[Minor revision–posted 12/10/2021 (replaces 5/25/17 edition)]
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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 Institutional Compliance
• 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
• 75 Research Security
• 76 Security
• 77 Student Services and Registrar
• 78 Traffic and Parking
• 79 Travel
• 80 Vehicles