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TWA - Time Weighted Average Noise Levels - and Noise Dose

The document discusses how to calculate Time Weighted Average (TWA) noise levels and noise dose for occupational noise exposure assessments. TWA takes into account average noise levels and time spent in each area to assess a worker's daily exposure normalized to an 8-hour day. Noise dose and TWA are calculated using measured noise levels and exposure times. Tables are provided to convert between noise levels, exposure times, and dose percentages to determine if action is required per OSHA regulations.

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14 views

TWA - Time Weighted Average Noise Levels - and Noise Dose

The document discusses how to calculate Time Weighted Average (TWA) noise levels and noise dose for occupational noise exposure assessments. TWA takes into account average noise levels and time spent in each area to assess a worker's daily exposure normalized to an 8-hour day. Noise dose and TWA are calculated using measured noise levels and exposure times. Tables are provided to convert between noise levels, exposure times, and dose percentages to determine if action is required per OSHA regulations.

Uploaded by

dhoyan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TWA - Time Weighted Average Noise Levels - and Noise Dose The TWA shows a worker's daily exposure

to occupational noise (normalized to an 8 hour day), taking into account the average levels of noise and the time spent in each area. This is the parameter that is used by the OSHA Regulations and is essential in assessing a workers exposure and what action should be taken. Working Out the Noise Dose and TWA Before working out the worker's TWA you have to measure the different high noise levels that the worker is subjected throughout a normal working day. The Time Weighted Average is calculated using these noise levels together with the amount of time that the worker is exposed to them. First calculate the Noise Dose as: where Cn time spent at each noise = level Tn = 8 (L290)/5 Dose = 100 x (C1/T1 + C2/T2 + C3/T3 + ... + Cn/Tn)

(L is the measured sound level)

It is often easier to get Tn from a lookup table: Worked Example A worker is exposed to 86 dB for six hours and 92 dB for a three hours, giving a nine hour working day. Dose = 100 x (6/13.9 + 3/6.1) = 92.3%

L 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89

T 32.0 27.9 24.3 21.1 18.4 16.0 13.9 12.1 10.6 9.2

L 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

T 8.0 7.0 6.1 5.3 4.6 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.6 2.3

L T 1002.0 1011.7 1021.5 1031.3 1041.1 1051.0 1060.87 1070.76 1080.66 1090.57

L T 1100.50 1110.44 1120.38 1130.33 1140.29 1150.25 1160.22 1170.19 1180.16 1190.14

Once you have the Dose% figure, you can calculate the TWA using the following equation: TWA = 16.61 Log10 (D/100) + 90 where TWA is the 8-hour Time Weighted Average Sound Level D is the Dose % as calculated above (or measured with a dosimeter)

Log10 is the Logarithm to base 10 Worked Example continued...

From our example above

TWA = 16.61 x Log10 (92.3 / 100) + 90 = 89.4 dB The OSHA action levels are based on either TWA or Dose % (which are different representations of the same number). These action levels are 85 dB (or 50% Dose) and 90 dB (or 100% Dose).

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