Hearing Conservation Program Administration Part 1 Exposure Monitoring

Hearing Conservation Program Administration Part 1: Exposure Monitoring Thomas W. Rimmer, Sc. D, CIH Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non. Commercial-No. Derivs 2. 5 License. To view a copy of this license, visit http: //creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2. 5/

Elements of the HCP n Noise Exposure Monitoring n Noise Control n Hearing Protection n Training and Motivation n Audiometric Testing n Recordkeeping n Program Evaluation

Noise Exposure Monitoring n Why is monitoring needed n How to accomplish monitoring n When should monitoring be done n Where should measurements be taken n Which workers to monitor n What records should be kept

Why monitor noise exposure? n Determine need for HCP inclusion n Determine degree of protection needed n Limit legal liability for unfounded hearing loss claims n Comply with OSHA regulations

Choice of monitoring method n Personal monitoring n Dosimeter usually used n Mobile workers n Variable exposures n Area monitoring n Dosimeter or sound level meter n Distant noise source(s)

Frequency of monitoring n No standard interval n Annual – high variability in workplace n Biennial - low variability n Depends on job specifics n Repetitive job - assembly line n Variable job - maintenance n Depends on results n Low variability, fewer samples n High variability, more samples

Choosing monitoring locations n Homogenous exposure groups n Similar work, similar exposure n May be any size n Other approaches n Task n Location n Time http: //office. microsoft. com/clipart

Choosing workers to monitor n Worst-case selection n Conservative choice n Random selection n Best way to find average, distribution n Needs multiple samples n Stratified random choice n Practical alternative n Fewer samples needed

Monitoring records n Posting results for employee information n Assignment of exposure category n Every employee must be assessed n Keeping with audiometric records n Results for monitored employees n Extrapolated results for non-monitored n Availability for employee access