While noise is considered to be a by-product of industrial activities, and the typical federal workforce is not involved with industrial processes, federal employees in certain types of jobs are in fact at risk for exposure to high levels of noise, which can result in incidents of noise-induced hearing loss.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Requirements
OSHA recognizes noise or unwanted sound as one of the most pervasive occupational health problems facing the American worker. Therefore, OSHA has developed the Hearing Conservation Standard, 29 CFR 1910.95, designed to protect workers against the effects of noise exposure.
Federal work environments involved with activities that expose employees to noise must comply with requirements set forth in the OSHA Hearing Conservation Standard. The OSHA standard mandates noise monitoring and the development of a Hearing Conservation Program if occupational noise levels exceed specified limits.
Hearing Conservation Program
Federal Occupational Health can assist these agencies in complying with the OSHA provisions of the standard by offering the following services:
- Conduct noise monitoring to determine whether employees are over exposed to noise at the workplace.
- Assist in the development of a comprehensive written hearing conservation program.
- Assist in the implementation of effective engineering controls to eliminate or minimize the effects of noise exposure.
- Provide assistance in procuring hearing protection devices.
- Provide training in the proper use, fitting, and maintenance of hearing protection devices.
- Provide audiometric testing.
