Fitting Baseline Audiograms Into Your Hearing Conservation Program
Baseline hearing tests are essential in a hearing conservation testing program – they provide the reference for determining if an injury has occurred, or intervening before a shift is likely to happen. When companies are hiring employees throughout the year, it’s important that they consider when the baseline audiogram takes place.
When do employees need a baseline audiogram?
Deciding if an employee should be included in a hearing conservation program, and therefore if they need a baseline audiogram, often will vary by company.
Inclusion in a hearing conservation program
Federal OSHA requires that employees who are exposed to an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of over 85 decibels be included in a hearing conservation program. This should include a range of factors, including hearing protection use, recordkeeping, and hearing testing.
Timeframe for getting the industrial hearing test
The question often comes – how long do I have after employees are included in the hearing conservation program to get the baseline hearing test? Again, the answer varies by agency. However, companies should be aware that federal regulations can be different than the state agency they are under.
In Washington, and most other states, the baseline audiogram should be completed within 6 months – unless testing is conducted with mobile units. Then the regulation known as the ‘mobile van exception’ allows employers 12 months to get their baseline hearing tests done.
However, employers in Oregon should be aware that Oregon OSHA did not adopt the mobile van exception, only allowing employers 6 months to get the baseline audiograms taken care of.
What employers (and employees) should know before a baseline hearing test
It’s critical that your baseline hearing tests are accurate, as this is the documentation that’s used to initially determine if an injury is possible or imminent. Prior to a hearing test, it’s important to note that federal OSHA requires that:
The employee should not be exposed to workplace noise for at least 14 hours prior to the hearing test (however, hearing protection can be used to reduce the noise to a safe level)
Baseline hearing test practices + Anadyne's streamlined solution
While employers have 6-12 months to establish the baseline depending on the agency they are under, best practice would be to get the test done as soon as possible after hire. Since it isn’t always practical to get the test done on the first day of employment, Anadyne’s scheduling options help you get your baselines done in a timely fashion without disrupting operations or needing to send employees to offsite clinics.
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