In this Division:

"daily exposure" means the amount of noise, stated in dBA Lex or pa2h, to which an employee is exposed during the work day;

"dBA" means decibels of noise, measured with an A-Weighted futer;

"dBA Lex" means the level of an employee's total exposure to noise over the entire workday and adjusted to an equivalent eight hour exposure. (For example, an employee who works in an average of 85 dBA of noise for 16 hours has an Lex of 88 dBA; and for 4 hours, an Lex of 82 dBA);

"dB exchange rate" means that when sound energy doubles, the decibel (dB) level increases by 3;

"noise" means sound energy in a workplace;

"Pa2h" means Pasca1-squared hour, a unit of sound exposure used by newer noise measuring equipment (1 Pa2h equals 85 dBA Lex and .5 Pa2h equals 82 Da. Lex);

"peak sound level" means the maximum instantaneous sound level, in dBA

Exposure Limits
14.7.1.1

The railway must ensure that an employee is not exposed to n6ise levels above either of the exposure limits of:

(a) 85 dBA Lex (1 Pa2h) daily exposure, or

(b) 135 dBA peak sound level.

Noise Control and Hearing Conservation Program
14.7.1.2

(1) When noise in the workplace exceeds either of the exposure limits the railway must develop and implement an effective noise control and hearing conservation program

(2) The program must be in writing and address: (a) noise measurement;

(b) education and training;

(c) engineered noise control;

(d) hearing protection;

(e) posting of noise hazard areas;

(f) hearing tests, ;and

(g) annual program review.

Noise Measurement Requirement
14.7.1.3

(1) When an employee is or may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of noise, or when information indicates that an employee may be exposed above 82dBA Lex, the employer must measure the noise exposure.

(2) The exposure measurement must be:

(a) performed in accordance with Canadian Standard ZI07.56-94, "Procedures for the Measurement of Occupational Noise Exposure", or other standard acceptable to the safety officer, and

(b) updated if a change in equipment or process affects the noise level, or the exposure duration

Exemption from Measurement Requirements
14.7.1.4

A railway is exempt from the requirement to measure the noise exposure of an employee when the railway:

(a) based on other information identifies the employee as being exposed to noise in excess of an exposure limit, and

(b) establishes an effective noise control and hearing conservation program for that employee.

General Equipment Requirements
14.7.1.5

(1) Noise measurement must be conducted with an instrument such as a noise dosimeter, an integrating sound level meter acceptable to the safety officer .

(2) All equipment must be calibrated, maintained and operated according to manufacturer's instructions .

(3) Integrating noise measuring equipment must be set to the 3 dB exchange rate.

Noise Dosimeters
14.7.1.6

(1) Noise dosimeters must meet the requirements for a Type 2 instrument as specified by

(a) American National Standards 51.25-1991 "Specification for Personal Noise

Dosimeters", or

(b) other standard acceptable to the safety officer

(2) A noise dosimeter must be set with:

(a) a criterion level of 85 dBA and

(b) a threshold level at or below 80 dBA or at "Off" ."

Keeping Records
14.7.1.7

(1) Noise exposure measurement results must be recorded and specify:

(a) date of the noise measurement

(b ) the employees or occupations evaluated; and (c) the measurement equipment used.

(2) The railway must ensure that current noise measurement results are readily available for reference by a safety officer, the occupational health and safety committee, if any or the health and safety representative, if any.

(3) When non-integrating noise measuring equipment is used for measuring noise exposures its use must be described and justified in writing.

For Employees Below the Exposure Limits
14.7.2.1

When an employee's daily exposure is between 82 dBA Lex and 85 dBA Lex, the railway must inform the employee of:

(a) the results of noise exposure measurement;

(b) the significance of those results to hearing loss; and

(c) at the request of the employee, the purpose of hearing protection and testing.

For Employees Above the Exposure Limits
14.7.2.2

When an employee's exposure is above either exposure limit, the railway must inform the employee of:

(a) the results of any noise exposure measurement;

(b) the effects of noise on hearing;

(c) the proper use and maintenance of hearing protection; and

(d) the purpose of hearing testing.

Investigation Controls
14.7.3.1

When an employee is exposed to noise above either exposure limit, the railway must investigate options for engineered noise control.

Implementation or Noise Controls
14.7.3.2

When an employee is exposed to noise above either exposure limit, the railway must, when practicable, implement one or more options for engineered noise control to reduce employee exposure to or below the exposure limit.

When Required
14.7.4.1

When it is not practicable to reduce noise levels to or below the exposure limits, the railway must:

(a) reduce noise exposure to the lowest level practicable;

Selection and Maintenance
11.7.4.2

When hearing protection is required, the railway must provide and maintain the hearing protection to employees in accordance with CSA Z294.2, as amended from time to time or other standard acceptable to the safety officer .

Warning Signs and Hearing Protection
14.7.5.1

When it is not practicable to reduce noise levels to or below the exposure limits, the railway must:

(a) post warning signs in any work area where:

1. the area noise level exceeds 85 dBA, as averaged over the full work shift; or
2. (ii) peak sound levels exceed 135 Da. ;

(b ) supply hearing protection to all employees required to enter such an area; and

(c) ensure that hearing protection is worn by any employee working in the area.

Employee Responsibility
14.7.5.2

Employees must wear hearing protection in all posted noise hazard areas and in accordance with instructions provided by the railway.

Annual Tests
14.7.6.1

The railway must provide hearing tests for employees exposed to noise above exposure limits as follows:

(a) an initial test as soon as practicable but not later than 6 months after the start of employment; and

(b) annual tests thereafter .

Test Administration
14.7.6.2

The railway must ensure that the tests are administered by persons authorized by the board and acceptable to the safety officer .

Medical History
14.7.6.3

(1) For initial hearing test, the tester must request that the employee provide relevant history information and must record the information provided on a form or format required by the board and acceptable to the safety officer .

(2) The railway must not duplicate or keep a copy of the medical history record.

Test Results
14.7.6.4

The railway must ensure that the authorized tester:

1. records the hearing tests in a manner required by the board;

(b) advise the employee of the test results;

(c) counsels the employee on the use and maintenance of hearing protection; (d) on request, provides a copy of the test results to the employee; and (e) provides a copy of the test to a safety officer on request.

Test Records
14.7.6.5

(1) The railway must maintain, in a manner acceptable to the safety officer, a record of the hearing tests for each employee.

(2) The record must be:

(a) kept as long as the employee is employed by the employer, and

(b ) treated as confidential and not be released to anyone without the written permission of the employee.

Annual Review
14.7.7.1

(1) The employer must review the program annually to ensure its effectiveness .

(2) The review must address:

(a) the need for further noise measurement;

(b) the education and training of the employees regarding noise exposure;

(c) the adequacy of noise control measurers;

(d) the selection and use of hearing protection; and

(3) hearing testing and information on the rate and extent of occupational hearing loss.

DIVISION 8

14.8.1

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Application

14.8.1. Division 8 applies to indoor or enclosed areas when occupied by employees, except: (a) a controlled atmosphere enclosure; (b) a confmed space; and

(c) when clearly impracticable, such as during some construction or renovation projects.

Installation and Maintenance

14.8.1.2 (1) A railway must ensure that a ventilation system for the supply and distribution of air and removal of indoor air contaminates is designed, constructed and operated in accordance with: (a) established engineering principles; and

(b) ASHRAE Standard 62-1989, "Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality", or other standard acceptable to the safety officer .

(2) An adequate supply of outdoor air must be provided to the workplace in accordance with Table 2 of the ASHRAE Standard 62-1989, or other standard acceptable to the safety officer .

(3) For a building ventilation installed prior to 1989, an adequate supply of outdoor air must be provided in accordance with the ASHRAE standard in place at the time the ventilation system was designed, or other standard acceptable to the safety officer. "

Distribution 14.8.1.3

Balancing 14.8.1.4

Outdoor air must be effectively distributed throughout the workplace.

The ventilation system. must be balanced to:

(a) ensure that each space within the building receives an adequate allotment of outdoor air , and (b) accommodate the actual or the normally anticipated occupancy of each space.

Ventilation Openings

14.8.1.5 (1) A ventilation system must not be obstructed by material or equipment placed in front of the ventilation air intakes or discharged points.

(2) Outdoor air intakes must be located so that outdoor air entering the ventilation system does not contain any contJlminJInt in a concentration greater than normal outdoor air in that locality .

Discharge Air 14.8.1.6

A ventilation system that discharges air from the work area must be designed to minimi7e the likelihood of exposing any employee at a workplace, including adjacent workplace:

(a) to an air cont:lmin:lnt in a concentration which exceeds either 10% of its applicable exposure limit in Division 15 of this Part, or an acceptable ambient air quality standard established by an authority having jurisdiction over environmental air standards, whichever is greater, and

(b) where practicable, to an objectionable odour.

Preventative Maintenance

14.8.1.7 ( 1) To maintain acceptable air quality, the railway must establish an effective preventative