In summary, a hearing conservation program
has seven essential components:
1. Noise Measurement
including area sampling and personal monitoring.
This can be completed by:
• An acoustical engineer
• An audiologist
• An industrial hygienist
According to OSHA, 85 dBA is the Action Level.
This means employees that are exposed to 85 dBA for 8 hrs. during
their workday have
to be included in a hearing conservation program.
This exposure level is equivalent to a TWA of 85. At 90 dBA,
they are required to wear hearing protection.
2. Engineering Controls
How to reduce noise in the workplace.
This can be accomplished by:
• Isolating equipment with a barrier
• Having employees work a greater distance away from equipment
• Administrative controls (assigning employees to appropriate jobs)
3. Audiometric Testing
Either conducted off-premise or on-site utilizing a mobile testing unit,
testing must be conducted annually. There are three main tests your
employee must have performed:
• Baseline Audiogram.
This is the initial test. It is recommended that employees have
the baseline done as soon as possible, but by OSHA standards
they have up to six months from the date of being hired or exposed
to noise levels above the action level to have it completed.
If a mobile health provider is utilized,
an employer has a one-year timeframe.
• Annual Audiogram
These tests are performed once a year and are compared back
to the baseline or revised baseline test to detect any changes
in an employee’s hearing.
• Exit Audiogram
This last test is optional but recommended
to document the employee’s hearing thresholds at the time
they left the company.
4. HPDs (Hearing Protection Devices)
OSHA requires that hearing
protectors be provided at no charge
to employees included in a company’s hearing conservation program.
There are five categories of hearing protection devices:
• Soft foam plugs
• Pre-molded plugs
• Custom ear molds
• Canal cap
• Ear Muffs
Each option has it’s own advantages and disadvantages, therefore
companies must provide a variety of HPDs for employees to choose from.
Each HPD has it's own NRR (noise reduction rating), which determines
how much it will reduce the noise.
5. Hearing Conservation Training (this must be done at least once a year.)
Training must cover:
•The dangers and effects of noise on hearing.
•The purpose of audiometric testing
•The use of hearing protection devices
6. Record Keeping
The safest length of time to keep records if forever!
Documents that must be kept include:
•Noise surveys should be conducted every two years
•All individual hearing test records
•All equipment calibrations and biological checks
7. Program Evaluation
To determine if any employees have experienced an
STS (standard threshold shift) the professional supervisor,
who is either an audiologist or physician, must do this.
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