The University strongly encourages the use of hearing protection devices while working around noisy equipment. Personal protective devices should also be used during non-routine, infrequent operations, which do not warrant special engineering control. Employees are given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors. The safety and health officer is to assist in supplying information on attenuation data and supervise the correct use of hearing protectors. The hearing protection used will depend on the operation, employee preference and attenuation required. If feasible engineering or administrative controls cannot be accomplished personal hearing protective devices must be provided and used to reduce sound levels in areas above 85 dBA. Engineering controls include maintenance, modifying equipment, substitution of equipment, isolation, and acoustic material. Types of administrative controls are rotation of employees, limiting time of certain operations, or restricting areas or work operations. When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding 85 dBA TWA, feasible administrative or engineering controls are to be utilized. When there is a verified standard threshold shift, the employee must be notified within 21 days after verification. Tests at each frequency are to be taken separately for each ear.Р”В®mployees are to be notified, in writing, of the results of exams. The results of the audiometric tests are sent to the University Employee Occupational Health Clinic for review and to determine whether problem audiograms require further evaluation.Р”Р„udiometric tests are to be pure tone, air conduction, hearing threshold examinations, with test frequencies including as a minimum 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. The baseline audiogram is established to compare against subsequent audiograms. A baseline audiogram is obtained within 6 months of an employeeРІР‚в„ўs first exposure at or above the action level. Audiometric testingР”Р„nnual audiometric testing is performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, at the UNC Speech and Hearing Department. Monitoring shall be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level or the attenuation provided by hearing protectors being used by employees is not adequate. The employee is to be notified when he/she is exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. The noise survey is performed using a sound level meter (A-scale, slow response) and/or noise dosimeter for evaluation of personal exposures. When information indicates that any employeeРІР‚в„ўs exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the department is to notify the Health and Safety Office to implement a monitoring program. Recognition and Evaluation of Noise Sources The hearing conservation program includes: The purpose of the Hearing Conservation Program is to provide for the protection of University employees from long term hearing loss associated with noise levels in the workplace in compliance with OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure.Р”Р„ll University employees whose noise exposures equal or exceeds an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels are enrolled in a hearing conservation program. Occupational Noise Exposure Hearing Conservation Program Purpose

Noise mapping and dosymmetry