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<CompanyName>

Hearing Conservation Program

Version <Version>

Updated: <Date>

Contents

1.	Program Purpose	3

2.	Responsibilities	4

3.	Definitions	4

4.	Monitoring Provisions	5

5.	Audiometric Test Program	5

6.	Employee Training	6

7.	Noise Attenuation	6

8.	Hearing Protection & Attenuation	7

9.	Recordkeeping Provisions	8

Appendix I - Diagram of High Noise Areas	9

Appendix II - List of High Noise Positions and Acceptable Hearing Protection	10

Employee Acknowledgement	11

Program Purpose

<CompanyName>’s Hearing Conservation Program is designed to reduce the exposure to occupational hearing impairment in our high noise areas. Controlling the noise exposure will also provide improved workplace safety, reduced absenteeism, reduced medical costs, and, therefore, reduced workers' compensation payments.

The scope of this program includes high noise areas for:

Identifying occupational noise exposures within the plant and facilities (monitoring).

Identifying high noise jobs and positions within the plant and facilities (monitoring).

Notification of employees exposed to 80dB(A)* on a time-weighted eight-hour average.

Federal and California OSHA use an 80 dBA threshold to determine compliance with the hearing conservation provisions. The 90 dBA threshold is to determine compliance with the permissible exposure level (PEL). 85 dBA is the action level. ANSI recommends 5dBA below the action level to help reduce noise-induced hearing loss, hence 80 dBA being used for the hearing conservation program. Click here for more information.

Employee training on the effects of noise on hearing; the purpose of hearing protectors, including use, care, and fit; and the purpose of audiometric testing.

Audiometric baseline and annual testing of employees exposed to occupational noise in excess of 80dB(A)* TWA.

The initial noise assessment should include each machine in question with readings from at least two operator locations and "minimum, maximum, and average" readings for each machine assessed.

To assess the cumulative effect of the machines in a given work area, all machines should be run at the same time with readings taken from one operator location at each machine to identify the impact at maximum peak running time.

Noise attenuation provisions through engineering controls, administrative controls, and hearing protection.

As an additional consideration, it would be advantageous to find a testing company that provides mobile testing. This could result in both less cost and more convenience by having the testing done at the employer's location.

Responsibilities

Program Administrator shall collaborate with the hearing conservation vendor to help monitor program key elements that include:

Annual audiogram results to check on and manage any threshold shifts (retest and evaluate).

Audit results indicating hearing protection use compliance.

Periodic workplace monitoring or spot check results.

Engineering control evaluations, on-going improvements, or areas of concern.

Employees shall wear hearing protection where required, participate in audits or survey activity, and follow area-specific safety SOP.

Management shall allocate resources and support leadership in program implementation.

Definitions

Action level - 85 dB measured as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). When exposures are equal to or exceed the action level, a hearing conservation program is required.

Attenuation - Reduction of noise level.

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

Baseline audiogram – The audiogram against which future audiograms are compared.

Decibel – (dB) Unit of measure for sound levels, based on a logarithmic scale.

Dose – A percentage of the maximum allowable noise that a worker can be exposed to per day. This is a computation that is based on the following variables: criterion sound level, lower threshold, and exchange rate. Dose is expressed as a percentage.

Dosimeter – An instrument worn or used by an individual to measure the accumulation of their noise exposure over a work period. Dosimeters monitor all noise sources and are used when time and mobility are issues. Dosimeters generally sample 16 times per second.

Noise reduction rating (NRR) – Measure of the estimated attenuation capacity of a hearing protector.

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) – An eight-hour time-weighted average of 90 dBA.

Time-weighted average (TWA) – The average of the sampled sound, generally over an eight-hour period. If the time period is more than eight hours, the time-weighted average will always be less than the average sound level (Lavg). If the time period is less than eight hours, the time-weighted average will always be more than the average sound level (Lavg). At eight hours, TWA and Lavg are exactly equal.

Monitoring Provisions

A formal noise-monitoring program has been implemented for this facility. This monitoring is intended to identify the high noise areas of the plant. Attached in Appendix I is a diagram of the plant with the high noise areas identified. <NoiseMonitor> will complete the area monitoring and dosimeter readings. The following are provisions of the monitoring:

All area monitoring will be completed using a NIOSH-approved sound level meter in the “A” scale at slow response.

All continuous, intermittent, and impulsive sound levels between 80-130dB will be monitored and included in the noise measurement.

Sound Level Meters shall be properly calibrated prior to the survey.

If area monitoring is inappropriate due to sound level variations, worker mobility, or frequent breaks, etc.; representative, personal samples will be taken using a NIOSH-approved sound level dosimeter that has been calibrated before the survey.

All noise areas at or above 85dB(A) on a time-weighted average will be identified, as will those jobs that are in the high noise areas. Appendix II contains a list of the positions within our firm that are higher than 85dB(A) on a TWA.

Audiometric Test Program

All current and future employees in high noise exposure positions (see Appendix II) will be part of the Audiometric Testing Program. <ProgramAdmin> has established and will maintain an audiometric testing program by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose noise exposures meet or exceed an eight-hour TWA of 85dB.

The following are provisions of the audiometric testing program:

All audiometric testing will be completed by <TestingCompany>.

All new employees working in a TWA of 80dB or more will be required to complete a baseline audiogram within the first month of employment.

All employees will be instructed to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise for 14 hours prior to the baseline audiogram.

While at work, immediately prior to the baseline audiogram, employees will be instructed to wear hearing protection and stay out of high noise areas to prevent exposure greater than 80dB.

All employees that are exposed to a TWA of 85dB or greater will be required to complete annual audiograms.

<TestingCompany> will be responsible for comparing baseline audiograms to annual audiograms and detecting a threshold shift. A threshold shift is defined as a 10dB reduction in the hearing threshold, relative to the baseline audiogram, or more than 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hz in either ear (OSHA), or a 20dB(A) shift at any frequency (OR-OSHA).

All employees registering a threshold shift will be informed of the shift in writing within 21 days of results and tested again in 30 days.

A re-evaluation of the need for different PPE should be done. If no PPE alternative is available, the employee should be re-trained on machines with lower Dba readings and then be reassigned to those machines.

Employee Training

All employees in positions identified in Appendix II will be required to complete a formal training program within their first six months of training, after introductory training during orientation. This program will be administered annually and all employees included in Appendix II will be required to complete it annually.

The training program will include:

The effects of noise on hearing.

The purposes of hearing protectors, including use, care, and fit.

The training should also include the type and rating of the PPE used and required for each job location in which the employee will be working. Click here for more information.

The purpose of audiometric testing.

The Hearing Conservation Standard and its purpose.

Review of the location of high noise areas and positions within <CompanyName> facilities.

<ProgramAdmin> will administer the training program with assistance from the insurance carrier and/or the audiometric company.

Noise Attenuation

The first priority of control for noise is through the use of engineering controls, or administrative controls when engineering is infeasible.

Consider the acoustics of the building and immediate work area to determine whether or not it might be beneficial to "wall-off" one area to dissipate the noise. Click here for more information.

Current controls listed below include:

Engineering Controls
<Engineering1>
<Engineering2>
<Engineering3>
<Engineering4>
<Engineering5>

Administrative Controls
<Admin1>
<Admin2>
<Admin3>
<Admin4>
<Admin5>

Other Controls
<Other1>
<Other2>
<Other3>
<Other4>
<Other5>

Hearing Protection & Attenuation

If these engineering and administrative controls do not attenuate the noise to less than 85dB, hearing protectors will be made available to all employees at no cost. Employees will be trained in the fit, use, and care of hearing protectors in the employee training program. Supervisors will be responsible for ensuring employees wear their protection properly.

Employees are subject to disciplinary action, including termination, for not complying with wearing PPE.

All employees exposed to 85dBA or greater will be offered hearing protectors and be required to wear them in areas at or over 90dBA.

Multiple types of hearing protection are available and can be obtained through your supervisor. Employees will be allowed to choose between the following, based on what area the employee is working in:

Area	Hearing Protection Type	Attenuation (NRR)
<Area1>	<Type1>	<Attenuation1>
<Area2>	<Type2>	<Attenuation2>
<Area3>	<Type3>	<Attenuation3>
<Area4>	<Type4>	<Attenuation4>
<Area5>	<Type5>	<Attenuation5>

Employees are required to wear hearing protection that will attenuate the noise below 90dB. For those employees who have experienced a threshold shift, hearing protection must attenuate the noise below 85dB. Appendix II lists the high noise jobs and the type of acceptable hearing protection.

Recordkeeping Provisions

In order to document the Hearing Conservation Program activities, the following records will be maintained:

Exposure Measurements – On file with the responsible party. Exposure measurements will be maintained on file for two years and then updated.

Measurement documentation should include date and shop location of the test, the name and contact information of the person performing the test, and the readings of the machine individually and collectively within the immediate work area/room.

Audiometric Test Results – Maintained in employees’ files, separate files, etc. and updated by the responsible party or his/her designee. Audiometric testing results will be maintained for five years after the employee’s duration of employment.

Copies of training program material and documentation of employee training will be maintained by <ProgramAdmin>.

All records will be available to employees, former employees, and representatives of employees, and OSHA upon request.

It is suggested that there be both a computer record and hard copy of all documentation that can be stored offsite in the event of fire, earthquakes, floods, etc.

Appendix I - Diagram of High Noise Areas

<INSERT YOUR DIAGRAM HERE>

Appendix II - List of High Noise Positions and Acceptable Hearing Protection

The following positions are exposed to an eight-hour Time Weighted Average of greater than 85dB.

Position Title	Noise Level	Protectors
<Title1>	<NoiseLevel1>	<Protector1>
<Title2>	<NoiseLevel2>	<Protector2>
<Title3>	<NoiseLevel3>	<Protector3>
<Title4>	<NoiseLevel4>	<Protector4>
<Title5>	<NoiseLevel5>	<Protector5>

Employee Acknowledgement

I have received information on <CompanyName>’s Hearing Conservation Program. By signing below, I agree to abide by the procedures in this document and bring to the attention of my supervisor any questions or concerns had.

Employee Name: _________________________________
Employee Signature: ______________________________
Date: __________________________________________