Consider Lower Noise PEL Instead of New Econ Feasibility Interpretation, ASSE Tells OSHA
Adding to previous comments opposing OSHA’s Interpretation of Provisions for Feasible Administrative or Engineering Controls of Occupational Noise, ASSE suggested in a letter to Assistant Secretary David Michaels that a more valuable measure to reduce noise exposures would be lowering OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise from 90 dBA to 85 dBA. At the lower PEL, however, engineering controls can become exponentially more expensive and difficult to achieve, adding to the reasons OSHA should not pursue a new economic feasibility interpretation. ASSE also urged OSHA to communicate more widely its stated practice of working cooperatively with employers to achieve incremental improvement in noise levels over reasonable periods of time.