[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
- 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
- 73 Data Management
- 74 Research
- 76 Security
- 77 Student Services and Registrar
- 78 Traffic and Parking
- 79 Travel
- 80 Vehicles
Operating Policies & Procedures
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Address
Texas Tech Downtown Center Room 218 -
Email
officialpublications@ttu.edu