Thu 17 Jul 2008
OSHA Establishes Hearing Conservation Program
Posted by Allan under Safety , Compliance , The Compliance Resource Center , Training , OSHA , NIOSH , Workplace Safety , Record Keeping , Hearing Safety
This Instruction initiates and establishes a hearing conservation program that complies
with 29 CFR 1910.95 to protect OSHA personnel covered by PER 04-00-003 from the
effects of occupational noise exposure. The Hearing Conservation Amendment to the
OSHA Occupational noise exposure standard, 29 CFR 1910.95, requires that employers
establish a hearing conservation program for employees whose noise exposures equal or
exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA.
Employers are now mandated to have a hearing conservation program that includes:
- Monitoring of work area
- Audiometric testing program
- Employee notification
- Proper PPE
- Training on hearing protectors
- Annual employee training
- Proper Recordkeeping
The Compliance Resource Center reported earlier that NIOSH had developed online tool to allow users to check their hearing protection in a minute or less. With this new directive employers might want to take a quick look at this online tool.