Hearing Conservation Program and Procedure

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  2. Environmental Health and Safety
  3. Hearing Conservation Program and Procedure

Purpose:  Excessive noise or unwanted sound is one of the most pervasive occupational health problems. Hearing protection through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to prevent initial occupational hearing loss, to protect and preserve remaining hearing, and to equip employees with the tools and knowledge necessary to safeguard themselves from environmental hazards resulting in hearing loss. Hearing protection should be used in conjunction with other hazard control measures, such as engineering controls (noise isolation devices), administrative controls (training, signage) and other safe work practices (SOP’s).  Properly applying a combination of each hazard control strategy will help to maintain the health and safety of all St. Lawrence University employees.   

Scope: The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, specifically part 1910.95, requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program to protect employees from anticipated or recognized exposures to hazardous noise in the workplace.  This program applies to all St. Lawrence employees who are exposed to noise levels at or above a time weighted average of 85 dBA.  The OSHA standard is available on the OSHA website.

Responsibilities:

  1. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
  1. Administrative oversight of the Hearing Conservation Program, including the development of this written program and revision as necessary.
  2. Conduct noise monitoring surveys and maintain noise monitoring equipment.
  3. Maintain records of noise measurements over time.
  4. Provide noise monitoring results to all employees subject to hazardous noise exposure.
  5. Provide annual hearing testing to employees subject to work in hazardous noise
  1. Administrative/Academic Department Heads and Supervisors
  1. Document and report potentially hazardous noise exposures to EHS.
  2. Ensure that employees exposed to a TWA above 85 dBA attend annual hearing conservation training and are equipped with proper PPE by consulting with EHS.
  3. Ensure Hearing Conservation Program and Procedures are enforced amongst employees.
  1. St. Lawrence University
  1. St. Lawrence University shall provide proper PPE related to hearing protection to ensure that employees are safely able to perform daily working tasks without risk of hearing loss or damage.
  1. Employees
  1. Use proper hearing protection in applicable locations where noise levels are deemed hazardous.
  2. Store, clean, and maintain hearing protection provided by the University.
  3. Report damage or loss of university-provided hearing protection to supervisor.
  4. Partake in annual hearing testing provided by third party through EHS.

Noise Level Exposure Chart

TABLE 1 – Permissible Noise Exposures

Duration per day,
hours

Sound level dBA,
slow response

8

90

6

92

4

95

3

97

2

100

1-1/2

102

1

105

1/2

110

1/4 or less

115

Hearing Protection Comparison

Contacts

Nick Ormasen………. Executive Director of Business Services and Environmental Health and Safety

(315) 229-5303 nick@stlawu.edu

Suna Stone…………... Chemical Hygiene and Environmental Compliance Officer

(315) 229-5105 smcmasters@stlawu.edu

Dean Manley………… Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator

(315) 229-5339 dmanley@stlawu.edu

Adopted 11/04/2022

Reviewed 11/30/2022 by: Nick, Suna, Dean.