Safety and Risk Management
Employee Medical Monitoring Program
Specific Medical Monitoring Standards and Protocols
Occupational Noise
Authority: Title 8, Section 5097, California Code of Regulations (CCR)
Covered employees
All employees whose workplace noise exposures equal or exceed the action level.
Examinations
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, obtaining valid audiograms, and properly using maintaining and checking calibration and proper functioning of the audiometers being used. The technician must be responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.
Frequency
Within 6 months of first exposure. At least annually after obtaining the valid baseline audiogram. If using a mobile test van, exams shall be conducted within one year of first exposure.
Protocol
Testing to establish a baseline audiogram shall be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. This requirement may be met by wearing hearing protectors of 80 dBA or below. The employer shall inform the employee of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the preceding 14 hours.
The audiogram shall be compared to the baseline to determine if a standard threshold shift (STS) has occurred. A retest may be obtained within 30 days if a STS has occurred and consider the results of the retest an the annual audiogram.
A STS is defined as a change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of an average of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, 4000 Hz in either ear. Allowance may be made for presbycusis.
Physician’s Report
If a STS has occurred, the employee shall be notified in writing within 21 days; and shall be referred for a clinical audiological evaluation, an otological examination, as appropriate, if additional testing is necessary.
Employers Responsibility
If STS has occurred, the employer shall institute the wearing of hearing protection and / or retraining the employee in the proper use of hearing protection
Examination Protocols
| Test | Pre-Exposure or Pre-Placement | Annual | Periodic | Exit | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audiometric Examination | X | X | X |