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About HCI >> Industry News |
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Current Stories: |
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March 2007 - AIHA encourages OSHA to take immediate action to lower the PEL for occupational noise Exposure.
One of the greatest challenges and concerns we now face in the United States is the hearing loss that is occurring in our workforce. Over 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous levels of noise, and noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases. Such hearing loss significantly affects the ability to communicate and negatively impacts a worker’s quality of life.
Read More >
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September 2005 - OSHA Interpretation on Separate Ear Baseline Revision
The link below is to a letter of interpretation from OSHA concerning the use of separate ear baselines for calculating, reporting, and recording Standard Threshold Shifts (STS). Subsequent to the effective date of the Revised Recordkeeping Standard, and the many questions it provoked, OSHA has clarified its intent that hearing loss be measured, monitored, and recorded in each ear separately, as loss can sometimes affect hearing differently between ears. Accordingly, when baseline revision is appropriate due to a persistent (confirmed) STS, the baseline must be revised for each ear separately.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25142
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January 2003 –OSHA Revises Recordkeeping Rule
 REVISION TO OSHA 29 CFR 1904 -FEDERAL RECORDKEEPING RULE
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The effective implementation date is January 1, 2003 |
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All State Plans must adopt the identical Federal criteria |
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Recording criteria is: |
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A standard Threshold Shift (STS), defined as a 10dB adverse shift in hearing at an average of the thresholds at the 2000, 3000 and 4000Hz frequencies in either ear. Age correction is allowed. |
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AND |
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The average of the thresholds at 2000, 3000 and 4000Hz frequencies for the current test is 25 dB or greater - from Audiometric Zero - no age correction (see chart)
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1. A retest is allowed but must be performed within (30) days of determination.
2. Hearing loss meeting the STS criteria above must be recorded on OSHA Form 300 within seven (7) days of determination UNLESS a retest obtained within the allowable 30-day window eliminates the shift. If the shift is confirmed by a retest it must be recorded on the OSHA 300 log.
3. If the shift is subsequently determined by the supervising professional of the Hearing Conservation Program to be non work-related, the entry on Form 300 may be lined-out. All supporting documentation should be kept with the form.
* Avg. Record = The average of the 2K, 3K, 4K frequencies (no age correction), which is used to determine
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