Final answer:
The employee exposed to 80 decibels for 10 hours is not required to wear hearing protectors, as this level is below the recommended 85 dB threshold for an 8-hour exposure according to guidelines from health agencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following employees is not required to wear hearing protectors? This question pertains to occupational health guidelines regarding noise exposure on the job. According to several government agencies and health-related professional associations, noise levels should not exceed 85 decibels (dB) for an 8-hour workday without the use of hearing protection. This is important to prevent long-term hearing damage.
Given the choices:
- a. An employee exposed to 90 decibels for 8 hours
- b. An employee exposed to 100 decibels for 2 hours
- c. An employee exposed to 80 decibels for 10 hours
- d. An employee exposed to 110 decibels for 15 minutes
The employee exposed to 80 decibels for 10 hours (option c) is not required to wear hearing protectors, as this exposure level is below the recommended 85 dB threshold for an 8-hour exposure. However, it is important to note that exposures longer than 8 hours could warrant protection even at 80 dB, depending on specific workplace safety regulations. Options a, b, and d involve exposure levels that clearly exceed the recommended threshold and therefore would require hearing protection.