[Minor revision–posted 12/10/2021 (replaces 5/25/17 edition)]
[PDF Version]

 

Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 60.09: Hearing Conservation Program

DATE: December 10, 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of the Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) is twofold: to identify university employees who are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise; and to perform medical surveillance to ensure that occupationally induced hearing loss is not occurring and that in-place controls are effective. To achieve these ends, the HCP will be administered by Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) in accordance with the written HCP on file in EH&S. Copies of the written HCP will be provided by EH&S to departments as personnel are identified for entry into the HCP.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed in December of every fourth year by the Vice President for EH&S with substantive revisions forwarded through the Associate Vice President for Research to the Vice President for Research & Innovation. This OP will be reviewed again in 2025.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

1.  References

• 29 Code of Federal Regulations, 1910.95, Occupational Noise Exposure, 1989

• OSHA Technical Manual, 1990

• Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, 5th Edition, 2001

2.  Responsibilities

a.    Deans, department heads, directors, and administrators will:

(1)    Ensure that all provisions of the hearing conservation program, as they pertain to their area, are followed;

(2)    Provide funds to purchase hearing protectors and to accomplish medical surveillance of employees identified as at-risk from occupational noise exposure; and

(3)    Retain medical surveillance records related to occupational noise exposure for the term of employment plus 30 years.

b.    Supervisors will:

(1)    Ensure that employees use hearing protection as appropriate;

(2)    Ensure that employees are scheduled for baseline, annual, and special audiometric testing as required;

(3)    Report possible hazardous noise sources to EH&S for evaluation; and

(4)    Ensure that employees newly hired into positions identified as requiring entry into the HCP receive a baseline audiogram prior to starting duties.

c.    Employees will:

(1)    Wear recommended hearing protection whenever working in an environment where hazardous noise is present; and

(2)    Comply with all provisions of the HCP and hazardous noise training.

d.    Environmental Health & Safety will:

(1)    Identify hazardous noise producing equipment and hazardous noise areas and recommend appropriate posting;

(2)    Recommend engineering controls and administrative practices to reduce or eliminate exposure to hazardous noise;

(3)    Recommend appropriate hearing protection based on the sound pressure levels and frequencies determined;

(4)    Train employees in the proper selection and use of hearing protection;

(5)    Perform noise dosimetry to quantify hazardous noise exposure dose and identify employees for entry into the hearing conservation program;

(6)    Periodically re-survey and perform noise dosimetry to check for changes in noise exposure levels and durations;

(7)    Review medical surveillance data to identify problem areas to be addressed; and

(8)    Perform recordkeeping for all documents related to noise surveys or noise dosimetry.

OP Categories

01 Chancellor
02 Development
04 Audit Services
10 President
30 Academic and Student Affairs – General
32 Academic Policies – Faculty
34 Academic Policies – Students
36 Academic Programs
40 Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
48 Communication Services
52 Information Technology
60 Environmental Health and Safety
61 Facilities Management
62 Financial and Accounting
63 General Services
64 Graduate Programs (Faculty and Students)
65 Research Accounting
66 Libraries
67 Mail Services
68 Communications and Marketing
69 Payroll and Tax Services
70 Human Resources
72 Purchasing, Contracting, and Payables
74 Research
76 Security
77 Student Services and Registrar
78 Traffic and Parking
79 Travel
80 Vehicles