Client Type: Public-Sector Organizations
Location: Multiple municipal and regional facilities in Ontario
Services Provided: Occupational Noise Assessments
Project Overview
Public-sector clients engaged T. Harris Environmental Management Inc. (THEM) to conduct comprehensive occupational noise assessments across a range of municipal and regional facilities. The objective was to evaluate worker noise exposure, assess equipment-specific sound levels, and support compliance with Ontario noise regulations (Ontario Regulation (O. Reg. 381/15).
The assessments were delivered over multiple years and covered diverse operational environments, including maintenance facilities, animal services operations, and emergency vehicle service areas.
Client Context and Challenge
Municipal and public-sector operations often involve a wide variety of work activities, each with distinct noise exposure profiles. Ensuring compliance with O. Reg. 381/15 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act required accurate, task-based exposure data without disrupting essential public services.
Key challenges included:
- Diverse work environments: Noise conditions ranged from steady background noise in kennels to more intermittent, high-intensity exposures during equipment testing.
- Task variability: Worker exposures varied significantly depending on role, task duration, and equipment usage.
- Operational constraints: Assessments had to be coordinated across multiple departments while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery.
- Representative exposure assessment: Capturing meaningful exposure data required careful grouping of workers performing similar tasks.
Scope of Services
THEM delivered a comprehensive noise assessment program that included:
- Full-shift personal noise dosimetry for representative workers
- Spot noise measurements and equipment sound level assessments
- Facility-wide noise mapping to identify high-noise zones
- Evaluation of existing hearing protection practices
- Comparison of measured exposures against regulatory limits and applicable standards
- Clear documentation of findings and recommendations
All monitoring equipment was calibrated before and after use to ensure data integrity.
Approach and Execution
THEM applied a systematic, data-driven approach to address the variability inherent in public-sector operations. Workers were grouped into similar exposure categories, allowing exposure assessments to accurately reflect real-world conditions.
Personal dosimetry was combined with detailed area sound level measurements during specific tasks and equipment operation. Noise mapping was used to visualize exposure patterns across facilities and identify areas requiring signage or administrative controls.
Results were analyzed in accordance with recognized CSA standards (Z107.56-18 (R2022)) for occupational noise measurement and hearing loss prevention, ensuring both technical accuracy and regulatory defensibility.
Outcomes and Value Delivered
The noise assessments provided the clients with clear, actionable data to strengthen their occupational health and safety programs. Key outcomes included:
- Regulatory compliance: Confirmed compliance with Ontario noise exposure limits and identified areas requiring corrective action.
- Targeted risk management: High-risk tasks and equipment were clearly identified, enabling focused controls rather than broad, inefficient measures.
- Improved worker protection: Recommendations supported appropriate hearing protection selection, signage, and work practice adjustments.
- Long-term program support: Multi-site, multi-year data sets allowed clients to track trends and plan proactive improvements.
Repeat engagements over several years reflected confidence in THEM’s ability to deliver consistent, practical, and defensible noise assessment services.
Why This Matters for Public-Sector Employers
Public-sector organizations are responsible for protecting workers across a wide range of operational environments. Effective noise management requires more than spot measurements; it requires an understanding of tasks, variability, and real-world exposure patterns.
THEM’s experience delivering occupational noise assessments for municipal operations demonstrates how technically rigorous, practical assessments can support compliance, improve worker confidence, and strengthen long-term hearing conservation programs.