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How is a worker’s total daily noise dose calculated from different sound levels and exposure times?

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To calculate a worker’s total daily noise dose (D), environmental science uses a formula that accounts for varying sound levels and their respective durations of exposure. The total dose is determined by the following relationship:

$D = (\frac{C_{1}}{T_{1}}) + (\frac{C_{2}}{T_{2}}) + (\frac{C_{3}}{T_{3}}) + \dots$

In this equation:
* $C$ represents the actual time of exposure to a specific noise level.
* $T$ represents the maximum allowable time of exposure for that same noise level, as defined by industrial noise criteria.1

Under regulations such as those established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the maximum allowable daily noise dose is 1. Any calculated daily exposure that exceeds 1 is considered unacceptable, as it indicates that the worker has been subjected to noise levels beyond safe limits.1