1. The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety
2. The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center's Occupational Medicine & Health Service
3. Supervisors
4. Employees
The Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety
(EHRS) is responsible for developing, implementing, and
administering the University of Pennsylvania Hearing Conservation
Program.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Identification of work areas and equipment within University
of Pennsylvania facilities where noise levels equal or exceed 85
dBA;
- Identification, through personnel monitoring, of University of
Pennsylvania employees whose noise exposure level equals or
exceeds an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA. Notification of employee exposure
measurements is sent to the employee, the employee's supervisor
and to HUP's Occupational Medicine and Health Service (OMHS) for
inclusion in annual audiology program.
- Noise surveys and/or noise dosimetry must be conducted to
determine which areas require warning signs;
- Training of employees in the need for, proper use and care of
hearing protection devices. The training must include the
following topics:
- Noise induced hearing loss;
- Recognizing hazardous noise;
- Symptoms of overexposure to noise;
- Hearing protection devices (HPD's)- advantages &
limitations;
- Selection, fitting, use and maintenance of HPD's;
- Explanation of noise measurement procedures;
- Hearing conservation program requirements.
- Identification of noise control measures (including
engineering and administrative controls) and recommendations;
The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center's Occupational
Medicine & Health Service (OMHS) is responsible for conducting
baseline and annual audiograms for new employees who may be assigned
to tasks with potential exposure to elevated levels of noise. OMHS
also schedules and conducts audiograms on an annual basis for
employees exposed to sound levels greater than or equal to 85 dBA.
OMHS is responsible for notifying EHRS of all employees who have
experienced significant changes in hearing (standard threshold
shifts) in order that follow-up investigations may be conducted. The
affected employee and his or her supervisor will also be notified.
Sharon Rainer, occupational nurse practitioner (pager 215-865-7180)
sets up appointments and performs the audiogram in accordance with
OSHA's noise requirements 29 CFR 1910.95.
It is the responsibility of Supervisors to ensure that all of
their employees exposed to noise levels equal to or greater than 85
dBA have access to appropriate hearing protective devices in the work
area and enroll those employee(s) in the HCP if identified as having
an 8-hour TWA equal to or exceeding 85 dBA. Supervisors are
responsible for enforcing the use of hearing protective devices and
engineering and administrative controls in designated noise hazardous
areas and dispensing ear muffs when necessary as well as maintaining
a supply of disposable ear plugs.
The supervisor must ensure that the following are maintained:
- Signs posted at the entrance to any work area where noise
levels equal or exceed 85 dBA;
- Supply hearing protection to his/her employee(s) at no cost to
the employee(s);
- Enforcement of the wearing of hearing protection in the
designated areas using established disciplinary procedures;
- Hearing Protection Devices (HPD) are used and maintained as
originally intended and in accordance with instructions
provided.
The supervisor is also responsible for coordinating and scheduling
HCP training for all University of Pennsylvania personnel who
participate in the HCP with EHRS.
Employees are responsible for wearing and maintaining hearing
protective devices as instructed. Employees enrolled in the
University's Hearing Conservation Program must also participate in
annual training programs and the medical surveillance program, which
includes baseline and annual audiometric testing.