Occupational hearing loss hurts both the affected worker and the employer alike. Noise-induced hearing loss is a gradual, deteriorative process which must be detected early in order to avoid permanent injury and compensation costs. Our expertise in hearing conservation is both extensive and comprehensive, involving the three critical aspects: detection, prevention and assessment.
We begin by preparing a formal, written hearing conservation program. This plan is the first critical step in the compliance process, scheduling the actions required. These may include identifying noise sources and those employees who may be exposed to excessive noise; the administrative and engineering controls required to reduce the risk of exposure, as well as any personal protective equipment that may be required; the method and frequency of noise surveys and employee exposure monitoring; the methods and frequency of audiometric testing and analysis; and the requirements for training and for recordkeeping.
Lamb personnel will conduct thorough noise surveys, including octave band analysis with damage risk curve, and can provide engineering solutions to reduce noise levels, as outlined in later sections. Technicians will also conduct personnel dosimetry to determine employee exposure, identifying those individuals and/or functions where exposure equals or exceeds the 8-hour time-weighted average permissible. Such monitoring must be done whenever there is a change in your processes, equipment or production area. Tests will also determine the effectiveness of personal hearing protection. All employees must be informed of their time-weighted averages, in writing by the employer.
Our mobile audiometric service can provide on-site audiometric testing with minimal work disruption. Baseline audiograms should be established within 3 months or 90 shifts of an employee's assignment, with subsequent testing annually or within 30 days of any standard threshold shift (STS). Annual audiograms are professionally analyzed and compared to the baseline to provide early detection of problems.
Our comprehensive program incorporates employee training on the effects of noise on hearing, the proper use of hearing protection, and the value of and procedures for audiometric testing.
Critical concerns for hearing conservation are the level of noise in the workplace; the sources of high noise; which employees are exposed to high noise levels and for how long, etc. Equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, we determine the time-weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of individual workers. Using octave band analyzers, we can assist in determining the appropriate type of hearing protection. Our management reports include TWA graphs for each job function, attenuation data for hearing protectors, and a damage risk curve to help in determining the maximum allowable unprotected noise exposure. This information assists program administration and can help reduce compensation claims.
Lamb Group offers the highest quality, most cost-effective, one-on-one, on-site audiometric testing possible. All technicians are certified and only manual testing equipment is employed, to ensure accurate, reliable test results. Tests are scheduled to minimize work interruptions and all testing is done at your plant. Management reports are comprehensive and clear, providing specific information on potential liability from possible hearing loss claims. Employees are provided with memoranda concerning their results and any STS results are retested.
