Rule 102
Operations involving High Noise levels.
1. Application.—
This schedule shall apply to all operations in any manufacturing process having high noise level.
2. Definitions.—
For the purpose of this schedule—
(a) “Noise” means any unwanted sound.
(b) “High noise level” means any noise level measure on the A--weighted scale is 90 decibel or above.
(c) “Decibel “ means one-tenth of “Bel” which is the fundamental division of a logarithmic scale used to express the ratio of two specified or implied quantities, the number of “Bels” denoting such a ratio being the logarithm to the base of 10 of this ratio. The noise level (or the sound pressure level) corresponds to a reference pressure of 20 ´ 10.6 newtons per square metre or 0.0002 dynes per square centimetre which is the threshold of bearing, that is the lowest sound pressure level necessary to produce the sensation of hearing in average healthy listeners. The decibel in abbreviated form is dB.
(d) “Frequency” is the rate of pressure variations expressed in cycles per second or hertz.
(e) “dBA” refers to sound level in decibels as measured on a sound level metre operating on the A-weighting net work with slow metre response.
(f) “A-weighting” means making graded adjustments in the intensities of sound of various frequencies for the purposed of noise measurement, so that the sound pressure level measured by an instrument reflects the actual response of the human eat to the sound measured.
3. Protection against noise.—
In every factory, suitable engineering control or administrative measures shall be taken to ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, that no worker is exposed to high noise level.
4. Where it is not possible to reduce the noise exposure to the levels specified in paragraph-3 by reasonably practicable engineering control or administrative measure, the noise exposure shall be reduced to the greatest extent feasible by such control measures and each worker so exposed shall be provided with suitable ear protectors so as to reduce the exposure below high noise level.
5. Every worker employed in areas where the noise exceed high noise level shall be subjected to an auditory examination by a Registered Medical Practitioner having qualification of M.B.B.S. or equivalent within 14 days of his first employment and thereafter, shall be re-examined at least once in every 12 months. Such initial and periodical examination shall include tests which the said Doctor my consider appropriate.”