OSHA has regulations in place to prevent workers from losing their hearing as a result of hazardous workplace noise.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that approximately 30 million people are exposed to hazardous noise in the workplace each year. This can lead to either temporary or permanent hearing loss among workers. To combat this, OSHA developed a hearing-conservation program to protect workers exposed to hazardous noise throughout their careers.
Monitoring
If workplace noise exceeds 85 decibels (dB) over an eight-hour period, then an employer is required by OSHA to monitor noise-exposure levels. There are three categories of noise that must be included--continuous, intermittent and impulsive noise that occurs within an 80 dB to 130 dB range. Employers are allowed to choose the monitoring method, but they also must supervise its implementation and be notified of the results. Employers must change the monitoring method whenever something is changed in the workplace that will alter or increase noise exposure. Employers are also required to maintain the instruments used for monitoring noise exposure to ensure they are receiving accurate readings.
Audiometric Testing
According to OSHA's hearing-conservation informational booklet, "Audiometric testing monitors an employee's hearing over time." Employers are required to establish and maintain audiometric-testing programs, which are provided free-of-charge to employees exposed to 85 dB of noise over eight-hour periods in the workplace. The audiometric-testing program should include the following aspects: baseline audiograms, annual audiograms, training and follow-up procedures.
Baseline and Annual Audiograms
OSHA defines a baseline audiogram as "...the reference audiogram against which future audiograms are compared." Employers must provide baseline audiograms to an employee within six months of that employee being exposed to over 85 dB of hazardous noise. In some cases, employees may wait one year to receive their baseline audiogram, but employers must provide them with hearing protectors after six months of exposure to the noise until the test is conducted. Employers must provide annual audiograms within one year of the baseline audiogram to track potential deterioration in hearing quality or a standard threshold shift (STS) of 10 dB or more at 2,000 to 4,000 hertz in either ear.
Audiogram Follow-Up
Following an audiogram, the employer must fit employees with hearing protectors and educate employees on use them if the results have shown an STS. Employees must be notified by their employers within 21 days of their audiogram showing an STS.
Hearing Protectors
OSHA requires employers to provide employees who are exposed to 85 dB of hazardous noise over an eight-hour work period with customized hearing protectors. Employees are required to wear these hearing protectors after consulting a person trained in the devices on which one is best suited for their needs. Employers must provide employees with a selection of hearing plugs and hearing muffs that have been tested as effective in reducing noise levels. When workplace conditions alter or increase the level of noise, employers must provide new hearing protectors that are customized to fit the changing hazardous-noise levels.
Employee Training
Employers must educate employees in hearing conservation, so they understand why the audiograms and hearing protectors are required of them. The employer may determine the style of training as long as these OSHA-required topics are covered.
Exposure and Testing Records
Employers are required to keep up to two years' worth of noise-exposure measurement records. However, they must keep the audiometric-testing records for each employee for the length of that employee's employment. Employers must also keep a record of work-related hearing-loss cases.
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