[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 30, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 30CFR62.170]



[Page 424]

 

                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES

 

  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 

PART 62_OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE--Table of Contents

 

Sec.  62.170  Audiometric testing.



    The mine operator must provide audiometric tests to satisfy the 

requirements of this part at no cost to the miner. A physician or an 

audiologist, or a qualified technician under the direction or 

supervision of a physician or an audiologist must conduct the tests.

    (a) Baseline audiogram. The mine operator must offer miners the 

opportunity for audiometric testing of the miner's hearing sensitivity 

for the purpose of establishing a valid baseline audiogram to compare 

with subsequent annual audiograms. The mine operator may use an existing 

audiogram of the miner's hearing sensitivity as the baseline audiogram 

if it meets the audiometric testing requirements of Sec.  62.171 of this 

part.

    (1) The mine operator must offer and provide within 6 months of 

enrolling the miner in a hearing conservation program, audiometric 

testing which results in a valid baseline audiogram, or offer and 

provide the testing within 12 months where the operator uses mobile test 

vans to do the testing.

    (2) The mine operator must notify the miner to avoid high levels of 

noise for at least 14 hours immediately preceding the baseline 

audiogram. The mine operator must not expose the miner to workplace 

noise for the 14-hour quiet period before conducting the audiometric 

testing to determine a baseline audiogram. The operator may substitute 

the use of hearing protectors for this quiet period.

    (3) The mine operator must not establish a new baseline audiogram or 

a new revised baseline audiogram, where one has been established, due to 

changes in enrollment status in the hearing conservation program. The 

mine operator may establish a new baseline or revised baseline audiogram 

for a miner who is away from the mine for more than 6 consecutive 

months.

    (b) Annual audiogram. After the baseline audiogram is established, 

the mine operator must continue to offer subsequent audiometric tests at 

intervals not exceeding 12 months for as long as the miner remains in 

the hearing conservation program.

    (c) Revised baseline audiogram. An annual audiogram must be deemed 

to be a revised baseline audiogram when, in the judgment of the 

physician or audiologist:

    (1) A standard threshold shift revealed by the audiogram is 

permanent; or (2) The hearing threshold shown in the annual audiogram 

indicates significant improvement over the baseline audiogram.