Hearing conservation program evaluation checklist

Supervision of employee training programs. Coordination and supervision of required recordkeeping. Periodic evaluation of overall program. Noise Monitoring. Audiometric Testing. Audiometric testing will be performed on all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average TWA of 85 decibles Action level.

Audiometric testing will be provided at no cost to employees. Audiometric testing will be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician, or by a technician who is certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, or who has satisfactorily demonstrated competence in administering audiometric examinations. A technician who performs audiometric tests must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.

Baseline Audiogram A baseline audiogram will be conducted within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at above the action level in order to establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared. Mobile test van exception. Where mobile test vans are used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the Position designated will obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level.

Where baseline audiograms are obtained more than 6 months after the employee's first exposure at or above the action level, employees will wear hearing protectors for any period exceeding six months after first exposure until the baseline audiogram is obatined.

Testing to establish a baseline audiogram will be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the requirement that baseline audiograms be preceded by 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. The Position designated will notify employees of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the hour period immediately preceeding the audiometric examination.

Audiograms will be conducted at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.

The Position Designated will maintain a record of all employee audiometric test records. This record will include: Name and job classification of the employee.

Date of the audiogram. The examiner's name. Directives Hearing Conservation Program. Record Type:. OSHA Instruction. PER Hearing Conservation Program. References: 29 CFR Significant Changes This Instruction establishes a new program.

Action Offices. Federal Program Change. Significant Changes. Not applicable. This Instruction establishes a new Federal program. Noise Monitoring. Audiometric Testing Program. Baseline and annual audiometric exams will be scheduled concurrently with pre-placement and annual medical examinations respectively. The baseline audiogram for covered OSHA personnel is defined as follows: OSHA personnel covered by PER hired prior to the establishment of the Medical Examination Program will have their audiogram or their oldest qualifying audiogram on file identified as their baseline audiogram.

OSHA personnel covered by PER hired after will have their pre-placement audiogram identified as their baseline audiogram. Annual audiogram. Audiometric testing will be conducted annually. Each annual audiogram shall be compared to the baseline audiogram to validate its accuracy, and detect significant changes in hearing. The hour quiet period is not necessary for annual audiograms. Notification of Audiogram Results. Immediately following audiometric testing, covered OSHA personnel will receive preliminary verbal feedback on their test results by an individual qualified to administer the audiometric exam.

A preliminary determination of an STS will result in covered OSHA personnel automatically receiving an appointment for a retest audiogram. A definitive interpretation of all audiograms will take place following audiogram review by the physician acting as the HCP Director see Section XI.

Formal written notification letters will be sent to each employee in the program from the HCP Director regarding: findings of annual audiograms that do not warrant retesting, findings of retest audiograms including STS, indications of possible otological pathology, and recommendations for audiological or otological follow-up. Retest audiogram. OSHA personnel covered by PER with annual audiograms that meet the STS criteria will be retested within 30 days of the annual audiogram to determine whether the threshold shift is temporary or persistent.

Retest audiograms should be conducted after a hour quiet period. However, hearing protection may be used as an alternative to the hour quiet period. A retest audiogram conducted within 30 days of the annual audiogram may be substituted for the annual audiogram.

The retest audiogram may confirm a newly identified STS, or it may reveal an improvement in hearing threshold. In both of these cases, the results of the retest audiogram can be substituted for the annual audiogram.

Revised Baseline Audiogram. An annual audiogram may be substituted for the baseline audiogram when: a the STS is persistent; or b the hearing threshold shown in the annual audiogram indicates significant improvement over the baseline audiogram.

Modifying the facility? Relocating employees? Have there been changes in areas, equipment, or processes that have altered noise exposure? Have follow-up noise measurements been conducted? Are appropriate steps taken to include or exclude employees in the hearing conservation programs whose exposures have changed significantly?

Engineering and Administrative Controls Controlling noise by engineering and administrative methods is often the most effective means of reducing or eliminating the hazard.

Have noise control needs been prioritized? Has the cost-effectiveness of various options been addressed? Are employees and supervisors apprised of plans for noise control measures? Are they consulted on various approaches? Will in-house resources or outside consultants perform the work? Have employees and supervisors been counseled on the operation and maintenance of noise control devices?

Are noise control projects monitored to ensure timely completion? Has the full potential for administrative controls been evaluated?

Are noisy processes conducted during shifts with fewer employees? Do employees have sound-treated lunch or break areas? Monitoring Audiometry and Record Keeping The skills of audiometric technicians, the status of the audiometer, and the quality of audiometric test records are crucial to hearing conservation program success.

Has the audiometric technician been adequately trained, certified, and recertified as necessary? Do on-the-job observations of the technicians indicate that they perform a thorough and valid audiometric test, instruct and consult the employee effectively, and keep appropriate records? Are records complete? Are follow-up actions documented? Are hearing threshold levels reasonably consistent from test to test?

If not, are the reasons for inconsistencies investigated promptly? Are the annual test results compared to baseline to identify the presence of an OSHA standard threshold shift? Is the annual incidence of standard threshold shift greater than a few percent? If so, are problem areas pinpointed and remedial steps taken? Are audiometric trends deteriorations being identified, both in individuals and in groups of employees?

Do records show that appropriate audiometer calibration procedures have been followed? Is there documentation showing that the background sound levels in the audiometer room were low enough to permit valid testing? Are the results of audiometric tests being communicated to supervisors and managers as well as to employees? Are employees incurring STS notified in writing within 21 days? Referrals Referrals to outside sources for consultation or treatment are sometimes in order, but they can be an expensive element of the hearing conservation program, and should not be undertaken unnecessarily.

Are referral procedures clearly specified? Have letters of agreement between the company and consulting physicians or audiologists been executed? Have mechanisms been established to ensure employees needing evaluation or treatment actually receive the service i. Are records properly transmitted to the physician or audiologist, and back to the company? If medical treatment is recommended, does the employee understand the condition requiring treatment, the recommendation, and methods for obtaining such treatment?

Are employees being referred unnecessarily? Hearing Protection Devices When noise control measures are not feasible, or until such time as they are installed, hearing protection devices are the only way to prevent hazardous levels of noise from damaging the inner ear. Are hearing protectors made available to all employees whose daily average noise exposures are 85 dBA or above? Have mechanisms been established to ensure that employees needing evaluation or treatment actually receive the service i.

Are records properly transmitted to the physician or audiologist, and back to the company? If medical treatment is recommended, does the employee understand the condition requiring treatment, the recommendation, and methods of obtaining such treatment? Are employees being referred unnecessarily? Hearing Protection Devices. Have hearing protectors been made available to all employees whose daily average noise exposures are 85 dBA or above? Are employees given the opportunity to select from a variety of appropriate protectors?

Are employees fitted carefully with special attention to comfort? Are employees thoroughly trained, not only initially but at least once a year? Are the protectors checked regularly for wear or defects, and replaced immediately if necessary? If employees use disposable hearing protectors, are replacements readily available? Do employees understand the appropriate hygiene requirements?

Have any employees developed ear infections or irritations associated with the use of hearing protectors? Are there any employees who are unable to wear these devices because of medical conditions?

Have these conditions been treated promptly and successfully? Have alternative types of hearing protectors been considered when problems with current devices are experienced? Do employees who incur noise-induced hearing loss receive intensive counseling? Are those who fit and supervise the wearing of hearing protectors competent to deal with the many problems that can occur? Do workers complain that protectors interfere with their ability to do their jobs?

Do they interfere with spoken instructions or warning signals? Are these complaints followed promptly with counseling, noise control, or other measures? Are employees encouraged to take their hearing protectors home if they engage in noisy non-occupational activities? Are new types of or potentially more effective protectors considered as they become available?

Is the effectiveness of the hearing protector program evaluated regularly? Have at-the-ear protection levels been evaluated to ensure that either over or under protection has been adequately balanced according to the anticipated ambient noise levels? Is each hearing protector user required to demonstrate that he or she understands how to use and care for the protector? The results documented? Keeping organized and current on administrative matters will help the program run smoothly.