School Told to Reduce Noise

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http://www.abqjournal.com/news/180989news11-19-00.htm

Sunday, November 19, 2000

School Told to Reduce Noise

By Heil

Journal Staff Writer

Federal occupational health and safety inspectors have strongly

encouraged César Chávez Elementary School to reduce the noise level in its

cafeteria, but said it was not at a level mandating remedies be made.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the

room, which also serves as a gym and has a performance stage, on Oct. 27

after a school employee filed a complaint regarding the noise. The scope of

the analysis was limited to adult workers and not children.

" They are not violating any regulatory standards, " Sam , bureau

chief of the OSHA's Santa Fe office, said Friday. " We could not establish

that the teachers and cafeteria personnel were overexposed, based on our

OSHA standards. "

Thursday, César Chávez Elementary's parent-teacher organization voted to

hire an acoustic engineer to examine the problem, which has been a source of

complaints by students and school employees this year.

" We want someone from the outside to make very objective

recommendations, in writing, " Principal Koscielniak said. " We want

the best environment for our employees and students. "

While students spend about 25 minutes at lunch in the cafeteria, the

cafeteria and teaching staff on duty spend at least 2 hours, the principal

said.

Cafeteria workers and lunch-time duty teachers recorded their noise

exposure levels before, during and after lunch.

All readings ranged between 79 and 83 decibels, or dbA - the A indicates

that sound meters were equipped with a filter to make their response to

frequency mimic the human ear's response. Levels at 90 dbA and above require

to modify the work environment, taking measures such as affixing acoustical

materials in the room and rotating working shifts.

Levels between 85 and 90 dbA alert employers that they are getting close

to the noise limit. OSHA requires employers at this level to establish a

hearing conservation program and track hearing loss.

Although the noise readings fell below the threshold, said, " Yes,

there is still cause for concern and remedies. "

OSHA's research shows that the recommended noise level in school

cafeterias should be around 60 dbA.

" So we strongly recommend that they take some actions to reduce noise

levels, even though they are under no regulatory obligation to do that, " he

said.

OSHA standards are designed solely for adult workers to reduce, but not

prevent, hearing loss.

said it is possible some adults working in the cafeteria may have

suffered hearing damage, but he doubts that is the case for the children,

who spend much less time in the cafeteria.

" For the adults, it is something the school needs to work on, " he said.

OSHA also suggested the school not rush into a solution, but rather hire

the noise engineer and an architect to explain the pros and cons of each

remedy for the multipurpose room.

Prior to OSHA's visit, the school planned to place acoustical panels on

the walls, and then decide if more action would be necessary.

The school's plan to cover the cinder block walls with sound-absorbing

panels stirred controversy at the possible threat of covering a

student-painted mural. OSHA believes there is a better solution.

" Based upon our experience in the industrial area, we were more

concerned about the ceiling than the walls, " said. The metal deck

ceiling reflects noise.

Based on previous research, the school was under the impression that

abating noise on the ceiling would be expensive compared to putting such

materials to the walls.

, though, said acoustical materials can be sprayed on to the metal

ceiling without interfering with the sprinkler, electrical and ventilation

systems. The ceiling also would not have to be lowered, a misconception the

school held.

OSHA has recommended against glue-on wall panels, which are " ugly, "

collect dust and can produce toxic fumes in a fire, according to .