Noise and Hearing Conservation
Purpose and Objective
The company is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its employees. The purpose of this program is to protect employee hearing.
This program applies to all company facilities and employees.
Definitions
Action Level: A level which indicates a harmful activity which requires protective actions to be in place. For noise, the action limit for an 8-hour day is 85 dBA.
Area Monitoring: Measuring noise levels in an area by the use of a sound level meter.
Audiogram: A hearing test done by audiometry which charts the threshold of hearing at various frequencies against sound intensity in decibels.
Personal Monitoring: Measuring an employee’s noise exposure by use of a dosimeter. A dosimeter is worn by an employee for a representative time frame in order to evaluate noise levels that the employee is exposed to when doing his or her particular job.
Standard Threshold Shift: A change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram for that employee, on an average of 10 decibels (dB) or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz (Hz) in one or both ears.
Responsibilities
Management
Management is responsible for implementing, supporting, and enforcing this program.
Supervisors are responsible for:
- Ensuring compliance with this program
- Performing routine safety checks
- Correcting unsafe practices or conditions immediately
- Coordinating employee schedules for training and testing
- Notifying the Program Manager of potential hazards
Employees
Employees are responsible for utilizing the procedures outlined in this plan and ensuring the following:
- Wearing hearing protection in areas where required
- Understanding and participating in the company policy
- Ensuring proper care, use, and maintenance of hearing protection equipment
Noise Monitoring
The company will ensure that high noise areas are tested to determine the sound levels. Noise monitoring will be conducted initially when operations begin or when new equipment is introduced to determine the need for hearing protection. When noise levels are found to be above 85 dBA over an 8-hour-time-weighted-average, or a dose of 50%, this Hearing Conservation Program shall be enforced.
Noise Surveys
Noise surveys will be conducted only by qualified individuals. Evaluating noise exposure with regard to potential hearing damage, the overall sound level will be measured according the A scale measurement. The exposure survey will display the length of time worked the area, the area being surveyed, and tasks conducted.
Employees will be notified of monitoring results in writing. Upon receiving results, the company shall evaluate the need for hearing protection measures and will opt for controls in the order of engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE where necessary.
Signage
When noise levels are found to be in excess of 85 decibels (dBA), signs shall be posted at area entrances and other necessary locations around the periphery. These signs shall describe the hazards involved and required protective actions.
Audiometric Testing
Employees who may be exposed to noise levels at or above 85 dBA for an 8-hour shift will participate in the hearing conservation program. These employees are required to take an audiogram both at the initial time of employment (within 6 months of an employee’s first exposure above the action level) and annually thereafter. Audiograms will be provided by the company at no cost to the employee.
The purpose of audiometric testing is to determine each employee’s initial hearing threshold by determining the employee’s response to noise levels at a variety of frequencies. The initial audiogram will be used as a baseline measurement to which subsequent audiograms will be compared.
Where mobile vans are used to meet the audiometric testing requirements, the employer may obtain a valid baseline within 1 year of an employee’s first exposure at or above the action level.
Baseline audiograms must be given to new employees within 1 month of employment and prior to any exposure to high noise levels. Annual audiograms will be performed within 1 year from the date of the initial or previous audiogram. It is the responsibility of the program manager to schedule these tests.
If an audiogram indicates that an employee may have suffered from a standard threshold shift, the following steps will be taken:
- Employee will be notified of the results in writing within 21 days of the determination
- Employee will be fitted and trained in the use hearing protection equipment
- Employee who already wears hearing protection will be refitted and retrained in the proper use of hearing protection
- Hearing protection offering greater noise reduction may be provided to affected employee
- An employee may be referred for a clinical audiological evaluation
- The company will review the effectiveness of engineering and administrative controls to identify and correct any deficiencies
Evaluation of the results of audiograms will be performed by the testing agency. The company will follow recommendations made for employees by the tester.
Hearing Protection
When results of noise testing indicate a need for controls, hearing protection may be used to help protect employee hearing as PPE. Hearing protection will be provided at no cost to employees who perform tasks or work in areas of elevated noise levels.
Signage should be used in areas requiring hearing protection. It is the responsibility of the program manager to ensure signs are appropriately posted.
Training
The company will provide hearing conservation training to any affected employee initially upon hiring, and yearly thereafter. The training will include:
- The effects of noise on the human ear and hearing
- The purpose, use, and maintenance of hearing protection
- Advantages and disadvantages of the types of hearing protection used
- Proper selection, fitting, use, and care of hearing protection
- The purpose and value of noise exposure monitoring and audiometric testing
- How to interpret results of audiometric testing
- The company and employee responsibilities for maintaining noise controls
Recordkeeping
The company will review this program periodically to ensure compliance is maintained. Any changes in the program will be noted and employees will receive updates in training. The following records should be maintained:
- Noise exposure monitoring results
- Audiometric testing records
- Certificates of training
- Warnings issued to employees for not wearing hearing protection or using engineering or administrative controls
All records of noise monitoring and audiometric testing should be kept for the duration of employment, plus 30 years.
