Policy 11-3-11: Hearing Conservation Program
| Policy: | Policy 11-3-11: Hearing Conservation Program | Date Adopted: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department: | Environmental Health & Safety | Date(s) Reviewed and/or Revised: |
February 7, 2024; June 20, 2013; September 2, 2008 | |
| Contact: | EH&S Coordinator | |||
| Statement: | To ensure employees of WNC are not subject to noise levels of concern in the work place, their activities shall be monitored as required. In addition, this policy provides for engineering controls on noise and the use of effective Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). This policy provides for audiometric testing as required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.95. | |||
Section 1: Responsibilities
- The Departments and Divisions that require employees or students to become involved in activities where they are subjected to loud noise that may be near or in excess of OSHA standards as defined in 29 CFR Part 1910.95 shall report these activities to Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). This will allow monitoring to be done before the start of the activity.
- EH&S shall provide monitoring, propose engineering controls, and propose personnel protective equipment for activities known to be at sound levels near or exceeding OSHA compliance limits. EH&S will update this program as required.
- Supervisors and Academic Directors shall work with EH&S to explore engineering controls to limit the noise in the work and campus environment where possible and document efforts. Supervisors and Directors will ensure that required employees use personnel protective equipment and comply with all aspects of this hearing conservation program. Supervisors and Directors shall supply and monitor the use of proper personnel protective equipment and recommend audiometric testing to EH&S if required.
Section 2: Procedure
- EH&S shall work with Departments and Divisions to identify and monitor activities that may be near or may exceed the OSHA noise standards.
- EH&S shall work with all Departments and Divisions to determine if activities that involve potential noise hazards can be modified to lessen the hazard. Work activities that pose a potential noise hazard shall be evaluated with recommendations made by EH&S.
- Clear instructions in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95 will be given to each affected employee who is exposed to noise equal to or in excess of the OSHA compliance limits. Each employee will receive annual hearing professional evaluations (audiograms) if activities exceed the OSHA noise compliance limits. Each employee will be supplied with appropriate personal protective equipment. Areas with noise in excess of OSHA compliance limits shall be posted with approved warning signage that ear protection is required in the area.
Section 3: Program Results
- EH&S, Employees, and Supervisors must continue to evaluate the effectiveness of engineering controls, employee personal protective equipment, and the results of periodic monitoring to assure we are providing the best work environment for employees and students.