NIST S 7101-55_Hearing Protection_01072021.pdf

NIST S 7101.55 (Uncontrolled Copy in Print) Page 1

HEARING PROTECTION 3

NIST S 7101.55 5

Document Approval Date1: 01/07/2021 6

Effective Date: 04/01/2015 7

1. PURPOSE 10

The purpose of the NIST Hearing Protection Program (HPP) is to reduce the risk of occupational 11 hearing loss through recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace noise-related hazards. 12

2. BACKGROUND 15

a. NIST must meet or exceed the requirements established by OSHA in 29 Code of Federal 16

Regulations (CFR) 1910.95, Occupational Noise Exposure. Implementation of this suborder 17 through the requirements in Section 6 and the roles and responsibilities in Section 9 exceeds 18 those requirements. 19

b. This suborder supersedes NIST Health and Safety Instruction (HSI) 4, Hearing Conservation 21 Program, March 1992. 22

3. APPLICABILITY 25

This suborder applies to NIST employees and associates who, in the conduct of their official 26 duties, could receive noise doses that equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits, defined in Section 27 6a. It also addresses nuisance noise, defined in Section 7. 28

4. REFERENCES 31

a. 29 CFR 1910.95, Occupational Noise Exposure 32

b. 29 CFR 1904.10, Recording of Cases Involving Occupational Hearing Loss 34

1 The revision history for this document can be found in Appendix A.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9641

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c. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit 36 Values: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents, 2001, 7th Ed. 37

d. Criteria for a Recommended Standard, Occupational Noise Exposure; Department of Health 39 and Human Services [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)] 40 Publication Number 98-126 41

e. American National Standard, Acoustical Terminology, American National Standards 43 Institute (ANSI) S1.1-1994 (R2004) 44

f. American National Standard, Specification for Sound-Level Meters, ANSI S1.4-1983 46

(R2006)/ANSI S1.4A-1985 (R2006) 47

g. OSHA Publication 3074, “Hearing Conservation,” revised edition, 2002 49

5. APPLICABLE NIST OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH SUBORDERS 52

a. NIST S 7101.20: Work and Worker Authorization Based on Hazard Reviews; 53

b. NIST S 7101.21: Personal Protective Equipment; 55

c. NIST S 7101.23: Safety Education and Training; and 57

d. NIST S 7101.22: Hazard Signage. 59

6. REQUIREMENTS2 62

Requirements include the specification of NIST noise dose limits; hazard identification; hazard 63 assessment; control methods, including hearing protection devices (HPDs) selected by competent 64 persons; use of HPDs; audiometric testing; re-review of activity hazard reviews; training; noise-65 monitoring records; communication; and buy-quiet initiative, all implemented to ensure that 66 employees and associates do not receive noise doses that equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits. 67 In essence, if potential noise doses equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits, engineering or 68 administrative controls must be implemented. If such controls fail to reduce potential noise doses 69 to less than NIST noise dose limits, HPDs must be provided and used to reduce potential noise 70 doses to less than NIST noise dose limits.3 71

2 The requirements in this section apply to employees and associates who, in the conduct of their official duties, could receive noise doses that equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits, and their management.

3 The requirements delineated below for noise doses that equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits, augmented by the responsibilities in Section 9, constitute NIST’s Hearing Conservation Program. NIST’s Hearing Conservation Program is more protective than that specified by OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.95(c), Hearing Conservation Program.

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3074.pdf

NIST S 7101.55 (Uncontrolled Copy in Print) Page 3

a. NIST Noise Dose Limits 72

(1) Unprotected employees and associates shall not be exposed, during a work day, to noise 74 levels above 80 dBA for durations that would result in their receiving noise doses, D, 75 that equal or exceed 100%, where D is calculated from: 76

D = [(C1/T1) + (C2/T2) +…+ (Cn/Tn)] x 100%. 78

Here, Ci is the total exposure time, during a work day, at a specified noise level Li (≥ 80 80 dBA), and Ti is the time exposure limit at that noise level calculated from the following 81 equations: 82

T = 8 / 2(L – 85)/5 for 80 ≤ L < 85 84

T = 8 / 2(L – 85)/3 for L ≥ 85, 86 with L measured on the A-scale of a standard sound-level meter set at SLOW response 88 and T measured in hours.4 Use of these equations yields the following time exposure 89 limits, T, at different sounds levels, L: 90

L (dBA) T (h)

80 16 81 13.93 82 12.13 83 10.56 84 9.19 85 8 86 6.35 87 5.04 88 4 89 3.17 90 2.52 91 2 92 1.59 93 1.26 94 1

4 The equation for L > 85 dBA corresponds to that for the time exposure limits established by ACGIH. The equation for 80 dBA ≤ L < 85 dBA corresponds to that for the action levels established by OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.95(c). Its use in that range, rather than the equation for L ≥ 85 dBA, is necessary to ensure compliance by NIST with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(c) for exposure times greater than 8 hours.

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97 0.5 100 0.25 103 0.13 106 0.06 109 0.03 112 0.02

(2) Protected employees and associates shall not be exposed to noise levels that would result 93 in their receiving noise doses that equal or exceed 100%, taking into account the 94 attenuation provided by the use of HPDs. 95

b. Hazard Identification 97

(1) If a concern arises5 regarding potential noise hazards in an already ongoing activity, a 99 consultation shall be scheduled as soon as possible with a competent person to determine 100 if noise doses could equal or exceed 100%.6 101

(2) If the hazard review of a new activity identifies potential noise hazards, a consultation 103 shall be scheduled with a competent person to determine if noise doses could equal or 104 exceed 100%. 105

(3) If the hazard review of a change in an existing activity identifies new noise hazards or 107 potential increases in previously identified noise hazards, a consultation shall be 108 scheduled with a competent person to reevaluate potential noise doses. 109

c. Hazard Assessment 111

(1) If consultation with a competent person indicates that noise doses could equal or exceed 113 100%, arrangements shall be made for a competent person to conduct noise monitoring to 114 determine the noise dose. 115

5 Such a concern could be raised by any individual, e.g., a worker, a coworker, a supervisor, a Division Safety Representative, or a competent person.

6 For definitions of “Potential Noise Hazard,” “Noise Hazard,” and “Competent Person,” see Section 7.

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d. Control Methods 122

(1) Noise Doses that Equal or Exceed 100% 124

(a) Feasible7 engineering or administrative controls (such as noise-attenuating devices, 126 worker relocation, and reduced exposure times) shall be implemented in an effort to 127 reduce noise doses to less than 100%. 128

(b) If feasible engineering and administrative controls fail to reduce noise doses to less 130 than 100%, HPDs identified by a competent person as providing sufficient noise 131 attenuation shall be provided and used to reduce noise doses to less than 100%. 132

(3) Nuisance Noise 134

(a) If practicable, engineering and administrative controls should be implemented to 136 reduce nuisance noise or exposure to nuisance noise. 137

(b) HPDs may be used to reduce exposure to nuisance noise provided that their use does 139 not impede the ability of employees and associates to engage in necessary 140 communications or to hear alarms or other notifications. Decisions to wear HPDs to 141 reduce nuisance noise should be made on a case-by-case basis. 142

e. Use of HPDs 144

(1) HPDs other than ear muffs shall not be traded or shared in work areas in which 146 unprotected employees and associates would receive noise doses that equal or exceed 147 100%. 148

(2) Ear muffs traded or shared in work areas in which unprotected employees and associates 150 would receive noise doses that equal or exceed 100% shall be sanitized between uses. 151

(3) The use of audio headphones or ear buds in place of, or in conjunction with, HPDs is 153 prohibited.8 154

7 OSHA currently considers feasible engineering and administrative controls to be those for which the costs of such controls are less than the cost of an effective Hearing Conservation Program.

8 OSHE may waive this requirement on a case-by-case basis, e.g., in the case of headphones which have been rated by ANSI for noise reduction and which have been determined by a competent person to provide sufficient noise attenuation.

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f. Audiometric Testing 158

(1) All employees and associates required to wear HPDs to reduce noise doses to less than 160

100% shall be subject to the following audiometric testing requirements: 161

(a) Within 30 days of it being determined that an employee must wear HPDs, the 163 employee must receive an audiogram administered by the Health Unit and to be used 164 as the baseline against which subsequent audiograms are compared. 165

(b) Employees and associates required to wear HPDs must receive annual audiograms 167 administered or arranged by the Health Unit. 168

(c) All baseline and repeat annual audiograms shall be preceded by at least 14 hours 170 without exposure to workplace noise at levels above 80 dBA and should be preceded 171 by at least 14 hours without exposure to non-workplace noise at levels above 80 172 dBA.9 173

(d) If an employee’s annual audiogram shows a NIOSH significant threshold shift 175 (NSTS) or an OSHA standard threshold shift (OSTS), the employee must receive a 176 repeat audiogram administered by the Health Unit within 30 days. 177

g. Re-Review of Activity Hazard Reviews 179

(1) Upon determination by the Health Unit that an OSTS has occurred, the applicable activity 181 hazard review shall be re-reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard 182 Review suborder. 183

(2) As part of the re-review of the hazard review, a consultation shall be scheduled with a 185 competent person to re-evaluate the noise exposures of affected employees and 186 associates. 187

h. Training 189

(1) Training provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP shall be completed annually by employees 191 and associates required to wear HPDs to reduce noise doses to less than 100%. 192

9 When at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise cannot be achieved, HPDs identified previously by a competent person may be used as a substitute during that period for the requirement that baseline audiograms be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise.

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(2) Retraining provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP, including refitting of HPDs, should be 194 completed by each employee who has been notified by the Health Unit that he or she has 195 suffered a NSTS. 196

(3) Retraining provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP, including refitting of HPDs, shall be 198 completed by each employee who has been notified by the Health Unit that he or she has 199 suffered an OSTS. 200

(4) One-time-only training provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP shall be completed by 202 Official First-Level Supervisors of employees and associates required to wear HPDs to 203 reduce noise doses to less than 100%. 204

(5) One-time training provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP should be completed by 206 employees and associates exposed to nuisance noise who elect, or who are mandated by 207 their management, to wear HPDs. 208

(6) Training shall be recorded in accordance with the requirements of the NIST Safety 210 Education and Training Program, and training records made available to affected 211 employees and associates upon request. 212

i. Noise-Monitoring Records 214

(1) The results of hazard assessments, i.e., the results of consultations, including the results 216 of sound-level-meter screening surveys, noise monitoring, identified engineering and 217 administrative controls, and required HPDs, shall be noted, referenced, or included as 218 part of the activity-hazard-review documentation. 219

(2) Noise-monitoring results requiring employees and associates to wear HPDs to reduce 221 noise doses to less than 100% shall be provided to the Health Unit for inclusion in 222 employee medical files. 223

j. Communication 225

(1) Hazard signage shall be posted at entrances to areas in which administrative controls or 227 HPDs are required to reduce noise doses to less than 100%. Hazard signage shall clearly 228 indicate the noise hazard and state the required administrative controls and HPDs. 229 Appendix B provides an example of hazard signage meeting these requirements. 230

(2) Electronic or hard copies of this suborder and of 29 CFR 1910.95 shall be made available 232 to affected employees and associates or their representatives. 233

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k. Buy-Quiet Initiative 234

(1) Manufacturers’ noise specifications should be evaluated by a competent person prior to 236 the purchase of equipment capable of producing noise hazards. If a quieter alternative is 237 available, it should be considered; if not, the use of noise-attenuating devices should be 238 considered. 239

7. DEFINITIONS 242

a. Audibility Threshold – The sound intensity at a given frequency which is the minimum 243 perceptible by a normal human ear under specified standard conditions. 244

b. Audiogram – A chart, graph, or table resulting from an audiometric test showing an 246 individual’s hearing levels as a function of frequency. 247

c. Audiologist – A professional specializing in the study and rehabilitation of hearing, and 249 certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or licensed by a state board 250 of examiners. 251

d. Audiometric Test – A clinical evaluation of a person’s hearing capacity using a calibrated, 253 pure-tone audiometer and performed in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95(g) and (h). 254

e. Baseline Audiogram – An audiogram that is preceded by a 14-hour period of quiet and 256 obtained from an audiometric examination administered before employment or within the 257 first 30 days of employment. 258

f. Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) – An individual who is board certified by the American 260

Board of Industrial Hygiene and has met the minimum requirements for education, 261 experience, and through examination has demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge in 262 occupational health subject areas such as hearing protection. 263

g. Certified Safety Professional (CSP) – An individual who is board certified by the Board of 265

Certified Safety Professionals and has met the professional challenge of demonstrating 266 competency through education, experience, and examination. 267

h. Competent Person – A CIH or CSP in the NIST Office of Safety, Health and Environment 269

(OSHE) or another NIST Organizational Unit (OU), a consultant CIH or CSP, or an 270 individual directed by a CIH or CSP, who is capable of recognizing, controlling, and 271 evaluating potential occupational hazards. 272

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i. dB – Decibel. See Sound Pressure Level. 274

j. dBA – Unit representing the sound level measured in dB on the A-weighted scale of a sound-276 level meter. The A-weighted scale closely resembles how the human ear perceives common 277 sounds. 278

k. dBC – Unit representing the sound level measured in dB on the C-weighted scale of a sound-280 level meter. The C-weighted scale represents how the human ear perceives sound at high 281 sound levels. 282

l. Frequency – The number of cycles of a periodic motion per unit time. The SI unit of 284 frequency is Hertz (Hz). 285

m. Hearing Protection Device (HPD) - A type of personal protective equipment specifically 287 designed to prevent hearing damage. Earplugs and earmuffs are the most common hearing 288 protection devices. 289

n. Hertz (Hz) – Unit of measurement of frequency, numerically equal to cycles/second (c/s). 291

o. Intermittent Noise – Noise levels that are interrupted by intervals of relatively low sound 293 levels. 294

p. NIOSH Significant Threshold Shift (NSTS) – An increase in an individual’s audibility 296 threshold value of 15 dB or more at any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 297 6000 Hz, in either ear, from the baseline audiogram to the current audiogram. 298

q. Noise Dosimeter – An instrument that integrates cumulative noise exposure over time and 300 directly indicates noise dose. Noise dosimeters are used to conduct noise monitoring during a 301 work day or monitoring period. 302

r. Noise Hazard – Sound within the audible frequency range heard by the human ear (20 – 304

20,000 Hertz) at levels that, without controls, would result in employees and associates 305 receiving noise doses that equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits (see Section 6a). 306

s. Noise Monitoring – Process or method of measuring a person’s individual exposure to noise 308 levels over a given time period. 309

t. Nuisance Noise – Noise which would not result in employees and associates receiving noise 311 doses that equal or exceed NIST noise dose limits (see Section 6a) but which is capable of 312 causing discomfort. 313

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u. Octave Band Analyzer – A type of sound-level meter that can separate monitored noise 314 levels into specific frequency bands. 315

v. OSHA-Recordable Standard Threshold Shift – An OSTS in an individual with an overall 317 hearing level of 25 dB or more above audiometric zero, averaged at the frequencies 2000, 318 3000, and 4000 Hz in the same ear as the OSTS, that has been determined by an audiologist 319 or physician to be workplace-noise induced. 320

w. OSHA Standard Threshold Shift (OSTS) – An increase of 10 dB or more in the average of an 322 individual’s audibility threshold values at the frequencies 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz, in either 323 ear, from the baseline audiogram to the current audiogram. 324

x. Peak Noise Level – The highest instantaneous sound pressure level recorded during a 326 measurement interval. Peak measurements are independent of noise dosimeter settings for 327 response rate or weighting. According to 29 CFR 1910.95, unprotected employees and 328 associates may not be exposed to peak noise levels greater than 140 dBC. 329

y. Potential Noise Hazard – Sound within the audible frequency range heard by the human ear 331

(20 – 20000 Hertz) that makes it difficult to have a conversation with someone three feet 332 away, or has resulted in a complaint by one or more employees and associates, and to which 333 there is a reasonable likelihood that employees and associates could be exposed. 334

z. Sound-Level Meter – An instrument used to measure noise levels. A Type 1 sound-level 336 meter is used for precision measurements in the field, and a Type 2 sound level-meter is used 337 for general-purpose measurements. 338

aa. Sound Pressure – The root-mean-square instantaneous sound pressure at a point during a 340 given time interval. 341

bb. Sound Pressure Level (dB) – Ten times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the time-343 mean-square sound pressure, in a stated frequency band, to the square of the reference sound 344 pressure in gases of 20 µPa. 345

cc. Temporary Threshold Shift – A temporary shift in an ear’s audibility threshold possibly 347 caused by exposure to high-intensity acoustic stimuli. It also may be caused by the use of 348 aspirin or other drugs. 349

dd. Unprotected Employee – An employee not wearing hearing protection devices. 351

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8. ACRONYMS 354

a. ACGIH – American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists 355

b. ANSI – American National Standards Institute 357

c. CFR – Code of Federal Regulations 359

d. CIH – Certified Industrial Hygienist 361

e. CSP – Certified Safety Professional 363

f. HPD – Hearing Protection Device 365

g. HPP – Hearing Protection Program 367

h. NIOSH – National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 369

i. NIST – National Institute of Standards and Technology 371

j. NSTS – NIOSH Significant Threshold Shift 373

k. OSHE – Office of Safety, Health, and Environment 375

l. OU – Organizational Unit 377

m. STS – Standard Threshold Shift 379

9. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 382

a. Employees and Associates Engaged in Activities that Could Result in Their Receiving Noise 383

Doses that Equal or Exceed 100%: 384

(1) If a concern arises regarding potential noise hazards in an already ongoing activity, 386 schedule a consultation with a competent person as soon as possible to determine if noise 387 doses could equal or exceed 100%; 388

(2) If the hazard review of a new activity identifies potential noise hazards, schedule a 390 consultation with a competent person to determine if noise doses could equal or exceed 391 100%; 392

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(3) If the hazard review of a change in an existing activity identifies new noise hazards or 394 potential increases in previously identified noise hazards, schedule a consultation with a 395 competent person to reevaluate potential noise doses; 396

(4) Inform Official First-Level Supervisors of any consultations scheduled with competent 398 persons and of the results of those consultations; 399

(5) If consultation with a competent person indicates that noise dose could equal or exceed 401 100%, arrange for a competent person to conduct noise monitoring to determine the noise 402 dose; 403

(6) If the noise dose equals or exceeds 100%, implement feasible engineering or 405 administrative controls (such as noise-attenuating devices, worker relocation and reduced 406 exposure times) in an effort to reduce noise doses to less than 100%; 407

(7) If feasible engineering and administrative controls fail to reduce noise doses to less than 409 100%, use HPDs identified by a competent person to reduce noise doses to less than 410 100%; and 411

(8) Ensure that the results of hazard assessments, i.e., the results of consultations, including 413 the results of sound-level-meter screening surveys, noise monitoring, identified 414 engineering and administrative controls, and required HPDs, are noted, referenced, or 415 included as part of the activity-hazard-documentation. 416

b. Employees and Associates Required to Wear HPDs to Reduce Noise Doses to Less than 418 100% (in addition to the responsibilities of above): 419

(1) Use their HPDs in accordance with the requirements of the activity hazard review and 421 their training on HPD fit, use, and care; 422

(2) Participate in audiometric testing as specified in Section 9f; 424

(3) Complete the annual training provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP; 426

(4) Upon being notified by the Health Unit that they have suffered a NSTS, strongly consider 428 completing the retraining provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP, including refitting of 429 their HPDs, or complete this training if it is assigned to them by their official first-level 430 supervisors; and 431

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(5) Upon being notified by the Health Unit that they have suffered an OSTS, complete the 433 retraining provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP, including refitting of their HPDs. 434

c. Official First-Level Supervisors of Any of the Above Employees and Associates: 436

(1) Ensure that competent persons from outside of OSHE engaged by the OU to conduct 438 hazard assessments and specify HPDs understand the responsibilities delineated below 439 for competent persons; 440

(2) Provide the results of hazard assessments resulting in employees and associates being 442 required to use HPDs to all such affected employees and associates, the OSHE Hearing 443 Program Protection Manager, and the Health Unit for inclusion in employee medical 444 files; 445

(3) Ensure that the results of hazard assessments are noted, referenced, or included as part of 447 the activity-hazard-review documentation; 448

(4) Make electronic or hard copies of this suborder and of 29 CFR 1910.95 available to 450 those employees and associates who are required to wear HPDs, or their representatives; 451

(5) Provide affected employees and associates with HPDs identified by competent persons 453 as providing sufficient noise attenuation, at no cost to affected employees and 454 associates; 455

(6) Provide affected employees and associates the opportunity to select HPDs from a variety 457 of suitable HPDs; 458

(7) Assign training to affected employees and associates in accordance with the 460 requirements in Section 6h; 461

(8) When employees and associates they supervise are required to wear HPDs, complete the 463 one-time only training provided by OSHE on the NIST HPP; 464

(9) Make training records available to affected employees and associates upon request; 466

(10) Ensure that hazard signage meeting the requirements of Section 9j is posted at entrances 468 to areas in which administrative controls or HPDs are required; And 469

(11) Upon being notified by the Health Unit that employees and associates they supervise 471 have suffered workplace-noise-induced OSTSs, ensure that all applicable activity hazard 472

NIST S 7101.55 (Uncontrolled Copy in Print) Page 14 reviews are re-reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Review 473 suborder, and, as part of the re-reviews, that consultations with competent persons are 474 scheduled to re-evaluate the noise exposures of affected employees and associates. 475

d. Employees and Associates Exposed to Nuisance Noise: 477

(1) Strongly consider completing the one-time-only training prescribed by OSHE on the 479

NIST HPP. 480

e. OSHE Hearing Protection Program Manager: 482

(1) Ensure that training provided by OSHE on the HPP is available and includes, at a 484 minimum: 485

(a) An overview of the NIST HPP; 487

(b) Physical and psychological effects of noise and hearing loss; 489

(c) Recognition of noise hazards; 491

(d) Noise control principles: 493

i. Engineering controls; 495

ii. Administrative controls, including hazard signage; and 497

iii. HPDs, including selection, fit, use, and care; and 499

(e) Overview of audiometric-testing requirements; 501

(2) Ensure that training provided by OSHE on the HPP is documented in NIST’s electronic 503 safety training application; 504

(3) Ensure that non-web-based training provided by OSHE on the HPP and completed by 506 affected employees and associates is recorded in NIST’s electronic safety training 507 application; 508

(4) Ensure that all OSHA-recordable OSTSs are recorded on the OSHA 300 log maintained 510 by OSHE in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1904.10, Recording of Cases 511 Involving Occupational Hearing Loss; and 512 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9641

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(5) Assist NIST staff in the development of signage that complies with the requirements of 513 this suborder and the NIST Hazard Signage Program. 514

f. Competent Persons: 516

(1) Consult with potentially affected employees and associates to determine if noise doses 518 could equal or exceed 100%; 519

(2) When it has been determined that noise doses could equal or exceed 100%, conduct noise 521 monitoring, document the results in writing, and provide those results to the employee 522 who scheduled the assessment and his or her Official First-Level Supervisor; 523

(3) When conducting noise monitoring, inform affected employees and associates in areas 525 being monitored, along with any designated employee representatives, of the purpose of 526 the noise monitoring and provide them with the opportunity to observe noise-monitoring 527 activities; 528

(4) When employees and associates are required to wear HPDs to reduce noise doses to less 530 than 100%, specify the necessary protection in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95, 531 Appendix B: "Methods for Estimating the Adequacy of Hearing Protection Attenuation; 532

(5) Recommend a variety of suitable HPDs for selection and proper fit; and 534

(6) If noise monitoring identifies a potential noise hazard or a potential increase in a 536 previously identified noise hazard, work with affected employees and associates to ensure 537 that noise doses do not equal or exceed 100%; 538

(7) Ensure that: 540

(a) Noise screening and octave-band analysis is conducted using ANSI Type 1 or Type 2 542 sound-level meters; 543

(b) Noise monitoring is conducted using ANSI Type 2 noise dosimeters; 545

(c) Noise dosimeters used for noise monitoring integrate all sound levels between 80 547 dBA and 130 dBA and measure peak sound levels up to and including 140 dB; and 548

(d) Sound-level meters and noise dosimeters are calibrated at least annually and 549 according to manufacturers’ specifications; and 550 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9737 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9737

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(8) Re-evaluate the noise exposures of employees and associates who have suffered 552 workplace-noise-induced OSTSs. 553

g. Each Health Unit: 555

(1) Maintain an audiometric testing program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(g), 557 Audiometric Testing Program;10 558

(a) Notify employees and associates that during the 14-hour period immediately 560 preceding a baseline or repeat annual audiometric examination, they must avoid 561 exposure to workplace noise at levels above 80 dBA and should avoid exposure to 562 non-workplace noise at levels above 80 dBA; 563

(2) Conduct audiometric tests in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(h), Audiometric Test 565

Requirements; 566

(3) Determine whether NSTSs and OSTSs have occurred, and upon determining that they 568 have, notify affected employees and associates, affected employees’ and associates’ 569 Official First-Level Supervisors, OU Safety Coordinators, and the OSHE Hearing 570 Protection Program Manager in writing within 21 days; 571

(4) Upon determining that OSTSs have occurred, arrange for audiological evaluations as 573 necessary to assist in determining whether the OSTSs are workplace-noise induced; 574

(5) Upon determining that OSTSs are workplace-noise induced, notify affected employees 576 and associates, affected employees and associates’ Official First-Level Supervisors, OU 577 Safety Coordinators, and the OSHE Hearing Protection Program Manager; and 578

(6) Maintain audiometric test records in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(m), 580 Recordkeeping. 581

10. AUTHORITIES 584

There are no authorities specific to this suborder alone. 585

10 NIST does not use age correction to attempt to differentiate between hearing losses caused by age-related factors and those caused by noise exposures.

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11. DIRECTIVE OWNER 589

Chief Safety Officer 590

12. APPENDICES 593

a. Appendix A. Revision History 594

b. Appendix B. Hazard Signage 595

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Appendix A. Revision History 597

Revision Date Responsible Person

Description of Change

0 03/20/2014 Amber Carlberg None – Initial suborder approval

1 02/06/2015 Richard Kayser 1. Addition of Revision History in Appendices.

2. Revisions throughout to include NIST associates.

3. Addition of NIOSH Significant Threshold Shift.

4. Inclusion of statement that it is NIST policy not to use age-correction factors.

5. Addition of audiological evaluations to assist in making determinations of work-relatedness.

2 01/07/2021 April Camenisch Updated suborder links.

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APPENDIX B: HAZARD SIGNAGE 600

Appendix A. Revision History