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Hearing Conservation

A hearing conservation program is designed to reduce, or eliminate hearing loss due to workplace noise exposures. Regulations dictate that whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA, a continuing, effective hearing conservation program shall be instituted.

Things to Consider

A hearing conservation program is designed to reduce, or eliminate hearing loss due to workplace noise exposures. Regulations dictate that whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA, a continuing, effective hearing conservation program shall be instituted.

When the sound levels listed above are exceeded, reasonable administrative or engineering controls shall be instituted. If the controls fail to reduce the noise exposure to acceptable levels, hearing protection will be provided at no cost to the employee.

The University of Utah Hearing Conservation Program is in two parts:  The base program details universal required program elements and can be found here: [link to base program – Hearing-Conservation-Program-Final-11.01.2017.pdf (d2vxd53ymoe6ju.cloudfront.net)] and an area specific program which details required program elements specific to the area in which a specific employee or group of employees works.

 

Required Elements

  • Development of an area specific written Hearing Conservation Program – An area specific program template is available in the University’s Safety Administrative Management System (SAM): https://oehs.utah.edu/topics/lab-management-system
  • Personal and/or area exposure monitoring for all employees whose noise exposure may be equivalent to or greater than the OSHA established action level or for other factors that may necessitate additional consideration such as impulse/impact noise or Ototoxins. Exposure levels must be reassessed whenever procedures, equipment, etc. change.
  • Audiometric testing for all employees exposed to noise at or above the action level, is required within the first 6 months of an employee’s first exposure or known exposure to noise at or above the action level. Audiometric testing is provided at no cost to all employees who are exposed at or above the action level.  All audiometric testing must be provided, and reviewed, by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other qualified PLHCP
  • Annual audiograms must be conducted for all employees exposed at or above the action level
  • Fit with different hearing protectors or refit any employee showing a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) with adequate hearing protectors, show the employee how to use them, and require the employee to wear them
  • Notification of employees within 21 days after the determination that their audiometric test results show a standard threshold shift.
  • Provide hearing protectors to all workers at or above the action level (85 dBA 8-hr TWA). Hearing protectors must be worn prior to the baseline audiogram. Provide employees with a selection of a variety of hearing protection devices. Employees should decide which size and type protector is most suitable for the working environment. The protector should be comfortable to wear and offer the minimum NRR recommended by EHS. Hearing protectors must adequately reduce the noise level for each employee’s work environment
  • Reevaluate the suitability of the employee’s hearing protector whenever a change in working conditions may make it inadequate.
  • Training of employees in the proper use and care of hearing protection and ensure that they continue to wear them correctly
  • Training of employees on the hazards associated with exposure to excessive noise, the purposes of hearing protection, the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of hearing protection, and the requirements of this program.

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