1. Hearing Conservation

2. Agenda
 Objectives and Responsibilities
 The Effects of Noise
 Factors Affecting Hearing Loss
 Hearing Conservation Program
 Noise Hazard Assessments
 Noise Exposure and Monitoring Results
 Audiometric Testing
 Noise Control Measures
 Hearing Protection Devices
 Recordkeeping and Employee Training

3. Objective
 The
objective of the program is to identify
and control noise hazards and protect all
employees who have a potential to develop
noise induced hearing loss.
 This program involves all University
employees exposed to noise hazards or
who have a potential to develop noise
induced hearing loss.

4. Responsibilities
 Occupational
Safety and Health Specialist
 Contracted Audiologist/Physician
 Office of Design and Construction
 Management ( Department Chairpersons
and Directors)
 Supervisors
 Employees

5. Responsibilities
 Occupational
Safety and Health Specialist
– identifying employees whose position
contains potential noise hazards through
the BGSU PPE Program;
– conducting noise surveys and dosimetry;
– coordinating the Hearing Conservation
Program;

6. Responsibilities
 Occupational
Safety and Health Specialist
Cont…
– consulting with departments to determine
whether administrative and/or engineering
controls are feasible and how they will be
implemented;
– making recommendations on any and all
matters relating to operation and
administration of the Hearing Conservation
Program and;
– providing appropriate hearing conservation
training.

7. Responsibilities
 Contracted Audiologist/Physician
– performing audiogram evaluations and
identifying any anatomical factors that
might interfere with the use of the
protector or medical condition that might
be aggravated;
– maintaining audiometric test records and;
– managing the Audiometric Testing
Program.

8. Responsibilities
 Office
of Design and Construction
– directing and coordinating projects which are
directly related to reducing noise.

9. Responsibilities
 Management
( Department Chairpersons
and Directors)
– supplying hearing protection devices at no
cost to employees and;
– providing employees with adequate
training.

10. Responsibilities
 Supervisors
– ensuring that all employees under their
supervision have their work area assessed for
noise hazards, using the University’s Personal
Protective Equipment Program’s Hazard
Assessment and notifying Environmental Health
and Safety of changes in process, materials or
equipment which may alter noise exposure;
– ensuring that noise hazard equipment/areas
(greater than or equal to 85 dBA operating noise
level) are properly labeled or posted;

11. Responsibilities
 Supervisors
Cont…
– ensuring that all employees who are included in
this Hearing Conservation Program undergo
initial audiometric testing, at the designated
provider, within the first two weeks of identifying
them at risk of occupational noise-induced
hearing loss and annually thereafter;
– enforcing the use of hearing protection at work at
least 14 hours prior to initial and annual
audiograms and informing employees of the
need to avoid high levels of non-occupational
exposure during the 14 hours prior to the
audiogram examination;

12. Responsibilities
 Supervisors
Cont…
– ensuring that any noise exposed employees who
have terminated employment with the University
undergo audiometric testing at the University
designated provider prior to leaving the
University;
– issuing hearing protection devices, and providing
employees with the manufacturer’s instructions
for use, care, limitations, and warnings;

13. Responsibilities
 Supervisors
Cont…
– ensuring that new employee orientation/training and
annual refresher training of employees are provided.
Supervisors must arrange this training with
Environmental Health and Safety.
– enforcing the Hearing Conservation Program by
ensuring that all subordinates comply with all facets
of the BGSU Hearing Conservation Program,
including proper use and care for hearing protection
devices and;
– providing a copy of the Hearing Conservation
Program upon their request

14. Responsibilities
 Employees
– participating in the audiometric testing program
and following the instructions regarding noise
exposure prior to testing;
– attending the hearing conservation training
offered by Environmental Health and Safety,
initially and annually thereafter and;
– properly using and caring for hearing protective
devices where these devices are required and
following the hearing conservation program
requirements.

15. The Effects of Noise
 Psychological
– can startle, annoy, and
disrupt concentration, sleep, or relaxation.
 Interference with communication, resulting
in interference with job performance and
safety.
 Physiological – noise induced hearing loss,
aural pain, or even nausea.

16. The Effects of Noise
(Tab 1)
 Types of Hearing Loss
– Conductive: A hearing problem involving the
outer or middle ear.
– Sensorineural: A hearing problem involving
the inner ear.
– Tinnitus: Often occurs in conjunction with
hearing loss.

17. Factors Affecting Hearing Loss
 Noise
Intensity or Sound Pressure
 Frequency or Pitch
 Length of Daily Exposure
 Duration of Exposure in Years
 Individual Susceptibility
 Other Factors (disease, genetics, lifestyle,
age, etc.)

18. The Hearing Conservation
Program
 When
employee noise exposures equal or
exceed a time weighted average sound
level of 85 dBA, a hearing conservation
program must be implemented.
 No exposure to continuous, intermittent, or
impact noise of a peak C-weighted level of
140 dB shall occur.
 No exposure shall exceed a time weighted
average of 115 dBA for continuous noise.

19. The Hearing Conservation
Program
(Tab 2)
 Introduction
 Noise
Hazard Assessment
 Employee Inclusion
 Noise Control Measures
 Employee Education and Training
 References

20. Noise Hazard Assessment
 Noise
exposed workers and/or noise
hazards will be identified in the PPE
Program through the hazard assessment.
 Noise monitoring will be completed when
a potential noise hazard is identified on the
PPE Hazard Assessment.
 If you feel the need to shout to be heard 3
feet away, the noise level is approaching
85 dBA.

21. Noise Exposures
Source
dBA
Source
dBA
Whisper
20
Walkman
Refrigerator
40
Woodworking
93-120
Conversation
60
Gun Shot
130-140
Average TV
74
Blender
80
90
Riding Motorcycle
90
Snow Mobile
120
Rock Concert
140

22. Noise Monitoring Results
(Tab 3)

23. Audiometric Testing
 All
University employees included in the
Hearing Conservation Program must undergo
initial and annual audiometric testing.
 These tests are used to gauge hearing loss in
affected employees and will be provided at no
cost to the employees.
 The initial test is used as a baseline and the
annual test is used to determine if hearing loss
has occurred.
 Results of the exam are discussed on page 9 of
the written program.

24. Audiometric Testing
 Purpose
– Audiometric exams serve as
a
monitoring function to determine if an
STS has occurred;
an educational and motivational tool and;
a tool for assessing overall program
effectiveness.

25. Audiometric Testing
 Test
Procedures
– The audiometric testing procedure tests the
employees hearing threshold at a range of
different frequencies.
– The hearing threshold is the lowest level at
which the employee is able to detect the test
tone at each frequency and is determined by
employee response.
– Tests are performed in both ears.

26. Noise Control Measures
 Identify
noise hazardous equipment.
 Modify the noise source so it is quieter.
 Increase distance between the employee
and the noise hazard.
 Limit exposure time.
 Use hearing protection devices when the
above measures are not feasible and/or do
not decrease noise levels below a TWA-8
of 85 dBA.

27. Hearing Protection Devices
 Purpose
of Hearing Protectors
 Advantages and Disadvantages
 Attenuation of Various Types
 Selection Instructions
 Fitting
 Use
 Care

28. Hearing Protection Devices
 Purpose
of Hearing Protectors
– Hearing protection devices include ear plugs
(pre-molded, foam rubber, custom molded),
ear muffs and canal caps.
– The purpose of hearing protection devices is
to reduce the harmful auditory and/or
annoying effects of sound.

29. Hearing Protection Devices
(Tab 4)
 Advantages and Disadvantages
– Simplified overview of comparative features
of earplugs and earmuffs
Reference
Berger, E.H., L.H. Royster, J.D. Royster, D.P. and Driscoll, M.
Layne. The Noise Manual. AIHA Press. May 2000.

30. Hearing Protection Devices
 Attenuation
– The process of reducing noise to acceptable
levels.
 Attenuation
of Various Types
– Attenuation is different for different types and
styles of hearing protection devices.

31. Earplugs
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html.
National Institute for Occupational Safety.

32. Earmuffs
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html.
National Institute for Occupational Safety.

33. Hearing Protection Devices
(HPD)
 Noise
Reduction Rating (NRR)
– HPD’s have an NRR that is used to determine
how effectively HPD’s reduce employee
exposure by subtracting the NRR from the
employees exposure.
– However, the NRR does not accurately reflect
attenuation and a safety factor of 7 must be
used.

34. Hearing Protection Devices
 Noise
Reduction Rating (NRR)
Estimated A-weighted TWA under Hearing Protection
Employee TWA (dBA) – (NRR - 7dB)
 A combination
of ear muffs and earplugs
or other HPD provides greater protection
than either device alone.

35. Hearing Protection Devices
 Selection
Instructions
– Employees shall be given the opportunity to select
their hearing protection from a variety of suitable
types.
– As with any personal protective equipment (PPE)
careful consideration must be given to comfort and fit.
– Employees are more likely to wear PPE that fits
correctly.
– Contact Environmental Health and Safety before
ordering HPD’s.

36. Hearing Protection Devices
(Tab 5)
Fitting
– Reseat HPD’s throughout the work shift
if they become loose or break their seal.
– Replacement HPD’s must be obtained
from the supervisor when damaged or
deteriorated.

37. Hearing Protection Devices
(Tab 5)
 Fitting
– If devices are uncomfortable or problematic,
see your supervisor for replacement or
alternative devices. It may also be necessary
to see the contracted physician for re-fitting.
– Never alter or modify HPD’s.
Reference
Berger, E.H., L.H. Royster, J.D. Royster, D.P. and Driscoll, M. Layne.
The Noise Manual. AIHA Press. May 2000.

38. Hearing Protection Devices
 Use
and Care
– Proper fit, use and maintenance instruction are
included in the manufacturers
recommendations.

39. Recordkeeping
 A copy
of the Hearing Conservation
Program and standard is available to all
employees through Environmental Health
and Safety or through your supervisor.
 The contracted audiologist/physician will
maintain records of all audiometric tests.

40. Employee Training
 Training
is required annually for all BGSU
employees included in the Hearing
Conservation Program.

41. Summary
 Objectives and Responsibilities
 The Effects of Noise
 Factors Affecting Hearing Loss
 Hearing Conservation Program
 Noise Hazard Assessments
 Noise Exposure and Monitoring Results
 Audiometric Testing
 Noise Control Measures
 Hearing Protection Devices
 Recordkeeping and Employee Training

42. Where to Get More Information
 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.htm
. National Institute for Occupational
Safety.
 http://www.osha.gov/.Occupational Safety
and Health Administration.
 http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/envhs/page18435.ht
Bowling Green State University.
Personal Protective Equipment.