Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA-81-086-837, Southern Bell Telephone Company, Hollywood, Florida

摘要

Sound level measurements were taken at the Southern Bell Telephone Company (SIC-4811) in Hollywood, Florida on January 22, 1981 to evaluate exposures to the telephone operators. A representative of Local 3120 of the Communications Workers of America requested the evaluation on behalf of approximately 40 affected workers who reported loud, high pitched tones through their headsets. Sound level measurements taken at four operator stations revealed a maximum acoustic output level of 88.5 decibels, A-weighted (dBA) over a frequency range of 125 to 4,000 Hertz. The current OSHA standard specifies a permissible exposure limit of 90dBA for a continuous 8 hour time weighted average exposure, with 5dBA increases for each halving of time up to 115dBA for a 15 minute exposure. The authors conclude that no hazard to operators from high sound levels existed at this facility.