Figure 1-18.-Hazardous noise warning decal.

IDENTIFYING AND LABELING OF NOISE

commercially prepared sunburn lotions and

ointments.

AREAS AND EQUIPMENT

For further information on the treatment of burns,

Hazardous noise areas and equipment must be so

refer to Standard First Aid Training Course,

designated and appropriately labeled. Areas and

NAVEDTRA 10081-D.

equipment that produce continuous and intermittent

sound levels greater than 84 dB(A) or impact or

HEARING CONSERVATION AND

impulse levels of 140 dB peak are considered

NOISE ABATEMENT

hazardous.

An industrial hygienist with a noise level meter

Historically, hearing loss has been recognized as

will identify the noise hazardous areas. Noise

an occupational hazard related to certain trades, such

hazardous areas will be labeled using a hazardous

as blacksmithing and boilermaking. Modern

noise warning decal, NAVMED 6260/2 (fig. 1-18).

technology has extended the risk to many other

This decal will be posted at all accesses. Hazardous

activities: using presses, forging hammers, grinders,

noise labels, NAVMED 6260/2A, are the approved

saws, internal combustion engines, or similar

labels for marking portable and installed equipment.

high-speed, high-energy processes. Exposure to

high-intensity noise occurs as a result of either impact

All personnel that are required to work in

noise, such as gunfire or rocket fire, or from

designated noise hazardous areas or with equipment

continuous noise, such as jet or propeller aircraft,

that produces sound levels greater than 84 dB(A) or

marine engines, and machinery.

140 dB sound/pressure levels are entered in the

Hearing loss has been and continues to be a source

hearing conservation program.

of concern within the Navy, both ashore and afloat.

You will find further information on hearing

Hearing loss attributed to such occupational exposure

conservation in OPNAVINST 5100.23C, Navy

to hazardous noise, the high cost of related

Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program

compensation claims, and the resulting drop in

Manual and OPNAVINST 5100.19B, Navy

productivity and efficiency have highlighted a

Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Program

significant problem that requires considerable

Manual for Forces Afloat.

attention. The goal of the Navy Hearing Conservation

Program is to prevent occupational noise-related

hearing loss among Navy personnel. The program

includes the following elements:

Work environments will be surveyed to identify

potentially hazardous noise levels and person-

nel at risk.

Environments that contain, or equipment that

produces, potentially hazardous noise should

be modified to reduce the noise to acceptable

levels whenever technologically and economi-

cally feasible. When this is not feasible, admin-

istrative control and/or hearing protection

devices should be used.

Periodic hearing testing must be conducted to

monitor the effectiveness of the program.

Navy personnel must be educated on the Hear-

ing Conservation Program to ensure the overall

Figure 1-18.-Hazardous noise warning decal.

success of the program.

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