All employees exposed to levels equal to or exceeding a TWA of 85 dBA receive an annual audiometric test. The success of the hearing conservation program with regard to each individual employee is evaluated by comparing annual audiograms to the baseline audiogram. Audiogram review is performed by an audiologist or physician, and recommendations regarding the audiometric results are followed. This procedure, among others, helps to determine the effectiveness of the hearing protection program, and, as a result, ensures the protection of employees' hearing. Initial testing of current employees has been completed, and testing of new employees is conducted when they are hired.
Annual testing is conducted when they are hired.
Annual testing is conducted for all employees whose 8-hour TWA exposure level is 85 dBA or higher. Therefore the feasibility of such controls is carefully considered. Due to the complexity of some machinery used by the company and in view of economic limitations, some noise levels cannot currently be reduced to below acceptable limits. The supplier has been requested to redesign machinery where possible to meet the defined regulations. As an interim solution, the company has considered possible redesign of existing machinery, the building of partial or total enclosures, and other engineering noise control procedures for reducing the existing noise levels, where such procedures are deemed technologically and economically feasible.