Final answer:
OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for noise is set at 90 dB(A) for an 8-hour workday, whereas ACGIH's Threshold Limit Value (TLV) recommends not exceeding 85 dB(A) for the same duration to prevent hearing loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and ACGIH's Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Noise are standards and recommendations set to limit the exposure of workers to noise levels that could result in hearing damage. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set their PEL for noise at 90 dB(A) for an 8-hour workday, with the action level at 85 dB(A), where hearing conservation measures must be initiated. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommends a TLV for noise exposure that does not exceed 85 dB(A) for 8 hours to minimize occupational hearing loss.
Exposure to different levels of sound can cause varying degrees of damage to hearing, depending on the duration and intensity of the exposure. For example, being inside a heavy truck may cause damage from prolonged exposure, while exposure to a noisy factory or a siren at 30 meters can cause damage from 8-hour per day exposure. Extremely high noise levels, such as those from a jet airplane at 30 meters, can cause severe pain and damage within seconds and potentially lead to the bursting of eardrums.