UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Introduction

The purpose of this program is to improve the level of protection to employees and staff who use hearing protection to protect them from noise exposure. Hearing protection will be used in situations where the employee is exposed to a TWA of 85 decibels for an 8-hour work day, and in some cases where an employee chooses to use hearing protection even when it is not required. Additionally, this written program will assure that the University is in compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health rules CFR 29 1910.95 for employees’ hearing protection.

Scope

This University of Oregon policy is established for all faculty and staff with the risk of occupational exposure to noise. This written document is available to any employee upon request.

Responsibilities

Supervisor- the supervisor is responsible for implementing the program requirements described in the University of Oregon policy and this written program. It is each supervisor’s responsibility to determine whether operations under their control require noise surveys. Additionally, they will assist the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) with the identification of employees that must be enrolled in the program. Supervisors will arrange for training by EHS to ensure that their employees are trained, as outlined in this program, and receive appropriate medical evaluation. The supervisor will notify each employee, exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, of the results of the monitoring.

Employee- the employee is responsible to use the information they learn from the training they receive. Employees are also responsible for the daily inspection of their equipment, notifying the appropriate personnel when they need new hearing protection, and notifying their supervisor or EHS if they experience difficulty in fitting or using the hearing protection. Additionally, employees are responsible for the appropriate storage, disposal, and cleaning of their hearing protection that is consistent with the training they received.

Environmental Health and Safety- the Office of Environmental Health and Safety will conduct noise level measurements and surveys at the request of the department, supervisor, or employee. EHS will conduct training regarding this program. EHS maintains the current written program for the hearing conservation program. They consult with supervisors and employees regarding exposures, and appropriate hearing protection. Additionally, EHS will maintain records of the employees’ audiometric exams and survey results.

University Communication Disorders and Sciences Program (CDS)- the CDS will be responsible for performing the audiometric exam, and contacting EHS if the employee has a threshold shift. They keep records of their audiometric equipment testing, and calibrations. Additionally, CDS will send a copy of the results from the audiometric exam to the EHS office and the University of Oregon Health Center.

University Health Center (UHC)- UHC will be responsible for reviewing the medical history of the employee in the hearing conservation program. They will maintain the official medical records for employees in the occupational health program while providing EHS with information necessary to maintain regulatory required occupational health information.

Definitions

“Attenuation” means to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of.

“Audiogram” is a chart, graph, or table resulting from an audiometric test showing an individual’s hearing threshold levels as a function of frequency.

“Baseline audiogram” is the audiogram against which future audiograms are compared.

“Decibels (dB)” are a unit of measurement of sound levels.

“Hertz (Hz)” is a unit of measurement of frequency, numerically equal to cycles per second.

“Noise dosimeter” is an instrument that integrates a function of sound pressure over a period of time in such a manner that it directly indicates a noise dose.

“Permissible noise exposure” is the allowable amount of noise that a person can be exposed to in an 8 hour work day, the U.S law currently allows exposure to 90 dB for 8 hours.

“Sound level meter” is an instrument for the measurement of sound level.

“Threshold Shift” means a temporary, chronic, or permanent change or shift in a person’s hearing of at least 10 dBs.

“TWA” is the time-weighted average concentration for a conventional 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek. This is the concentration to which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse health effects.

Audiometric Testing

Audiometric exams are to be conducted by CDS and the records of those test results will be maintained by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety for the length of employment plus five (5) years. A baseline audiometric exam must be conducted within 180 days of employee hire. The supervisor’s awareness of noise problems in their area is necessary to assure compliance with this aspect of the code. It is the responsibility of the department and/or supervisors to notify EHS of a new hire that needs audiometric testing; EHS will schedule the testing. Employees must avoid noise exposure for fourteen (14) hours prior to the exam.

Employee Training

Training will cover the fitting and wearing of hearing protectors, the purpose of the audiometric tests, and the effect of noise on hearing. Training material meeting the most current requirements is provided as part of this program however, it is the department and supervisors’ responsibility to see that all employees involved receive this material. Specific codes on hearing protection can be reviewed in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety or provided to departments at their request.

Record Keeping

Records of this medical program will be maintained for 30 years. Those records will be maintained by the University Health Center. Environmental Health and Safety will retain records of the audiograms of each employee in the hearing conservation program for the length of that person’s employment plus 5 years. Additionally, EHS will retain a copy of the hearing conservation program.

Program Evaluation

Annually, this program will be reviewed and updated as necessary. Additionally, random employees working under this program will be consulted on the effectiveness of the program and asked of any problems they may be having with noise attenuation, their hearing protection, or problems with the program. Identified problems will be corrected.

Authorization:
Original Plan Preparation Date:     February 15, 2005
Last Revision Number:                2
Last Revision Date:                      May 18, 2007
Computer File Name:                  G\ENVRHLTH\Hearing Conservation Program
Authorization:                        Kay Coots, EHS Director