All areas where hearing protection is required are posted with appropriate signs in order to alert employees to the need for wearing protective devices. Employees not exposed to noise levels exceeding the accepted guidelines are encouraged to participate whenever possible in the educational programs provided. The Educational Phase begins when employees are hired and continues annually thereafter. It is recognized that the use of these devices is considered a temporary solution to the problem of overexposure until feasible controls are provided. As with all safety equipment, the wearing of hearing protection in required areas is mandatory.
All supervisors properly enforce hearing protection requirements.
Continuing failure of an employee to properly wear the protection provided could result in the termination of employment with the company. The individual responsible for issuing and fitting hearing protection has been trained by and is under the supervision of an audiologist or physician. Fitting and issuing of hearing protective devices begins when employees are hired. In order to achieve this goal, an effective audiometric testing program has been implemented. This program includes audiograms at time of hire, an initial survey of the existing work force whose exposures equal or exceed a TWA of 85 dBA in order to establish baselines, and termination audiograms when possible.