Section IV: What constitutes an effective hearing conservation program?
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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.
The employer 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.
[1910.95(c)(1)]
This is referred to as the action level. [1910.95(c)(2)]
Note: The Hearing Conservation Amendment (HCA), as set forth here, does not apply to oil and gas well drilling and
servicing operations [1910.95(o)].
Minimum requirements of a hearing conservation program are included in the following sections:
There are also specific hearing conservation program requirements for agricultural, maritime, and construction worksites (App IV:B). |
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Monitoring Program |
The employer must develop and implement a monitoring program whenever information indicates that any employee's
exposure may equal or exceed the action level. [1910.95(d)(1)]
- 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. [1910.95(d)(1)(i)]
- 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. [1910.95(d)(1)(ii)]
- Noise measurements must integrate all continuous, intermittent, and impulsive noise levels from 80 to 130 dBA. [1910.95(d)(2)(i)]
- Repeated Monitoring. Monitoring must be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment or
controls increases noise exposures to the extent that [1910.95(d)(3)]:
- Employee Notification. The employer must notify each employee who is exposed at or above the action level of
the results of the monitoring. [1910.95(e)]
- Observation of Monitoring. The employer must provide affected employees or their representatives with an
opportunity to observe noise monitoring procedures. [1910.95(f)]
Refer to the Exposure Evaluation section for additional
information on noise monitoring.
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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.
Basic Requirements
- Employers must make HPDs available to all employees exposed at or above the action level. These must be provided at no cost to employees
and must be replaced as necessary. [1910.95(i)(1)]
- Employers must ensure that HPDs are worn by employees:
HPD Selection and Use
- Employees must be given the opportunity to select their HPDs from a suitable variety. [1910.95(i)(3)]
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 HPDs provided to employees. [1910.95(i)(4)]
- The employer must ensure proper initial fitting of HPDs and supervise their correct use. [1910.95(i)(5)]
HPD Attenuation
- Attenuation refers to the damping or decrease of noise levels as a result of wearing HPDs.
- The employer must evaluate HPD attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the HPD will be used. [1910.95(j)(1)]
- HPDs must attenuate employee exposure to at least an eight hour time-weighted average of 90 dBA. [1910.95(j)(2)]
- 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). [1910.95(j)(3)]
- The adequacy of the HPDs must be re-evaluated 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. [1910.95(j)(4)]
- Methods for Estimating HPD Attenuation (App IV:C)
Hearing Protection Labeling
- Additional information (App IV:D) on the background of hearing
protection labeling, Task Force recommended changes, and other relevant publications are available.
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Employee Training and Education |
The employer must institute a training program for all employees with noise exposures at or above the action level and
ensure employee participation. [1910.95(k)(1)]
- Training must be repeated annually for each employee in the hearing conservation program. [1910.95(k)(2)]
- Information must be updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes. [1910.95(k)(2)]
The employer must ensure that each employee is informed of the following:
- The effects of noise on hearing. [1910.95(k)(3)(i)]
- The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care. [1910.95(k)(3)(ii)]
- The purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of test procedures. [1910.95(k)(3)(iii)]
Access to Information and Training Materials
- The employer must:
- Make copies of the noise standard available to affected employees or their representatives and post a copy in the workplace. [1910.95(l)(1)]
- Provide affected employees with any informational materials pertaining to the standard that are supplied to the employer by OSHA. [1910.95(l)(2)]
- Provide, upon request, all material relating to the employer's training and education program to OSHA. [1910.95(l)(3)]
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Recordkeeping |
The purpose of OSHA recordkeeping regulations is to assist employers in recognizing and correcting workplace hazards by
tracking work-related injuries/illnesses and their causes. Requirements according to the noise standard are:
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Exposure Measurements
- Employers must maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements. [1910.95(m)(1)]
- These records must be retained for two years. [1910.95(m)(3)(i)]
- Audiometric Test Records
- The employer must retain all employee audiometric test records. [1910.95(m)(2)(i)]
- These records must include:
- The employer must maintain accurate records of the background sound pressure level measurements in audiometric test rooms. [1910.95(m)(2)(ii)(F)]
- These records must be maintained for the duration of the affected
worker's employment. [1910.95(m)(3)(ii)]
- 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. [1910.95(m)(4)]
- Transfer of Records
- Employers who cease to do business must transfer to the successor employer all records required by the noise standard.
- The successor employer must retain these records for the remainder of the periods described previously. [1910.95(m)(5)]
With regard to recordkeeping requirements, OSHA has developed a "decision tree" (7 KB PDF)
to determine whether the results of an audiometric exam given on or after January 1, 2003 reveal a recordable STS. See
29 CFR 1904
for additional information on recording and reporting occupational injuries and illness. |
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