The Hearing Conservation Program is the result of the promulgation of an amendment to the Federal Noise Standard 29CFR1910.95. The effect of this amendment is that employers who have employees with noise exposures in excess of 85 dBA over an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) are required to administer a continuing, effective Hearing Conservation Program (HCP). The HCP consists of five basic components: audiometric testing, employee training, exposure monitoring, hearing protection and record-keeping.
Inclusion into the HCP is determined by noise monitoring. Noise monitoring by use of sound level meters and dosimetry identifies and confirms areas of high noise hazard. Once confirmed to be in excess of 85 dBA for an 8-hour TWA, these areas are considered noise hazard areas, and employees working in these areas are to be included into the HCP.
Employee audiometric testing, conducted initially and then annually, provides the employer the opportunity to address two major elements of the program. The testing monitors employee hearing acuity and also provides the opportunity to educate the employees about their hearing and the need to protect it. The required training includes: the effects of noise; the purpose, advantages, disadvantages and attenuation characteristics of hearing protection; and the purpose and procedures of audiometric testing. The program further requires documentation of all noise monitoring, tests and training, and that it be retained for specified lengths of time.
Another component of the program is the use of hearing protection. The use of hearing protection is mandatory for employees who have experienced threshold shifts. Hearing protection must also be provided to all workers exposed at or above a TWA of 85 dBA. Employees must be trained on how to use and care for their hearing protectors.
