure noise exposure over long periods of time. A dosimeter measures noise and reports either a time weighted average (TWA) or dose percentage of personal exposure limit (PEL). Dosimeters are useful for measuring an employee's exposure over an entire shift, especially when they are exposed to varying levels of noise over the course of a shift. They are the primary instrument to be used for making employee exposure measurements.

Noise dosimeters are also rather expensive. Consumer grade products like the "Etymotic ER 200" cost $100-$200, while more precise instruments suitable for workplace noise monitoring like the "3M Edge 4" with software will cost nearly $4,000.00.

-National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (1998). Criteria for recommended standard: Occupational noise exposure. Retrieved from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: www.cdc.gov

-Kardous, C. A., Shaw, P. B. (2014). Evaluation of smartphone sound measurement applications. Acoustical Society of America, 135(4), EL186-EL192. doi: 10.1121/1.4865269

-Roberts, B., Kardous, C. A, Neitzel,R. (2016). Improving the accuracy of smart devices to measure noise exposure. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1183014

- Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2013). OSHA Technical Manual (TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A]). Retrieved from Occupational Safety and Health Administration: www.OSHA.gov

~~~~ Hick3340 (talk) 03:21, 28 October 2016 (UTC) Jake, this is pretty thorough information! I had a few grammatical suggestions for your page. Additionally, suggestions for further citations per your discretion. - Katy

~Employers required to institute a Hearing Conservation Program due to employee exposure to excessive noise levels are required to monitor noise levels with either a SLM or noise dosimeter. - redundant & long, perhaps "monitor these levels with"

~Bold "Type 1" and "Type 2"

~Cite prices of SLMs?

~"Other, less expensive" comma

~"By some estimates, there are over" comma

~I will verify my thinking, but I believe subheadings need to be bolded (located at the top, in the drop-down with "paragraph") - just for reference when submitting this

~"To properly use a SLM, it must" comma

~"After measurements are taken, the SLM should be calibrated" comma

~What is "a-weighting"?

~ SLMs may also be used - continue sentence

~"Noise dosimeters are also rather expensive. Consumer grade products, SUCH AS the 'Etymotic ER 200,' cost..." inserted 2 commas, changed "like the" to "such as"

~"workplace noise monitoring, such as the '3M Edge 4' with software, will cost nearly" added 2 commas

Hick3340 (talk) 03:21, 28 October 2016 (UTC)