Final answer:
Exposure to 85 decibels for the entire 8-hour shift without wearing ear muffs is not recommended. Wearing ear muffs for at least four hours of the shift can extend the permissible exposure time. It's important to follow guidelines to protect your hearing.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, several government agencies and health-related professional associations recommend that exposure to 85 decibels (dB) should not exceed 8 hours per day without hearing protection.
This means that you should not be exposed to 85 decibels for the entire 8-hour shift without wearing ear muffs.
However, if you wear ear muffs for at least four hours of the shift, the permissible exposure to 85 decibels can be extended.
The exact permissible exposure time would depend on various factors such as the noise level when not wearing ear muffs, the duration of time without ear muffs, and the specific guidelines provided by the applicable government agency or professional association.
It's important to follow the recommendations and guidelines provided by these authorities to protect your hearing and ensure a safe work environment.