Eddy Current
Senior Member
Seems like i remember hearing that it was some where.
Is listening to a radio on a job site an OSHA violation?
- Thread starter Eddy Current
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I would say no based on the fact that we've had OSHA inspections with radios playing all over the place.
- Location
- Massachusetts
IMO no.
Here is an OSHA interpretation letter talking about radio equipped hearing protectors and they indicate they are allowed.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=19146
Here is an OSHA interpretation letter talking about radio equipped hearing protectors and they indicate they are allowed.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=19146
wptski
Senior Member
- Location
- Warren, MI
I doubt that since the use hearing protection is inforced just like eye protection or at least it was where I retired from(Ford Motor Co.). One of the accepted ear protection methods was the use of ear muffs that has a AM/FM radio in it. There was only one approved brand sold through the Safety Office.
- Location
- Massachusetts
You doubt what?
I searched OSHA, as much as I could and I cannot find any rule forbidding radios of any kind in any location. There are rules about how many decibels workers can be exposed to from any source.
So if a radio is at 80 or 90 DB OSHA would require hearing protection from it but not the removal of the radio.
OSHA regulations aside, I think radios should not be allowed in the work place. I find them extremely annoying. My God ...can't you live with your own thoughts, or talk to someone else without being pandered to by some noisy radio... half the time they sound like a wasp in a potato chip bag, anyway... and if they have any fidelity, they're too loud... listen to them in your own space.
Who likes the vehicles going down the street with the bass vibrating the building windows? Radios in the workplace are no different to me .
You want to listen to a walkman with earplugs, I could care less, but if I need you to hear something you don't hear, I think I should be allowed to bounce a lineman's pliers off your head to get your attention.
Who likes the vehicles going down the street with the bass vibrating the building windows? Radios in the workplace are no different to me .
You want to listen to a walkman with earplugs, I could care less, but if I need you to hear something you don't hear, I think I should be allowed to bounce a lineman's pliers off your head to get your attention.
Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
You doubt what?
I searched OSHA, as much as I could and I cannot find any rule forbidding radios of any kind in any location. There are rules about how many decibels workers can be exposed to from any source.
So if a radio is at 80 or 90 DB OSHA would require hearing protection from it but not the removal of the radio.
Bob
That OSHA letter was posted in the last century.
I wouldn't mind radios on the job if:
1. The volume is >>>reasonable<<<. You really don't need to listen to the radio that's sitting 500' away while you're running a table saw or air compressor and someone next to you is jackhammering up the concrete floor.
2. If there's more than one radio, everyone picks the SAME station. No reason I should have to listen to Patsy Cline, KISS, Rush Limbaugh, the Boston Pops, ManCow, Elvis, the Sex Pistols, the Beatles, Mozart, the Farm Report, the Beach Boys, the Market Report, Charlie Daniels, Simon and Garfunkle, Amy Grant, the Weather Report and today's installment of "Bird Calls" all at the same freaking time.
3. If your radio won't tune in the station, for crying out loud, just shut it off. It's even more annoying to have a station drift in and out and listen to static half the time, or the audio becomes garbled. If you can't afford a good tuner, leave the piece of crap at home. Or get one that plays mp3s.
Rant over.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
- Location
- Massachusetts
Bob
That OSHA letter was posted in the last century.
Yes, and it is the newest OSHA statement I can find on the subject.
If you can find something newer from OSHA that contradicts it post it.
wptski
Senior Member
- Location
- Warren, MI
I wasn't very clear. I doubt that OSHA forbids radio use on the job since since these approved ear protection ear muffs have a built in radio. They really started pushing the eye/ear protection. I wore none safty eye glasses made of C-39 plastic for years because of my heavy perscription then they started random checks with a simple gadget. I had to start wearing annoying over the glasses type goggles.You doubt what?
I searched OSHA, as much as I could and I cannot find any rule forbidding radios of any kind in any location. There are rules about how many decibels workers can be exposed to from any source.
So if a radio is at 80 or 90 DB OSHA would require hearing protection from it but not the removal of the radio.
Violation of lock out procedures was automatic loss of remainder of the shift plus one day disipline. They were threatening similiar disipline for eye and ear protection violations before I retired.
zbang
Senior Member
- Location
- Roughly 5346 miles from Earls Court
I'm with you on this, especially:
My rule also includes "no politics or religion" if it's a communal radio. (I don't care what drivel you listen to on earphones, but no one should be forced to listen to hard-line rant stations.) Since 'music' should be helping people work, inciting them to fight kinda hurts productivity.
My rule also includes "no politics or religion" if it's a communal radio. (I don't care what drivel you listen to on earphones, but no one should be forced to listen to hard-line rant stations.) Since 'music' should be helping people work, inciting them to fight kinda hurts productivity.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I will say that I pretty much disagree completely. The worst thing, from a safety perspective, is earplug style earphones. They make hearing someone in an emergency situation almost impossible, much more so that a radio playing a moderate volume. Yes we all may object to someone elses taste in music but a complete ban on workplace radios is rather silly.
I can say that I pretty much disagree completely
And I hadn't even thought about Rush Limbaugh.
wptski
Senior Member
- Location
- Warren, MI
You ought to work where fork lifts are wizzing by but at least they make lots of noise. To help eliminate fork lifts, they started using electric powered units for moving stock, they are quiet and move way too fast wthout a load. The operator stands inside them and it has a very small steering wheel with a built in suicide knob. Steering is real quick.
I wouldn't mind radios on the job if:
1. The volume is >>>reasonable<<<. You really don't need to listen to the radio that's sitting 500' away while you're running a table saw or air compressor and someone next to you is jackhammering up the concrete floor.
2. If there's more than one radio, everyone picks the SAME station. No reason I should have to listen to Patsy Cline, KISS, Rush Limbaugh, the Boston Pops, ManCow, Elvis, the Sex Pistols, the Beatles, Mozart, the Farm Report, the Beach Boys, the Market Report, Charlie Daniels, Simon and Garfunkle, Amy Grant, the Weather Report and today's installment of "Bird Calls" all at the same freaking time.Of course, once everyone realizes someone else will tune into a different station, they have to turn their radio up to drown out the others.
3. If your radio won't tune in the station, for crying out loud, just shut it off. It's even more annoying to have a station drift in and out and listen to static half the time, or the audio becomes garbled. If you can't afford a good tuner, leave the piece of crap at home. Or get one that plays mp3s.
Rant over.
I would just cut that cord (see bold)
I would just cut that cord (see bold)
I've seen that happen.
Working on a 4-story hotel, the GC had a stated policy... no radios. But the Super said he'd allow them as long as it didn't get out of hand, and they disappeared whenever his boss was on site.
I was working on the third floor, listening to someone's radio, and the Super asked if it was mine. I said, "No, I don't know whose it is. It's been here all week, and I've never seen anyone touch it." He said it needs to go away tomorrow as his boss was going to do a walk-though.
Next day, the radio's still there, still playing. The Super comes up to me again and asks, "That's not your radio?" "Nope, not mine." I tell him. So he reaches into my pouch, grabs my side cutters, goes over and unplugs the radio, cuts the cord off, and chucks it out the window into the dumpster. He then calmly replaced my cutters in my pouch and said, "Just wanted to make sure!"
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I can say that I pretty much disagree completely
And I hadn't even thought about Rush Limbaugh.
That's what's nice about this forum we can totally disagree and still be friends.
From my perspective not every situation is the same. I've spent weeks working, alone, in switchgear rooms, electric closets or dimmer rooms. A complete ban, which would ban a radio under those conditions, is somewhat ridiculous.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
- Status