A Model Hearing 

Conservation Program

David C. Byrne

Mining Hearing Loss Prevention Workshop

June 21-22, 2005

Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
If you have a hearing loss, this 

is what you might hear when 

someone is talking to you...

Our o i e i on e wel loor
...but if you had normal 

hearing, you would hear this.

Our office is on the twelfth floor
Standards and Guidelines

• MSHA Part 62 – Occupational Noise 

Exposure

• NIOSH Practical Guide – “Preventing 

Occupational Hearing Loss”

• NIOSH 1998 Criteria Document –

“Occupational Noise Exposure”

• A Model Hearing Conservation 

Program for Coal Miners (Penn State 

University)
Hearing Conservation Program

• The purpose of a Hearing Conservation 

Program (HCP) is to prevent the 

occurrence or reduce the progression of 

noise-induced hearing loss. 

• An MSHA-compliant HCP includes:

– Noise exposure monitoring

– Hearing protection 

– Hearing testing 

– Training

– Recordkeeping
Hearing Conservation Program

• A NIOSH-recommended Hearing Loss 

Prevention Program (HLPP) includes:

– Initial/annual audits of procedures

– Noise exposure monitoring

– Engineering/administrative noise 

controls

– Hearing testing

– Hearing protection 

– Education and motivation of workers

– Recordkeeping

– Program evaluation
HLPP Program Audit

• 1st step – before any changes are 

made or a new program is 

implemented

• “Business Plan”

–Administrative issues; regulations

–Company policies

–Responsible individual(s)

– Individual roles (who/when/how 

measures noise levels, performs hearing 

tests, orders hearing protectors, 

performs training, etc.)
HLPP Program Audit

• Administrative issues should be

examined first

• Next, go through each element 

of program

• Appendix B - NIOSH Practical 

Guide has a Program 

Evaluation Checklist 

• Review audit annually – easily 

identify shortcomings or 

problems
Monitoring Noise Exposures

• This part of the Hearing Conservation 

Program is done with either a sound level 

meter (SLM) or a dosimeter.

• These SLM or dosimeter noise exposure 

level measurements determine if a 

miner’s noise exposure levels are equal to 

or greater than 85 dB(A), called the Action 

Level.

• All miners whose noise exposure equals or 

exceeds the Action Level are required to 

be enrolled in an HCP.
Noise Measuring Devices

• The noise dosimeter is worn by a miner 

as he goes about his daily work. The 

dosimeter takes many noise 

measurements and compiles them into 

a final reading.

•A SLM also measures the noise 

levels, but the noise levels are 

recorded and the exposures are 

calculated by a person.
Engineering & Administrative 

Noise Controls

• 1st line of defense against loud noise

• Remove the hazard or remove the 

worker

• Goal: reduce the noise level so that 

the other elements of the HLPP are 

not necessary

• Technological vs. economic feasibility

• “Buy Quiet” policy for new 

equipment
Maintaining Noise Controls

• After noise controls have 

been established, they 

must be consciously 

implemented by miners 

and operators.

• Engineering controls must

be maintained.
Changes in equipment

• If equipment has aged, sounds 

differently, or is in need of maintenance, 

miners need to notify their supervisors.
Hearing Testing

• Hearing ability is 

measured for different 

tones in each ear

• The miner wears 

earphones and is placed in 

a test room (low 

background noise)

• Hearing thresholds are 

recorded and plotted on a 

graph called an audiogram
Audiogram

• An audiogram is 

a graphic 

representation of 

a miner’s hearing 

levels for 

different pitched 

sounds for each 

ear. 
Baseline Audiogram

• The 1st hearing test is called the 

baseline audiogram. Future 

audiograms are then compared with 

the baseline to determine if a miner’s 

hearing has gotten worse

• Done within 6 months of being 

enrolled in a HCP or within 12 months 

if a mobile testing service is used
Baseline Audiogram

• The miner should be 

in a quiet area for 

14 hours or wear 

hearing protectors if 

he/she is working.

• This also means that 

loud noises at home 

should be avoided 

before the hearing test. 
The Hearing Test

• There is no passing or failing a hearing 

“test.”

• Current test is compared to the baseline 

hearing test -- changes in a miner’s hearing 

can be easily detected. 

• If changes are found, immediate action must 

be taken (so that it doesn’t continue to get 

worse)
Standard Threshold Shift

• A Standard Threshold Shift (STS) 

is a decrease in a miner’s hearing 

by an average of 10 dB compared 

to the baseline audiogram.

• Miners need to:

– start wearing hearing protectors, or

– be re-trained about wearing 

protectors, or

– wear more effective hearing 

protectors. 
Scheduling Hearing Tests

Audiograms should be performed 

on the following occasions:

1.Pre-employment (before 

assignment to a noise-hazardous 

area)

2.Annually [when TWA 85 dB(A)]

3.Re-assignment out of a noisehazardous job

4.Termination of employment
Scheduling Hearing Tests

Whether an outside vendor or in-house 

person conducts the hearing tests.......

1. Equipment calibration (audiometer and 

booth) is important

2. Audiometric technicians should be trained 

to CAOHC requirements

3. Testing should be done under the 

supervision of an audiologist or physician
Scheduling Hearing Tests

• Baseline tests -- 14 hours 

noise-free

• Annual tests -- midway 

through or at the end of 

the workshift

– Check for insufficient noise 

controls or inadequate use of

hearing protectors

– Immediately compare 

annual to baseline to identify

changes and give feedback 

(training opportunity)
Hearing Protection Devices

• As part of the HCP, miners must be offered a 

choice of hearing protection devices

• Procurement officers should not be able to 

over-ride the selection made by HLPP personnel
Training

Training is done to explain: 

(MSHA standard)

• The effects of noise on hearing

• Purpose and value of wearing hearing 

protectors

• Advantages and disadvantages of the hearing 

protectors being offered

• Care, fitting, and use of hearing protectors

• miners’ and operators’ tasks in maintaining 

noise controls

• Purpose and value of audiometric testing
Education & Motivation

• Those who understand 

the reasons for the HLPP 

are more likely to 

participate

• Managers/supervisors 

must attend training 

sessions (outline 

company policies and 

show commitment)

• Training must be tailored

to the audience and their

particular needs

SUPERVISOR 

INVOLVEMENT

IS THE KEY TO 

SUCCESS!
Education & Motivation

• Speakers/presenters must be capable 

of getting the miners’ attention

• Peers are often very influential (e.g., if 

a senior miner already has a hearing 

loss)

• Training is best done in small groups 

(e.g., miners that work together and 

have similar noise exposures)

• Training is also very effective at the 

time of the annual hearing test
Recordkeeping

• The mine operator is responsible for 

keeping the records of all hearing 

tests.

• Hearing tests, noise surveys, training

records, other supporting documents,

etc. are often needed many years 

after they are collected. If they are 

not stored properly (or if it cannot be

determined that they were/are still 

valid), then they are useless.
Program Evaluation

• Mine operator needs to evaluate how 

well the program is working (i.e., is 

hearing loss being prevented?)

–Assess compliance with all 5 elements 

(regulatory requirements)

– Evaluate the audiometric data, both 

for individuals and for groups 

• ANSI Technical Report - Evaluating the 

Effectiveness of Hearing Conservation 

Programs through Audiometric Data Base 

Analysis (ANSI S12.13 TR-2002)
Hearing Conservation Program

• In addition to preserving hearing, a 

Hearing Conservation Program has 

other benefits for the employer:

1. Compliance with laws/regulations 

(avoid citations and/or fines)

2. Promotes good labor relations 

(shows that management is 

concerned) – improves morale

3. Reduced employee absenteeism 
Hearing Conservation Program

• In addition to preserving hearing, a 

Hearing Conservation Program has 

other benefits for the employer:

4. Increased productivity 

(communication is easier with lower 

noise levels)

5. Reduction in workplace 

injuries/accidents/lost time

6. Lower worker’s compensation rates 

(due to fewer claims)
Other Noisy Activities

• Many activities (outside of work) 

can potentially damage hearing

• Employers should encourage 

employees to take earplugs home 

for use during noisy activities (will 

help reduce work-related claims).
Hearing Conservation Program

Employee benefits:

1. Preserves hearing for social situations with 

family/friends

2. Preserves hearing for future work where 

good hearing is a prerequisite

3. Can detect hearing loss due to other causes 

(other than noise exposure)

4. Employees will feel better (less tired and 

irritable) – less stress which may lead to 

cardio-vascular disease

5. Avoid tinnitus
Policy Needs

• Company policies relating to the HLPP 

should consider/address:

1. Corporate environment should promote a 

safety culture where employees are 

empowered to protect their own health

2. Program policies should be based on 

effective practices, rather than just 

compliance with government regulations

3. HLPP must be a part of the overall 

company health and safety program
Policy Needs

• Company policies relating to the HLPP 

should consider/address:

4. A key individual should have ultimate 

responsibility for the HLPP

5. The person in charge of the HLPP should 

work with management and employees to 

develop and implement plans/policies

6. Compliance with the company’s HLPP 

should be a condition of employment
Policy Needs

• Company policies relating to the 

HLPP should consider/address:

7. SOPs for each phase of the HLPP 

should be documented. Specific 

policy statements might include:

• How noise surveys are scheduled

• Procedures for audiometric testing

• How records are maintained

• Purchasing of hearing protectors
Personnel Requirements

• One person should be ultimately 

responsible for the entire HLPP

– This individual will ensure that all aspects 

of the program are fully and properly 

administered

– The primary requirement should be that 

this person is genuinely interested in 

the job

– His/her position/background/qualifications 

are not as important as the ability to 

focus management and worker attention 

on hearing conservation issues
Personnel Requirements

• One person should be 

ultimately responsible for

the entire HLPP

– This individual’s stature in 

the organization should 

allow him/her to make 

decisions, correct 

deficiencies, enforce 

compliance, and supervise 

other team members

regarding HLPP issues
Personnel Requirements

• In addition to the program’s overall 

coordinator, one person should be 

responsible for the audiometric 

aspects of the HLPP

– The professional qualifications of this 

person are important (i.e., should be an 

audiologist or physician specializing in 

otology or occupational medicine)

– In some cases, a company will hire an 

audiologist or have a staff medical 

doctor that oversees the entire HLPP
Personnel Requirements

• In-house staff is not always able to 

provide all of the necessary services...

– If audiometric testing is contracted out, 

the vendor must understand and agree to 

abide by the company’s policies and SOPs 

(i.e., the vendor reports to the person in 

charge of the HLPP just as if he/she was 

under that person’s supervision)

– Regardless of whether outside contractors 

are used, responsibility for the HLPP 

should stay with the in-house person
Miners vs. Non-exposed

• Research has shown 

that miners usually 

have poorer hearing 

than other people 

who are not 

exposed to 

hazardous noise.

• The HCP is intended 

to make sure that a 

miners’ hearing will 

not get worse.
Summary

• Miners who have invested 

much of their time on the job 

should be able enjoy their life 

outside of work; to talk with 

friends, hear children, listen 

to music, enjoy the sounds in 

nature.

• Conserving hearing today enables a 

miner to communicate with fellow 

miners, hear faulty machinery, or 

listen for “roof talk.”
References

• Text

– Berger, Elliot H., “The Hearing Conservation Amendment (Part 

I),” EARlog 11, EARLog, Aearo Company, 1983, 

http://www.cabotsafety.com/html/industrial/earlog11.htm

– Bise, Christopher, “Noise,” Concepts in Mine Health and Safety 

Management, Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration

– “Employee Responsibilities,” Audiometric Evaluation, Preventing 

Occupational Hearing Loss, A Practical Guide, Edited by John R. 

Franks, Mark R. Stephenson, and Carol J. Merry, NIOSH, CDC, 

DHHS, June 1996, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/96-

110k.html#ER

– “Exposure Levels,” Compliance Guide to MSHA's Occupational 

Noise Exposure Standard, MSHA, Available July 25, 2000, 

http://www.msha.gov/regs/complian/guides/noise/guide303.ht

m#expose

– Health Standards to Protect Miners from Hearing Loss, U.S. 

Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 

September 1999 

http://www.msha.gov/1999noise/noiseinfo.pdf

– Suter, Alice, Hearing Conservation Manual, CAOHC, pg. 11, 98
References

• Figures and Illustrations ------------------Slides

– Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss, A Practical Guide, 

Edited by John R. Franks, Mark R. Stephenson, and Carol J. 

Merry, NIOSH, CDC, DHHS, June 1996, 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/96-110a.html

– Flinn, Alan, “Westone Design,” The Art of Westone, 

Westone, Available July 25, 2000, 

http://www.earmold.com/face.htm 

– “Hearing Protection,” North Safety Products, Available July 

25, 2000, http://www.northsafety.com/plugdsps.htm

– “KHW-96,” Earmuff Hearing Protectors, Silenico, 

Silencio/Safety Direct, Inc. 1998, http://www.silencio.com/

– Larson Davis, A PCB Group Co., Larson Davis, Inc. 2000, 

http://www.lardav.com/ 

– Microsoft Clip Gallery Version 5.0, Microsoft Corporation, 

1998

– “Mining Noise Hazards in Underground Coal Mining,” video, 

U.S. Department of the Interior

– “Office Presentation,” PicturesNOW!, Image Gallery, 1999, 

http://picturesnow.com/html/index.asp?rand=12&uc=0&un

=&search=listen&area=pn
For more information

• DByrne@cdc.gov

– Voice (412) 386-6576 FAX (412) 386-4865

• NIOSH Criteria For A Recommended 

Standard - Occupational Noise Exposure -

Revised Criteria 1998 

– http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/98-126.html

• NIOSH Preventing Occupational Hearing 

Loss -- A Practical Guide

– http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/96-110a.html