Chapter 14. Hearing Conservation

I. Longterm exposures to excessive noise leads to permanent, irreparable hearing loss. Many individuals who live and work in noise are reluctant to recognize it as a serious threat or to accept and use personal hearing protection. Noiseinduced hearing loss occurs slowly over months or years making it difficult to convince those at risk to guard their sense of hearing. The purpose of the Hearing Conservation Program is to prevent jobrelated, noise induced, hearing loss in the University workers. Work areas of the University which test to be noise hazard areas (exceed the maximum permissible noise exposure for workers) shall enter into the Hearing Protection Program. The threepart program includes testing, training, and hearing protection. See the Hearing Protection Program for the complete details.

II. Testing.

A. Noise testing. Sound surveys will be conducted by the Department of Public Safety once every two years or more frequently as considered appropriate in departments considered noise hazard areas as requested by the unit Director.

B. Hearing tests.

1. Workers who are exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA or greater will have their hearing tested annually. Workers will be tested in the sound treated audiological suites at least once a year. Newly assigned workers will be tested within six months of employment.

2. Workers will be tested in a sound treated audiological suite at least once a year. Newly assigned employees will be tested within six months of employment.

3. Hearing testing may be conducted in a sound treated audiological test booth in the Kansas State University Speech and Hearing Center under the supervision of a Certified Audiologist.

4. The test results may indicate that further hearing services are needed. Any recommendations for further testing and/or medical referrals will follow the criteria outlined in the descriptive categories. Any further testing (excluding those in Category 5), rehabilitation therapy, or hearing aids will be charged to the worker according to the fee schedule of the Speech and Hearing Center. Category 5 retesting will be charged to the worker's department. See the KSU Hearing Conservation Program for more information.

III. Training. Where a noise hazard exists, worker training will be performed annually. These training sessions will cover the areas of basic audition, anatomy of the ear, noise and noiseinduced hearing loss, and the benefits of hearing protection.

IV. Hearing protection.

A. Engineering controls should be instituted to reduce noise levels to reasonable limits where practical. In all areas where noise hazards exist, warning signs should be posted at entrances or on the periphery of those areas.

B. Hearing protection must be worn when the noise level exposure equals or exceeds 90 dBA for eight hours. In addition, hearing protective equipment must be available to those exposed to noise levels between 85 and 90 dBA. Maximum permissible noise exposures for workers are

Hours/Day Sound Level (dBA)

16 85

12 87

8 90

6 92

4 95

3 97

2 100

1.5 102

1 105

0.5 110

less than 0.25 115

C. Effective hearing protection will be provided to any University worker in the Hearing Conservation Program. The department in which the noise hazard is located will provide the hearing protection. The type of hearing protection is left to the needs of the worker and the department with consultation from the Department of Public Safety and the Speech and Hearing Center. Employees are responsible for wearing the prescribed hearing protection.