Audio Metric (Hearing) Testing

  • Audiometric testing shall be performed on all employees whose exposures equal to or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average TWA of 85 decibles (Action level).

  • Audiometric testing shall be provided at no cost to employees.

  • Audiometric testing shall be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician, or by a technician who is certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, or who has satisfactorily demonstrated competence in administering audiometric examinations. A technician who performs audiometric tests must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.

  • Baseline Audiogram
    1. A baseline audiogram shall be conducted within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at above the action level in order to establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared.

    2. Mobile test van exception. Where mobile test vans are used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the (Position designated) will obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level. Where baseline audiograms are obtained more than 6 months after the employee's first exposure at or above the action level, employees will wear hearing protectors for any period exceeding six months after first exposure until the baseline audiogram is obtained.

    3. Testing to establish a baseline audiogram will be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the requirement that baseline audiograms be preceded by 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise.

    4. The (Position designated) will notify employees of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the 14-hour period immediately preceding the audiometric examination.
  • Audiograms will be conducted at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.

  • The (Position Designated) will maintain a record of all employee audiometric test records. This record will include:
    1. Name and job classification of the employee.

    2. Date of the audiogram.

    3. The examiner's name.

    4. Date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of the audiometer.

    5. Employee's most recent noise exposure assessment.

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