Hearing Conservation Plan Checklist

Hearing Conservation Plan Checklist

The plan required for employees exposed to 85dBA or greater, plan shall include all listed here.

1. Noise level monitoring

   1. When information indicates that an employee's exposure may equal or exceed 85 dBA

   2. When significant variations in sound levels or worker mobility make area monitoring inappropriate personal sampling shall be used.

   3. 80-130 dBA shall be integrated

   4. Repeat whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increase noise levels (see d 3) 

2. Employee notification The employer shall notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring.

3. Employee right to observe monitoring 

4. Audiometric examinations, annually 

   1. Baseline audiogram within 6 mos., unless by test van- 1yr with HP for last 6 mo.   

   2. Employer shall inform employees that they must have 14 hours preceding test without exposure to workplace noise.  Can use HP for baseline. 

5. Variety of hearing protection shall be provided (I 3) which shall attenuate exp. To at least 90 dBA avg. over 8 hours

6. Employee training, annually, and information programs

   1. Effects of noise on hearing

   2. Purpose of hearing protectors, advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types and instructions on selection, fitting, use and care

   3. Purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedure

   4. Copies of the standard shall be made available and posted in the workplace. 

7. Recordkeeping. 

   1. Exposure measurements- 2 years

   2. Audiometric tests- duration of employment 

   3. Name and job classification

   4. Date of audiogram

   5. Examiner's name

   6. Date of last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of audiometer

   7. Employee's most recent noise exposure assessment

   8. Measurements of background SPL in audiometric test rooms
      “OSHA's occupational noise exposure standard requires in 1910.95(m)(3)(i) that, "Noise exposure measurement records shall be retained for two years." Therefore, employee noise exposure records must be retained for two years only, rather than 30 years.”  Letter of interp. 8/17/00.