Part one of two.

As of July 1^st 2016 all employers in Ontario, including farmers, are required to comply with new workplace noise regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The legislation states that farmers and other employers shall ensure that their employees are not exposed to hazardous levels of noise. Hazardous noise, according to the legislation, is 85 dBA or louder, for a time period of approximately eight hours. Examples of 85 dBA are illustrated below.

This legislation does not apply to self-employed farmers with no employees.

What this Means to Farmers

This results in additional responsibilities for farmers to ensure safe working conditions for their employees.

Key changes:

• Farmers shall take reasonable measures for the circumstances, to protect workers from exposure to hazardous sound levels.
• Noise protective measures may be engineering controls (altering work environment), work practices and, where required and permitted, hearing protection devices.
• Measurements…