• Summary
• Objective
• Supervisor's Responsibilities
• Environmental Health & Safety Center Responsibilities
• Hearing Conservation Program

 

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Summary

Work areas or job tasks where significant noise exposure exists should be brought to the attention of the Industrial Hygiene Department. Noise exposure includes continuous, intermittent and impulse(less than one second long and greater than one second delay) noises. If sound level measurements indicate that excessive noise exposure exists, relating to OSHA permissible noise levels, investigation of engineering controls or administrative controls (e.g. rotation of employees or limiting time on particular tasks) to reduce exposure is necessary. If such measures do not reduce the noise level sufficiently, employee training, hearing exams, and personal protective equipment (ear plugs or muffs) will be necessary.

Objective

To provide for the protection of North Carolina State University employees from long term hearing loss associated with noise levels in the workplace in accordance with OSHA 29CFR1910.95

Supervisor's Responsibilities

1. Notify the EHSC at 515-6862 if excessive noise is present or suspected in the work environment.
2. Provide hearing protection devices (ear plugs or muffs), as recommended by EHSC, to employees at no cost to the employee, and make certain that devices are worn.
3. Assure that employees who are required to receive an annual hearing exam receive the exam at no cost to the employee.
4. Assure that employees complete a Hearing Conservation Program Log if they are participating in the annual hearing exam clinic.
5. Assure that employees who are using hearing protection devices receive annual training on the use and care of devices. A current database of training and audiogram dates completed by each participating employee is maintained by the EHSC.
6. Maintain any physician reports in a confidential manner. Refer to Medical Surveillance, Sect. 6, 'Supervisor's Responsibilities' for further discussion on record keeping.
7. Provide signage at entrances to alert employees that hearing protection is required.

    

Environmental Health & Safety Center Responsibilities

1. Oversee the Hearing Conservation Program for the University.
2. Provide assistance in investigation and recommendation on control of noise sources.
3. Act as NCSU liaison with the medical provider and supervisor.
4. Provide annual training on the use and care of hearing protection devices. Please refer to 'Hearing Protection Device' fact sheet for additional information on the use and care of ear plugs and muffs.

Hearing Conservation Program

Excessive noise levels are often associated with certain tasks such as operating gas powered equipment or working on or near heating,ventilation or air conditioning equipment. When control measures are not feasible or successful to reduce the noise to an acceptable level, OSHA requires that a Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) be implemented in the workplace. Annual employee training and hearing exams (audiogram), and the use of personal protective equipment are components of a HCP. All employees who are participating in the HCP must document their noise exposure yearly on the Hearing Conservation Program Log.