BWA OSHA Resourses 2010

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OSHA resourses and general information on Hearing conservation

This resourse is intended as a guide and should not be used to replace the OSHA regulations

§5097. Hearing Conservation Program.

(a) General.
The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A-scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.

Audiometric Testing Program .

(1) The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this section by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed the action level.

(2) The program shall be provided at no cost to employees.

(3) Audiometric tests shall be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician, or by a technician who is certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, or who has satisfactorily demonstrated competence in administering audiometric examinations, obtaining valid audiograms, and properly using, maintaining and checking calibration and proper functioning of the audiometers being used. A technician who performs audiometric tests must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.
(4) All audiograms obtained pursuant to this section shall meet the requirements of Appendix B: Audiometric Measuring Instruments.
(5) The employer shall establish for each employee exposed at or above the action level a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared.
(6) Testing to establish a baseline audiogram shall be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. This requirement may be met by wearing hearing protectors which will reduce the employee's exposure to a sound level of 80 dBA or below.
(7) The employer shall notify employees of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the 14-hour period immediately preceding the audiometric examination.

BWA
The employer must provide the annual hearing tests to all employees who are over exposed to noise and are in the Hearing Conservation Program. BWA recommends that technicians who perform the hearing test be CAOHC certified. The CAOHC course gives the technician excellent training and information pertinant to the OSHA regulations.
A baseline test ( First test performed on that employee ) should be performed and annual tests performed and compared to the base line test.

BWA:
The audiometer used must be able to test 500. 1000, 2000, 3000,4000,6000 hz ( 8000hz optional). and meet the requirements of ANSI S3.6-1969. NOTE: Most manual and automatic audiometers on the market today meet the ANSI 1996 requirements which excced the OSHA requirements.

Annual calibration of the audiometer must be performed every year and an exhaustive calibration every two years. (Realistically most companies who provide calibration services perform exhaustive calibrations every year).

Daily calibration CHECKS must be performed everyday prior to testing. A listeninhg check of the tones etc. should be performed aswell. Using a person who you have a baseline audiogram to compare to should be used. Any changes of 10dB or more require that you have the audiometer checked and recalibrated or repaired as nessesary before testing.
NOTE: There a couple of Bio acoustic simulators on the market ( Quest Bio-Betty and the Tremetrics OSCAR). These are very reliable and give you a quick and consistant daily calibration check.

Evaluation of Audiogram.

(1) Each employee's annual audiogram shall be compared to that employee's baseline audiogram to determine if the audiogram is valid and if a standard threshold shift, as defined in Section 5097(d)(8), has occurred. This comparison may be done by a technician.
(2) If the annual audiogram shows that an employee has suffered a standard threshold shift, the employer may obtain a retest within 30 days and consider the results of the retest as the annual audiogram.
(3) An audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician shall review problem audiograms and shall determine whether there is a need for further evaluation. The employer shall provide to the person performing this evaluation the following information:

(A) A copy of the requirements for hearing conservation as set forth in Sections 5097, 5098, 5099 and 5100.
(B) The baseline audiogram and most recent audiogram of the employee to be evaluated.
(C) Measurements of background sound pressure levels in the audiometric test room as required in Appendix C, Audiometric Test Rooms.
(D) Records of audiometric calibrations required by paragraph (f) of this section.

(4) If a comparison of the annual audiogram to the baseline audiogram indicates a standard threshold shift as defined by Section 5097(d)(8), the employee shall be informed of this fact, in writing, within 21 days of the determination.

BWA
Personel noise exposure ( Dosimetry) should be performed on employees exposed to high noise areas. This will detremine who should be in the Hearing conservation program.
NOTE: Performing hearing annual tests and offering hearing protection to employees without knowing what noise levels they are exposed to, defeats the whole object of the Hearing Conservation Program.Make sure these exposure measurements are performed. They should be redone when any changes are made in the work area. ( new equipment changes etc.)

NOTE: This is just a partial resourse to a compliant hearing conservation program. Local OSHA offices have many resourses and information available free of charge.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at BWA and we will gladly answer any questions or concerns you have.

(Form 300).

OSHA 300 log chart

Performing a compliant Hearing test

NOTE: This is just a partial resourse to a compliant hearing test. Local OSHA offices have many resourses and information available free of charge. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at BWA and we will gladly answer any questions or concerns you have.

This resourse is intended as a guide and should not be used to replace the OSHA regulations

Step 1:
Prior to performing any test, a daily calibration check MUST be peformed. Either using a person with a known threshold or a bio acoustic simulator. The daily test should be compaired to a baseline to make sure there are no changes of 10 dB or more on ANY frequency. A listeing check for click or pops in the headphones should be made as well. This daily calibration check must be entered into a log.

7 steps to a compliant hearing test

Step 2:
The test subject should fill out a questionaire prior to the test being performed

Step 3:
A visual inspectiion of both ears should be done to check for problems or blockages in the ear which may effect the test results.

Step 4:
A basic explination of the test to the patient, and instructions on what is required to complete the test. Make sure the subject places the headphones on correctly. (Red is right left is Blue).

Step 5:
Begin the test. If you are using a automatic audiometer, be sure to watch the responses for the first 2 frequencies to make sure the test is going correctly. (most new automatic audiometers will start at 1000hz , then 500hz then return to 1000hz and confirm the initial 1000hz threshold was correct.)

Step 6:
Once the subject has completetd the test, check the results to look for obvious descrepencies. Save and print the test( if using a automatic) and then briefly discuss the results with the subject. Make sure they ( and you) sign the completed audiogram. The audiogram should have the following information on it.
          i) Subject name and ID
          ii) Company informaton. ( job description etc.)
          iii) Current audiogram
         iv) Audiometer make and serial number
         v) Calibration date of audiometer
         vii)Booth noise levels and certification date

7) The current audiogram must be compared to the baseline audiogram for STS calculations ( see requirements and proceedures )

Personal and Area Noise dosimetry