Forum Post
I was wondering if the faculty senate could look into university policies for amplified sound at campus events, especially those that occur during regular daytime work hours and class times. The volume of a recent event on the Terrell Mall on the Pullman campus, starting at 10 AM, registered higher than 90 dB, which is above the safe noise level. This is notable given that it was an event centered on safety. Those of us who work in buildings nearby the Mall experience repeated classroom and workplace disruption from events that feature amplified music, which causes not only loud noise in the offices and classrooms but also rattling windows and vibrating floors. It seems that there should be enforced limits placed on sound levels and the distance of the sound system from classrooms when classes are in session. Thank you.
Response
The Faculty Senate Executive Officers have been notified of this forum post and will respond back once more information becomes available.
Comments
Our team (EH&S) was at the event, as well as the week of welcome event where we had the same DJ and sound system, and it did not occur to me that is was noisy or would be disruptive, but we all have different tolerances for music and noise. We were predominantly located between Wilson Short and the CUB, and we worked across from Todd Hall in front of the library for a while, and I don’t recall having to raise my voice to speak to people. As general guidance, if you have to raise your voice to speak to someone 3 feet away, the noise level could be over 85 dBA. Under the state rules for hearing conservation WAC 296-817, if an employee’s noise exposure averages 85 dBA or more over an 8 hour time weighted average exposure, WSU must enter those employees into our hearing conservation program. Because the 85 dBA threshold is a time weighted average, 4 hours of noise exposure at 90 dBA and another 4 hours at 65 dBA would not trigger hearing conservation program requirements. At 115 decibels, WSU as an employer would be required to put up signage indicating that hearing protection is required.