On Board Trains Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/87-184)

PART IVLevels of Sound

Interpretation

4.1 The following definitions apply in this Part.

A-weighted sound pressure level

A-weighted sound pressure level means a sound pressure level as determined by a measurement system which includes an A-weighting filter that meets the requirements set out in the International Electrotechnical Commission’s International Standard IEC 61672-1, first edition 2002-05, entitled Electroacoustics – Sound Level Meters. (niveau de pression acoustique pondérée A)

dBA

dBA means decibel A-weighted and is a unit of A-weighted sound pressure level. (dBA)

noise exposure level (L_ex,8)

noise exposure level (L_ex,8) means the level equal to 10 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the time integral over any 24-hour period of a squared A-weighted sound pressure divided by 8, the reference sound pressure being 20 µPa. (niveau d’exposition (L_ex,8))

sound level meter

sound level meter means an instrument for measuring levels of sound and impulse sound that meets the requirements set out in the International Electrotechnical Commission’s International Standard IEC 61672-1, first edition 2002-05, entitled Electroacoustics – Sound Level Meters. (sonomètre)

sound pressure level

sound pressure level means the level equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the root mean square pressure of a sound to the reference sound pressure of 20 µPa, expressed in decibels. (niveau de pression acoustique)

Measurement and Calculation of Exposure

• 4.2 (1) For the purposes of this Part, the exposure of an employee to sound shall be measured using an instrument that

  • (a) is recommended for that measurement in clause 4.3 of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z107.56-13, Measurement of Noise Exposure; and

  • (b) meets the requirements for such an instrument set out in clause 4 of that Standard.

• (2) The exposure of an employee to sound shall be measured in accordance with clauses 5, 6.4.1, 6.4.4, 6.5.2, 6.5.4, 6.6.2 and 6.6.4 of the Standard that is referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

• (3) For the purposes of this Part, the measurement and calculation of the noise exposure level (L_ex,8) to which an employee is exposed shall take into account the exposure of the employee to A-weighted sound pressure levels of 74 dBA or more.

• (4) The measurement and calculation of the noise exposure level (L_ex,8) referred to in subsection (3) may also take into account the exposure of the employee to A-weighted sound pressure levels that are less than 74 dBA.

Hazard Investigation

• 4.3 (1) If an employee in a work place may be exposed to an A-weighted sound pressure level of 84 dBA or more for a duration that is likely to endanger the employee’s hearing, the employer shall, without delay,

  • (a) appoint a qualified person to carry out an investigation of the degree of exposure; and

  • (b) notify the work place committee or the health and safety representative of the investigation and the qualified person’s name.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the measurement of the A-weighted sound pressure level in a work place shall be performed instantaneously, during normal working conditions, using the slow response setting of a sound level meter.

• (3) In the investigation referred to in subsection (1), the following matters shall be considered:

  • (a) the sources of sound in the work place;

  • (b) the A-weighted sound pressure levels to which the employee is likely to be exposed and the duration of such exposure;

  • (c) the methods being used to reduce this exposure;

  • (d) whether the exposure of the employee is likely to exceed the limits set out in section 4.4; and

  • (e) whether the employee is likely to be exposed to a noise exposure level (L_ex,8) of 84 dBA or more.

• (4) On completing the investigation and after consulting with the work place committee or the health and safety representative, the qualified person shall make, sign and date a written report that contains their

  • (a) observations respecting the matters set out in subsection (3);

  • (b) recommendations respecting the measures that should be taken in order to comply with sections 4.4 to 4.8; and

  • (c) recommendations respecting the use of hearing protectors by employees who are exposed to a noise exposure level (L_ex,8) of 84 dBA or more but not more than 87 dBA.

• (5) The employer shall keep the report at a location that is accessible to affected employees for a period of 10 years after the date of the report.

• (6) If the report states that an employee is likely to be exposed to a noise exposure level (L_ex,8) of 84 dBA or more, the employer shall, without delay,

  • (a) post and keep posted a copy of the report in a conspicuous place accessible to the employee; and

  • (b) provide the employee with written information that describes the hazards associated with exposure to high levels of sound.

Limits of Exposure

4.4 No employee in a work place shall be exposed

• (a) in any 24-hour period, to an A-weighted sound pressure level set out in column I of the schedule to this Part for a duration of exposure that exceeds the applicable duration set out in column II; or

• (b) at any time, to a noise exposure level (L_ex,8) of more than 87 dBA.

Reduction of Sound Exposure

4.5 If feasible, every employer shall, by engineering controls or other physical means other than hearing protectors, reduce an employee’s exposure to a sound level that does not exceed the limits referred to in section 4.4.

Report to Head of Compliance and Enforcement

4.6 If it is not feasible for an employer, without providing hearing protectors to maintain an employee’s exposure to a sound level that does not exceed the limits referred to in section 4.4, the employer shall, without delay,

• (a) make a report in writing to the Head of Compliance and Enforcement setting out the reasons why it is not feasible to do so; and

• (b) provide a copy of the report to the work place committee or the representative.

Hearing Protection

• 4.7 (1) If an employer is required to make a report in accordance with section 4.6, the employer shall, as soon as feasible, provide every employee who is exposed to the sound level referred to in section 4.4 with a hearing protector that

  • (a) meets the requirements set out in CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.2-02, Hearing Protection Devices – Performance, Selection, Care, and Use, as amended from time to time; and

  • (b) prevents the exposure to the sound level referred to in section 4.4.

• (2) If an employer provides a hearing protector to an employee, the employer shall, in consultation with the work place committee or the health and safety representative, develop a program to train the employee in the fit, care and use of the hearing protector and shall implement the program.

• (3) If an employer grants a person who is not an employee access to a work place where the person is likely to be exposed to a sound level that exceeds the limits referred to in section 4.4, the employer shall ensure that the person uses a hearing protector that meets the standard referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

Warning Signs

• 4.8 (1) If an employee may be exposed to an A-weighted sound pressure level of more than 87 dBA at a work place, the employer shall, in conspicuous places within the work place, post and keep posted signs warning of a potentially hazardous level of sound.

• (2) In order to determine whether an employee may be exposed to an A-weighted sound pressure level of more than 87 dBA at a work place, the measurement of the A-weighted sound pressure level shall be performed instantaneously, during normal working conditions, using the slow response setting of a sound level meter.