Prince Edward Island Occupational Health and Safety Act General Regulations P8: Noise: practicable noise reduction, exposure kept within the 85 dBA eight-hour limit table, measurement, engineered controls, and where limits cannot be met a hearing conservation programme with signs, protection, training, hearing tests and records

What does P8 require?

The employer uses practicable means to reduce the noise workers are exposed to and ensures no worker's exposure exceeds the limits in section 8.3 (a scale from 80 dBA for 24 hours through 85 dBA for 8 hours and 100 dBA for 15 minutes to no exposure at 115 dBA or more). Where a worker is or may be exposed above a limit, the employer measures noise by the methods in section 8.4 and investigates and implements engineered noise control. If exposure still cannot be brought within the limits, the employer reduces it to the lowest practicable level, establishes a noise control and hearing conservation programme covering measurement, education and training, engineered control, hearing protection, posting of noise hazard areas, hearing tests and annual review, posts warning signs, gives workers CSA Z94.2 hearing protection with training and maintenance and ensures it is worn (workers in posted areas must wear it), arranges an initial hearing test within six months of starting and annual tests thereafter, and keeps the test results for the period of employment and other records section 8.10 lists.