Hearing Conservation

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Course Objectives

• Occupational Noise Exposure
• What is it?
• Monitoring Requirements
• Noise Levels
• Dosimeter Types
• Ear Anatomy
• Noise Makers
• Potential High Hazard Areas

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Course Objectives

• Audiometric Testing
• Types of Audiograms
• Audio Evaluations
• Hearing Protectors
• Requirements Types
• Training
• Recordkeeping

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Occupational Noise Exposure

• Noise, or unwanted sound, is one of the most
  pervasive occupational health problems.
• By-product of many industrial processes.
• Sound consists of pressure changes in a medium
  (usually air) caused by vibration or turbulence.
• Pressure changes produce waves emanating away
  from the turbulent or vibrating source.

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Occupational Noise Exposure

• High level exposure causes hearing loss and may
  cause other harmful health effects.
• Extent of damage depends on intensity of noise
  and duration of exposure.
• Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent.

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Monitoring

• Required program to monitor employees if exposure
  is at or above 85 decibels (dB) averaged over 8
  working hours or an 8-hour time weighted average
  (TWA).
• Repeat monitoring is required when changes in
  production, process or controls increase the
  noise exposure.

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Monitoring

• Employees are entitled to observe monitoring
  procedures.
• Employees must be notified of the results of
  monitoring.
• Monitoring methods are left to the discretion of
  the employer.

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Monitoring

• Instruments must be carefully checked or
  calibrated.
• Employers have the duty to ensure measuring
  instruments are properly calibrated.

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Dosimeter Types
Analog Sound Level
Noise Dosimeter
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Dosimeter Types
Digital Sound Level Meter
Digital Sound Level Meter
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Dosimeter types
Integrating Sound Level Meter
Sound Level DataLogger
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Ear Anatomy
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Potential High Hazard Areas

• Print Shops
• Boiler Rooms
• Motor Pools
• Laundry Areas
• Kitchen areas
• Exposure To High Speed Hand Tools
• Aircrafts
• Maintenance Shops

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Audiometric Testing

• The employer shall establish and maintain an
  Audiometric testing program.
• Elements include
• Baseline audiograms
• Annual audiograms
• Training
• Follow-up procedures

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Audiometric Testing

• Testing is at no cost to all employees who are
  exposed to an action level of 85 dB or above,
  measured as an 8-hour TWA.
• Follow-up testing should indicate whether the
  employers hearing conservation program is
  preventing hearing loss.
• A licensed or certified audiologist, an
  otolaryngologist or a physician must be
  responsible for the program.

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Audiometric Testing

• Professionals and trained technicians may conduct
  audiometric testing.
• The professional in charge does not have to be
  present when technicians conduct the test.
• Employee referrals
• Test results are questionable.
• Problems of a medical nature are suspected.

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Types of Audiograms

• Baseline
• Reference audiogram against which future
  audiograms are compared.
• Provided within six months of employees first
  exposure.
• There are exceptions to the six month time
  frame...

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Types of Audiograms

• Annual Testing
• Within one year of the baseline and annual to
  identify possible deterioration of hearing
  ability.
• To initiate protective follow-up measures if
  hearing loss is progressing.
• To determine if a Standard Threshold Shift (STS)
  has occurred .
• Tests must be conducted in rooms meeting ANSI
  specifications of SC-1969

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Audiogram Evaluation

• If an STS is identified, employees must be fitted
  or refitted with adequate hearing protectors.
• Employees must be notified within 21 days from
  the time the determination is made.
• Some employees may need to be referred for
  further testing.
• If they have an ear problem of a medical nature.
• If problem is thought to be caused or aggravated
  by wearing hearing protectors

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Audiogram Evaluation

• If STS identified on previous audiogram is not
  persistent, employees whose exposure to noise is
  lt a TWA of 90dB may discontinue wearing hearing
  protectors.
• An annual audiogram may be substituted for the
  original baseline audiogram, if...

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Hearing Protectors

• Must be available to employees exposed to 8-hour
  TWA or 85dB or above.
• Hearing protectors must be worn by
• Employees exceeding 6 months from the first time
  they are exposed.
• Employees who have incurred standard threshold
  shifts, and
• A PEL of 90 dB over an 8-hour TWA.

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Hearing Protectors

• Employees should decide which size and type
  protector is most suitable for their working
  environment.
• Hearing protectors must adequately reduce the
  severity of the noise level for each employees
  work environment.

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Hearing Protectors

• If workplace noise levels increase, employees
  must be given more effective protectors.
• The protector must reduce the employee exposure
  to at least 90 dB and to 85 dB when an STS
  already has occurred.

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Types of Hearing Protection

• Most Common Types
• Ear Muff
• Canal Cap
• Ear Plug

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Ear Muff

• Excellent attenuation at low and high
  frequencies.
• Comfortable for continuous use.
• Designed for maximum attenuation in severe noise
  environment
• Simple height adjustment without projecting parts
• NRR around 27 dB

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Canal Cap

• The SWIVEL insures alignment to your ear canal
  for maximum comfort.
• Blocks noise at outer ear passage.
• No plugs or foreign objects in ear canal
• Weighs only 1-1/2 oz
• NRR18 dB - overhead, NRR17 dB - behind head or
  under chin

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Ear Plug

• Very lightweight and soft
• Very inexpensive
• Form fitting in the ear canal
• One size fits most ear canal sizes
• Disposable - one time use
• NRR of 21dB

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Ultra-Fit Ear Plug

• Many of the same attributes as the disposable,
  except
• Made from a polymer material instead of foam
• Much more expensive
• Durable and long lasting
• NRR 21dB

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Training

• Employees exposed to TWAs of 85 dB and above must
  be trained at least annually in
• The effects of noise.
• The purpose, advantages and disadvantages of
  various types of hearing protectors.
• The selection, fit and care of protectors, and,
• The purpose and procedures of audiometric testing.

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Recordkeeping

• Noise exposure measurements must be kept for 2
  years.
• Record of audiometric test results must be
  maintained for the duration of employment.
• Audiometric test records must include
• Name and job of employee.
• The date.
• The examiners name.

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Recordkeeping

• The date of the last acoustic or exhaustive
  calibration.
• Measurements of the background sound pressure
  levels in audiometric test rooms.
• The employees most recent noise exposure
  measurement.

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