Preventing Hearing Loss | Audiology Ear Care

Work environments can be noisy places. Employers often attempt to reduce noise levels by engineering controls for equipment or work environments. However, when noise levels become hazardous, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to have a program in place to protect workers' hearing. This program is called an hearing conservation program and is specifically regulated by OSHA in every state.

These programs are designed to help protect employees' hearing by controlling noise when possible, limiting exposure to noise otherwise and monitoring hearing for changes that might be due ot workplace noise.

What is an Hearing Conservation Program?
Under OSHA regulations, employers must have a hearing conservation program in place when any employees are exposed to an 8-hour average of 85 deciBels (dB) or more. This is known as the action level.

A hearing conservation program must have certain components, as required by OSHA. These include:

Employee education regarding noise exposure, hearing loss, and hearing protection.
Offering hearing protection to employees working in high noise areas
Annual hearing checks to monitor for decreases in hearing

OSHA has many other regulations regarding recordkeeping, timing of required activities, notifications to employees, and audiologist or physician involvement. An audiologist specializing in occupational health can best help to make sure you are meeting OSHA requirements for your employees.

Hearing conservation programs are for your benefit!

Many employers would probably offer the same protections as a mandatory hearing conservation program, even if it were not required by law. However, OSHA exists to make sure that all companies reduce risks as much as possible for employees placed in hazardous environments.

If a hearing conservation program is required in your workplace, it is to make sure that you have the option of keeping your hearing for your whole life. Your employer is being mandated by OSHA to reduce noise levels, watch your hearing, and take responsibility if your hearing should be damaged by workplace noise.

If you have any questions about your hearing, your workplace environment, or your rights as an employee, talk to an audiologist or physician specializing in ears (otologist/ENT). The goal is to keep you hearing well into your retirement years so you can continue to enjoy life the way you should.

OCCUPATIONAL HEARING CONSERVATION