{"id":21948,"date":"2016-11-02T17:18:07","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T00:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/?page_id=21948"},"modified":"2022-09-22T14:13:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T21:13:26","slug":"sppm-3-21","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-3-21\/","title":{"rendered":"3.21 Hearing Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Safety Policies and Procedures Manual<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hearing Conservation<\/h2>\n\n\n
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SPPM 3.21<\/strong> | Revised 9-17 (See SPPM Revision 114<\/a>)<\/p>\n

For more information contact:<\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0Environmental Health and Safety
\u00a0 \u00a0509-335-3041<\/p>\n

View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Policy<\/h3>\n

University units are responsible for minimizing employee exposure to hazardous noise levels.<\/p>\n

Exposure Threshold<\/h4>\n

Since exposure to noise that\u00a0equals or exceeds the threshold of 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels is potentially hazardous to hearing, University units must limit employee noise exposure to levels below this threshold.<\/p>\n

Exposed Employees<\/h4>\n

Each employee exposed to an 8-hour TWA occupational noise of 85 decibels or greater, without regard to the use of hearing protection, is to be provided a hearing protection device, annual audiometric testing, and annual training. (WAC\u00a0296-817-20015<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Controls\/Hearing Protection<\/h4>\n

Occupational noise exposures above 85 decibels 8-hour TWA are to be reduced using engineering and\/or administrative controls. Where these controls are not feasible or insufficient, hearing protection is to be supplied to and worn by each affected employee.<\/p>\n

Protection Requirements<\/h4>\n

Each affected employee must wear hearing protection in\u00a0any of the following cases:<\/p>\n