Hearing Conservation Program | Occupational Noise Exposure

Administration

This written hearing conservation plan serves as a record of the details of the hearing conservation program in place at this company. We have this program in place to protect the hearing of all employees in the company. Elements of our hearing conservation program include:

• Monitoring,
• Audiometric testing program,
• Hearing protection,
• Training and information, and
• Recordkeeping.

______ has overall responsibility for coordinating safety and health programs in this company. ______ is the person having overall responsibility for the Hearing Conservation Program. ______ will review and update the program, as necessary.

Copies of the written program may be obtained from ______.

Monitoring

The monitoring program is in place to provide an ongoing means of determining employee exposure to noise and protect employees based on excessive exposure. When monitoring information indicates that any em-ployee’s exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employee is included in the hearing conservation program.

To determine employee exposure to noise, we use the following type of calibrated equipment: ______. The company notifies all employees exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring by the following method. ____________________________________.

The company provides an opportunity in the following way for affected employees or their representatives to observe any noise measurements conducted: __________________________________________.

Appropriate hearing devices are selected for employees in the Hearing Conservation Program by the following method: ___________________________________________________________________.

Monitoring is repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that either additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level or the attenuation provided by hearing protectors being used by employees may be rendered inadequate to meet the requirements of noise reduction.

The audiometric testing program is in place and available at no cost to all affected employees to ensure that noise exposures are kept at proper levels.

Audiometric testing

The program ensures that a valid baseline audiogram is established for exposed employees within six months of their first exposure (or within one year if mobile vans are used, with employees wearing hearing protection for any period exceeding six months) by the following method: ______________________________.

Audiometric testing is repeated __________________________________________________.

The company determines if a standard threshold shift (STS) has occurred by ________________________.

If subsequent audiometric testing of an employee whose exposure to noise is less than an 8-hour TWA of 90 decibels indicates that a standard threshold shift is not persistent, the company informs the employee of the new audiometric interpretation by ______________________________________________________ and discontinues the required use of hearing protectors for that employee.

Hearing protection

The company makes hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees, according to the following procedures: ________________________.

The company ensures the use of available hearing protection by all affected employees by: ____________.

The company ensures that employees have a variety of suitable protectors that attenuate (lower) employee exposure at least to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 decibels, or 85 decibels or lower for employees who have experienced a standard threshold shift in their hearing, according to the following method: ______.

Appropriate hearing protectors available for employees to choose from include: __________________.

The company ensures evaluation for adequacy of the hearing protection attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the protector will be used, according to specifications given in an appendix to the standard, by: ____________________________________.

The company reevaluates attenuation whenever employee noise exposures increase to the extent that current hearing protectors no longer provide adequate attenuation, and then provides more effective hearing protection, according to the following method: __________________________________________.

Training and information

______ has a hearing protection training program for all employees exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.

We ensure employee participation in the hearing protection training program by: __________________.

Copies of the Occupational Noise Exposure standard are available to affected employees or their representatives.We also post copies of the standard in the following location(s): __________________ ______________________________________________________________________.

Refresher training is provided ______. We ensure that the training material is updated to be consistent with changes in the protective equipment and work processes by: ______________________________________.

According to the following method: _______________________________________________, we ensure that each affected employee is informed of at least the following information:

• The effects of noise on hearing;
• The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care; and
• The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of test procedures.

We also make informational materials pertaining to the Occupational Noise Exposure standard that are supplied by OSHA available to affected employees or their representatives by: __________________.

Recordkeeping

Recordkeeping is an essential element of our Hearing Conservation Program. It is the means by which hearing levels are tracked and assessed over a period of years. ______ has in place measures to maintain comprehensive and up-to-date records.

______ maintains accurate records of:

• Employee exposure measurements by: ______________________________.
• Employee audiometric test records by: ______________________________.

The company retains noise exposure measurement records and audiometric test records as required by OSHA. These records are made available to employees, former employees, representatives designated by the individual employee, and OSHA upon request, according to the following method: _________.

Employee Hearing Conservation Training Program

When feasible engineering and administrative controls don't adequately reduce noise exposures, you (the employer) must provide and pay for hearing protection devices (HPDs).

Overview

OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure standard is in the General Industry regulations at §1910.95. When employees are exposed to 85 or more decibels (dB) averaged over an eight-hour period, the employer must implement a hearing conservation program that includes noise monitoring, hearing tests, hearing protection devices (HPDs), recordkeeping, and an annual training program. All of these provisions can be overwhelming to an employee, but a thorough training program can help employees understand how the program works.

Specific Training Elements

1. Introduce the hazards of noise.
   The most obvious hazard from being exposed to excessive noise is that it can cause noise-induced hearing loss.
   In addition to causing temporary or permanent hearing loss, excessive noise can:
   • Cause you to miss hearing important warnings or instructions;
   • Cause fatigue from the strain of talking and listening over the noise; and
   • Cause increased blood pressure, headaches, sleeping disorders, and other ailments.
   Trainer's note: Tell employees not to believe that they will "get used to" the noise in the workplace.
2. Describe how engineering controls can reduce or eliminate noise hazards.
   The most effective way to control noise is to eliminate it by using engineering controls. Generally, the term "engineering controls" means using materials and equipment.
   Common examples of engineering controls are:
   • Installing a muffler on a machine,
   • Erecting acoustical enclosures and barriers around noisy equipment,
   • Installing sound absorbing material on walls,
   • Installing vibration mounts under equipment,
   • Making sure moving parts on machinery are properly lubricated, and
   • Buying quieter equipment.
   Trainer's note: Provide examples of how engineering controls have been used to reduce the noise in your workplace.
3. Explain how administrative controls can reduce noise.
   The next way to control noise hazards is through administrative controls. This involves managing how work is assigned.
   Examples include operating a noisy machine only during a shift when fewer people are exposed, or moving an employee to a less noisy job once he has been exposed to a certain daily dose of noise.
   Even providing quiet areas where employees can get relief from workplace noise is an example of an administrative control. Lunchrooms and break areas should be located away from noise.
   Trainer's note: Give examples of any administrative controls in place at your facility.
4. Outline the requirements of a hearing conservation program.
   When it is not feasible to otherwise reduce noise to a safe level, the employer has to implement a hearing conservation program. A hearing conservation program is required for all employees whose noise exposure levels equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dB.
   The hearing conservation program includes provisions for:
   • Monitoring noise levels,
   • Providing employees with audiometric testing,
   • Using appropriate HPDs,
   • Training, and
   • Recordkeeping.
5. Describe how noise levels are monitored.
   Noise monitoring is done for many reasons, including:
   • To determine whether noise levels could contribute to hearing loss,
   • To determine whether noise interferes with communication or warning signals,
   • To identify employees for the hearing conservation program,
   • To set priorities for noise control efforts,
   • To identify areas where hearing protection practices are needed,
   • To evaluate specific sources of noise, and
   • To evaluate the success of noise control efforts.
   Monitoring is conducted using sound level meters, dosimeters worn by employees, or other more sophisticated acoustical equipment. Employees must be able to observe the monitoring. Employees who are exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dB must be given the results of the monitoring.
   Trainer's note: Display your noise monitoring equipment.
6. Explain how you provide hearing tests.
   Employers have to provide affected employees with hearing tests in order to know if the hearing conservation program is effective.
   A technician uses an instrument (an audiometer) to send sounds (tones) through headphones. The person being tested responds to the test sounds. The chart that records responses to the test sounds is called an audiogram. Employees can request test results.
   You first have a baseline audiogram. This is followed up with annual audiograms. If tests show that you have experienced a certain change in the hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram, additional testing or examinations may be necessary, and you need to be refitted and retrained in the use of HPDs.
   Trainer's note: You may want to have a separate session to explain the audiometric testing program so that employees know what to expect during the tests.
7. Demonstrate how to use HPDs.
   By wearing HPDs, you reduce the level of sound entering the ear. Three typical types of HPDs are:
   • Earmuffs,
   • Ear canal caps, and
   • Earplugs.

HPDs must be available (at no cost) to any employee who is exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dB. Under certain conditions, employees can be requiredto wear the HPDs. You must be able to select HPDs from a variety of suitable choices. The HPDs must fit properly, and you must be trained to use and wear them correctly.

For example, to correctly insert foam earplugs, follow the manufacturer's instructions. In general:

1. Roll the earplug between your fingers so it is tightly compressed into a smooth, long, slender cylinder.
2. Reach over your head with the opposite hand and gently lift and pull your ear to straighten the ear canal.
3. While holding your ear, insert the compressed earplug with your other hand, and hold it in place with a finger while it expands into your ear.

Trainer's note: Have volunteers help you demonstrate how to wear and adjust HPDs.

Quiz: Have you heard about hearing conservation?

For each question, show if you think the statement is "True" or "False."

1. Noise can cause temporary hearing problems. True/False
2. Putting a noisy machine on a rubber mat can help reduce noise. True/False
3. Employees have to buy the earplugs they use. True/False
4. You don't need a hearing test to know if you're losing your hearing. True/False
5. Employees have to stay away while noise monitoring is done. True/False

Name: __________________ Date: ________________

Answers to Quiz

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False

Develop a Hearing Conservation Program

An effective hearing conservation program can prevent hearing loss, improve employee morale and a general feeling of well-being, increase quality of production, and reduce the incidence of stress-related disease. Employers must administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures are at or above an eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 50 percent. This is referred to as the action level.

Minimum requirements of a hearing conservation program include:

• Monitoring program,
• Audiometric testing program,
• Hearing protection devices,
• Employee training, and
• Recordkeeping.

Monitoring Program

Employers have to develop and implement a monitoring program whenever information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed the action level. The sampling strategy must be designed to identify all employees for inclusion in the hearing conservation program and enable the proper selection of hearing protectors.

The monitoring requirement is performance-based, as it allows employers to choose a monitoring method that best suits each individual work situation. Either personal or area monitoring may be used. If there are circumstances that may make area monitoring generally inappropriate, such as high worker mobility, significant variations in sound level or a significant component of impulse noise, then the employer must use representative personal sampling unless it can be shown that area sampling produces equivalent results.

Noise measurements must integrate all continuous, intermittent, and impulsive noise levels from 80 to 130 dBA. Monitoring must be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level, or the attenuation provided by hearing protectors used by employees is inadequate.

The employer must notify each employee who is exposed at or above the action level of the results of the monitoring and provide them with an opportunity to observe noise monitoring procedures.

Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs)

Hearing protection devices (HPDs) are considered the last option to control exposures to noise. HPDs are generally used during the necessary time it takes to implement engineering or administrative controls, or when such controls are not feasible.

Employers must make HPDs available at no cost to all employees exposed at or above the action level and provide replacements as necessary. Further, they must ensure that HPDs are worn by employees where feasible administrative and engineering controls fail to reduce sound levels within those listed in Table G-16, or who are exposed at or above the action level and who have not yet had a baseline audiogram established or have experienced a standard threshold shift (STS).

HPD Selection and Use

Employees must be given the opportunity to select their HPDs from a suitable variety. Generally, this should include a minimum of two devices, representative of at least two different types. The employer must provide training in the use and care of all protectors provided to employees and ensure proper initial fitting and supervise their correct use.

HPD Attenuation

Attenuation refers to the damping or decrease of noise levels as a result of wearing HPDs. The employer has to evaluate HPD attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the HPD will be used. HPDs must attenuate employee exposure to at least an eight hour time-weighted average of 90 dBA.

For employees who have experienced a standard threshold shift (STS), HPDs must attenuate exposure at or below the action level of 85 dBA-TWA (time-weighted average). The adequacy of the HPDs must be reevaluated whenever employee noise exposures increase to the extent that they may no longer provide adequate attenuation. The employer must provide more effective hearing protectors as necessary.

Employee Training

OSHA requires employers to establish a training program for all employees with noise exposures at or above the action level and ensure employee participation. Training must be repeated annually for each employee in the hearing conservation program and the information must be updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes.

The employer must ensure that each employee is informed of the following:

• The effects of noise on hearing.
• The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care.
• The purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of test procedures.
  
  

Access to Information and Training Materials

Employers have to make copies of the noise standard available to affected employees and post a copy in the workplace. They also are required to provide affected employees with any informational materials pertaining to the standard that are supplied to the employer by OSHA and give OSHA copies of all material relating to the employer's training and education program (on request).

Recordkeeping

OSHA has specific recordkeeping requirements for noise monitoring and employee testing results.

Exposure Measurements

Employers must maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements. These records must be retained for two years.

Audiometric Test Records

The employer must retain all employee audiometric test records. These records must include:

• Name and job classification of the employee.
• Date of the audiogram.
• The examiner's name.
• Date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of the audiometer.
• Employee's most recent noise exposure assessment.

Additionally, the employer has to maintain accurate records of the background sound pressure level measurements in audiometric test rooms. These records must be maintained for the duration of the affected worker's employment.

Access to Records

All records required by the noise standard must be provided upon request to employees, former employees, representatives designated by the individual employee, and OSHA.

Employers who cease to do business must transfer to the successor employer all records required by the noise standard. The successor employer has to retain these records for the remainder of the periods described previously.

Recording Hearing Loss on the 300 Log

Noise-induced hearing loss is a serious and irreversible condition. However, it is not the type of occupational injury that typically requires days away from work for recuperation. All work-related hearing losses of 10 decibel shifts that result in a total 25 decibel shift above audiometric zero have to be recorded on the 300 Log.

Audiometric Zero and STS

A standard threshold shift (STS) is a change in hearing threshold, relative to an employee's baseline audiogram (hearing test), averaging 10 decibels (dB) or more at 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 hertz (Hz) in one or both ears. If an employee's audiogram reveals that a work-related STS has occurred in one or both ears, and the total hearing level is 25 decibels or more above audiometric zero in the same ear(s) as the STS, the case is recordable.

If you have an employee with a recordable STS, document the case by checking the "hearing loss" column (M)(5) on the OSHA 300 Log.

Retesting

Retesting allows you to exclude false positive results and temporary threshold shifts from the data. If you retest the employee's hearing within 30 days of the first test, and the retest does not confirm the STS, you are not required to record the hearing loss case on the OSHA 300 Log. However, if the retest confirms the STS, record the hearing loss illness within seven calendar days of the retest.

Hearing Loss that Occurs with Aging

You may take into account the hearing loss that occurs as a result of the aging process and retest an employee who has an STS on an audiogram to ensure that the STS is permanent before recording it. When comparing audiogram results, adjust the results for the employee's age when the audiogram was taken using Tables F-1 or F-2, as appropriate, in Appendix F of the Occupational Noise Exposure standard.

Noise Dose

Hearing loss is presumed to be work-related if the employee is exposed to noise in the workplace at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA or greater, or to a total noise dose of 50 percent, as defined in OSHA's noise exposure standard.

Noise dose is defined as the amount of actual exposure to noise relative to its permissible exposure limit. A dose greater than 100 percent represents exposure above the limit. For hearing loss cases where the employee is not exposed to this level of noise, refer to the rules in §1904.5 to determine if the hearing loss is work-related.

If a physician determines that the hearing loss is not work-related or has not been significantly aggravated by occupational noise exposure, you are not required to consider the case work-related or to record it on the 300 Log. For example if the hearing loss occurred before the employee was hired; or hearing loss that is unrelated to workplace noise, such as off the job traumatic injury to the ear or infections.

Use this 'decision tree' to determine whether the results of a audiometric exam given on or after January 1, 2003 reveal a recordable STS.

Note: In all cases, use the most current baseline to determine recordability as you would to calculate a STS under the hearing conservation provisions of the noise standard (§1910.95). If an STS occurs in only one ear, you may only revise the baseline audiogram for that ear.

^* The audiogram may be adjusted for presbycusis (aging) as set out in 1910.95.

^** A separate hearing loss column on the OSHA 300 Log beginning in Calendar year 2004.