Environmental Health & Safety
Hearing Protection Program
Revised 4/30/2017
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Requirements of OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure Standard
The following sections describe the individual requirements of the Hearing Conservation Standard. The Federal Register (48 FR 9738, March 8, 1983) discusses these topics in greater depth.
The hearing conservation amendment requires employers to monitor noise exposure levels in a manner that will accurately identify employees who are exposed at or above 85 dBA (TWA8), or equivalently, a dose of 50% of the PEL. The monitoring requirement includes the following points:
- All exposure measurements shall include all noise within the 80 to 130 dBA range, and include both continuous and intermittent sources of noise;
- Some workers may experience varying sound level exposures due to high mobility, significant variations in sound levels, or significant impact noise, and area monitoring may be inappropriate. Personal sampling that is representative of the employee's exposure, produces equivalent results, and complies with the standard shall be used in these cases;
- Instruments used for monitoring employee exposure must be calibrated to ensure that measurements are accurate;
- Workers shall re-monitor exposure for sound levels whenever there is a change in continuous or intermittent noise levels due to a change in process/equipment or work assignment ;
- Employees exposed to sound levels at or above 85 dBA (TWA8) shall be notified of the results of the monitoring; and,
- Affected employees shall have the opportunity to observe the monitoring.
Please refer to 29 CFR 1910.95 (d), (e) and (f) for a more complete review of this section.
Audiometric testing not only monitors employee hearing acuity over time, but also provides an opportunity for employers to educate employees about their hearing and the need to protect it. The audiometric testing program includes:
- Baseline audiograms;
- Annual audiograms; and,
- Training and follow-up procedures.
Audiometric testing must be made available at no cost to all employees who exceed a 50% noise dose (the action level). A designated professional (audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician, etc.) must be responsible for the program and meet the professional and competence standards described in the Noise Control Standard. Professional responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the program and the work of the technicians;
- Reviewing problem audiograms; and,
- Determining whether referral is necessary.
Both professionals and trained technicians (as certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation) may conduct audiometric testing. In addition to administering audiometric tests, the supervising professional is also responsible for:
- Ensuring that the audiometer works properly;
- Conducting audiometric tests in an appropriate test environment;
- Reviewing audiograms for Standard Threshold Shifts (STS); and,
- Identifying problem audiograms requiring further evaluation by a professional.
The two essential components of the medical testing program are conducting audiometric tests and evaluating all audiogram test results.
Two types of audiograms are required:
- Baseline audiogram - an audiogram performed within 6 months of an employee's first exposure to occupational noise at or above the 85 dBA (TWA8). This audiogram serves as a reference against which future audiograms are compared. If the baseline audiogram will be obtained more than six months after the employee's first exposure at or above the action level, the employee shall wear hearing protectors until the baseline audiogram is obtained. In addition, whenever a baseline audiogram is to be obtained from an employee, the employee shall have limited noise exposure for at least 14 hours prior to testing. If necessary, hearing protectors may be used to limit the employee's exposure to noise prior to testing;
- Annual audiogram - once the baseline has been established, the employer must obtain a new audiogram within one year of the baseline, and then subsequent yearly audiograms if the employee is exposed above the Action Level.
The employee's annual audiogram shall be compared to his or her baseline audiogram to determine if the annual audiogram is valid and to determine if a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) has occurred. The standard defines an STS as an average audiogram shift of 10 dBA or more at 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000 Hz in either ear.
When an audiogram is abnormal, the audiologist:
- May re-test the employee within 30 days and consider the re-test the employee's annual audiogram;
- Shall review the audiogram to determine whether further evaluation is required;
- Shall provide all information necessary to perform the evaluation including the employee's baseline and most recent audiograms, and information pertaining to test room and equipment requirements as outlined in the noise standard and its appendices.
When an STS has been identified:
- The STS shall be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log;
- The employer shall inform the employee, in writing, of the test results within 21 days of the determination;
- If the STS is determined to be work-related, the employee shall be fitted and trained for hearing protectors if he/she is not currently using them or re-fitted and re-trained in the use of hearing protectors if he/she is currently using them;
- The employee shall be referred for further clinical or audiological testing or evaluation, as appropriate, shall be examined to determine if the hearing protectors are aggravating or promoting any medical conditions, and shall be informed of any medical condition of the ear that is unrelated to the use of hearing protectors;
- If subsequent testing of the employee, exposed at or below 90dBA (TWA8), shows that the STS is not persistent, the employer shall inform the employee of the new test and evaluation result and discontinue the use of hearing protection for that employee.
A recent or annual audiogram may be substituted for the baseline audiogram if the audiologist determines that:
- The STS identified in the audiogram is persistent;
- There has been an improvement in the employee's hearing over the baseline.
The replacement audiogram, known as the revised baseline, will help identify any subsequent shifts in hearing should they occur.
As defined by the standard, an STS is a shift in hearing of 10dB or more in either ear, at 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000 Hz. The standard recognizes the effects of natural aging upon hearing, and makes allowances for the application of age correction factors in evaluating an employee’s annual audiogram.
In order to obtain valid audiograms, audiometric equipment and facilities must be used, calibrated and maintained according to specifications described in the noise control standard.
Please refer to 29 CFR 1910.95 (g) and (h), and that standard's appendices C, D, E and F, for a complete discussion of the audiogram and testing requirements.
Hearing Protectors and Protector Attenuation
Hearing protectors are made available to all workers exposed at or above the Action Level for noise, 85 dBA (TWA8) at no cost to the employees. The employer shall ensure that hearing protectors are worn by employees whenever:
- Feasible engineering/administrative controls fail to reduce noise levels to 90 dBA (TWA8) or less;
- An employee is exposed to 85 dBA (TWA8) and has not yet had a baseline audiogram or has experienced an STS.
Employees will have the opportunity to select hearing protectors with the help of a professional trained in the selection and fitting of these devices. The protectors should be comfortable to wear and provide sufficient attenuation of noise to specified levels. The employer shall also provide:
- Training in the use and care of the protectors;
- Appropriate fitting and supervision to ensure correct use of these devices at the work-site.
Hearing protectors shall provide adequate noise attenuation for each employee. Hearing protector attenuation shall be evaluated for each specific work environment (Appendix B of the noise standard) by the employer.
The protectors must:
- Reduce noise exposure to 90 dBA (TWA8) or less;
- Reduce noise exposure to 85 dBA (TWA8) or less for workers who have not yet received a baseline audiogram or who have experienced an STS.
The adequacy of hearing protectors shall be re-evaluated by the employer whenever:
- There is a change in the employee's work conditions or noise exposure levels, such that the current protectors may not provide adequate attenuation;
- An STS has occurred in a worker, requiring exposure levels to be reduced through the use of PPE to 85 dBA (TWA8) or less.
Where necessary, the employer shall provide more effective hearing protectors. 29 CFR1910.95 (i) and (j) and corresponding appendices provide a complete discussion on hearing protectors and attenuation of noise.
The University of Rochester is responsible for providing training to employees exposed to noise at or above 85 dBA (TWA8). The training shall be repeated annually for each employee, as part of the annual health update process, and will contain information that is up to date, including any changes regarding the work environment or process, as well as changes in personal protective equipment (such as hearing protectors).
The training program shall include the following components:
- Effects of noise on hearing;
- Purpose, advantages and disadvantages of properly fitting hearing protectors for attenuating noise levels;
- Selection of hearing protectors;
- Fitting and use of hearing protectors;
- Care of hearing protectors; and,
- Purpose and procedures for audiometric testing.
The employee and/or his/her supervisor shall have access to information and materials, upon request, regarding this program including:
- Copies of the noise control standard;
- Access to training and hearing conservation materials for this program;
- Training or educational materials from this program pertaining to the noise control standard.
The employer will provide training and educational materials that best suit each situation as it pertains to noise exposure, control and hearing conservation. The training requirements are such that they will promote employee awareness and participation, and allow for routine assessment of the level of compliance of the program by the employer.
Please refer to 29 CFR 1910.95 (k) and (l) for the complete description on this section.
Record Keeping and Access to Records
The employer is responsible for maintaining records as specified in the hearing conservation amendment (29 CFR 1910.95 (m)). Recording keeping requirements of the noise control standard include:
- Maintaining noise exposure measurement records for a period of 2 years;
- Retaining hearing test records that include:
- The name and job classification of the employee;
- Dates of all audiometric tests;
- Examiner's name;
- Date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of test equipment, measurements of the background sound levels in audiogram test rooms; and,
- The employee's most recent noise exposure measurement
- Audiometric test records must be maintained for the duration of the affected individual's employment.
The records required by this section must also be made available upon request to affected employees and other specified individuals as described under this section and 29 CFR 1910.20 (a)-(e) and (g)-(i). For a complete discussion on record keeping, please refer to these sections of the Standard.
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