The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated a noise standard in 1974 and published a Hearing Conservation Amendment to this standard in 1983. This amendment became effective April 7, 1983. Wisconsin Administrative Code ILHR Chapter 32 adopts the OSHA standard.

The OSHA standard provides worker protection against the effects of noise exposure when sound levels exceed a time-weighted average (TWA) level of 85 decibels (dBA) over an 8-hour workday. If noise monitoring identifies workers who are exposed to these levels, the employer (i.e., UWM) must institute a continuing, effective hearing conservation program.

1. Monitoring:

   Noise monitoring is conducted whenever there is knowledge or suspicion that noise levels exceed 85 dBA TWA. This monitoring may be repeated when any production, equipment or administrative changes occur which might alter the noise exposure of any employee.

   When levels exceeding 85 dBA TWA are found, all reasonable efforts will be made to use administrative and/or engineering controls to reduce exposure.

2. Audiometric Testing:

   Audiometric testing will be offered to employees, without cost to the employee, who are exposed to levels which equal or exceed 85 dBA TWA, and is required for employees exposed to levels which exceed 90 dBA TWA. An initial baseline audiogram will be obtained and subsequent annual audiograms will be compared to the baseline to ascertain if a significant threshold shift has occurred.

   All baseline and annual testing will be performed by an audiologist or by an Audiology graduate student under the direct supervision of a certified audiologist. OSHA guidelines for testing procedures, equipment and calibration requirements will be followed.

3. Protection:

   Employees exposed to 85 dBA TWA noise must have hearing protectors available. It is the supervisors responsibility to ensure such hearing protectors are worn by employees whose noise exposure exceeds 90 dBA TWA; or those whose exposure equals or exceeds 85 dBA TWA and have not yet had a baseline evaluation; or those who have experienced a significant threshold shift.

4. Employee Training Program:

   An educational program will be instituted for those employees whose noise exposure exceeds 85 dBA TWA. This program will cover specific topics as outlined in the OSHA standard and general good hearing conservation practices.

5. Recordkeeping:

   Records of exposure measurements and audiometric testing will be maintained by UWM. Exposure measurements shall be maintained by the Department of University Safety and Assurances. Audiometric exams shall be maintained by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Exposure measurements (i.e., personal monitoring) and audiometric exams are subject to the OSHA (ILHR) standard: Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records (29 CFR 1910.20), and University records retention policy.

Based on the OSHA requirements as described above the following areas of responsibility are designated:

• The Department of University Safety and Assurances (US & A):

  US & A is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the Hearing Conservation Program.

  US & A is also responsible for coordinating efforts to reduce hazardous noise or excessive community noise by engineering/administrative controls whenever feasible.

  US & A is responsible for conducting noise surveys on a requested or as-needed basis, and hearing conservation training either on an individual or group basis, and exposure monitoring and sound level survey recordkeeping.

• Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (DCSD):

  DCSD is available to perform hearing evaluations on employees exposed to 85 dBA TWA noise levels for both baseline and annual testing; initial hearing protection fitting; and audiometric exam recordkeeping.

  Recordkeeping includes audiometric exam test data, required employee and employer notification. Results of testing will be provided to the employee.

  DCSD, with US & A, is responsible for notifying current employees of the hearing test requirement and for arranging testing and training with the employee's unit.

• Norris Health Center:

  The Norris Health Center is responsible for the maintenance of health records for those employees included in UWM's Hearing Conservation Program and will include hearing test data as it is received from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (DCSD).

• Department of Human Resources:

  The Department of Human Resources is responsible for required OSHA/ILHR notifications based on hearing loss as a reportable disease.

• Departmental Administrator:

  The Departmental Administrator is responsible for compliance with UWM's Hearing Conservation Program within his/her area of responsibility. It is expected that each administrator will appoint a contact person to serve as a liaison with the Department of University Safety and Assurances to coordinate sound level surveys and training efforts, and with DCSD to coordinate audiometric testing.

  The department must provide DCSD with a list of personnel who are exposed to hazardous noise areas identified by the Department of University Safety & Assurances. It is also each department's responsibility to evaluate programs, processes and jobs and notify University Safety & Assurances of possible noise hazards which require a survey.

  The Departmental Administrator also assumes responsibility for compliance with the hearing conservation program.

• First-line Supervisors:

  It is the direct responsibility of an employee's first line supervisor to ensure appropriate safety measures are followed. This includes enforcement of hearing protector use where required and accommodation with audiometric test requirements.

• Employee:

  Safety is each individual's responsibility. Use of hearing protection, where indicated, is first and foremost the individual employee's concern. It is also incumbent on each employee to appear for required audiometric evaluations, follow instructions regarding noise exposure prior to testing and participate in annual training as directed.

• Physical Plant Services (PPS):

  PPS is responsible for coordinating efforts to reduce hazardous noise by engineering controls where feasible. PPS will charge-back departments for services rendered when necessary.