Download 08_ih_standard_wkp_-ih_-_007_hearing

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
STANDARD
North American Operations
Standard Number
WKP – IH - 007
Date
3-10-08
Revised
HEARING CONSERVATION
Purpose
It is recognized that the potential exists across Cleveland-Cliffs operations for employees to be
exposed to noise levels exceeding regulatory and best practice noise exposure limits.
Workplace noise hazard assessment, evaluation, control, and employee examinations /
evaluations must be completed in order to reduce the possibility for employee noise
overexposures and noise induced hearing loss at Cleveland-Cliff’s sites.
1.0 Scope
This standard will provide the guidelines for site specific development of hearing conservation
programs.
1.2 Responsibility
 The site General Manager and Area Managers are responsible to support and provide
adequate resources for the successful creation, implementation, and ongoing
maintenance of the site specific hearing conservation program.
 The Area Safety Manager is responsible for administration of the hearing conservation
program.
 Employees are responsible to fully support and participate in program activities.
2.0 Site Specific Requirements
2.1 Mandatory – The following elements will be included in all Cleveland-Cliffs Site hearing
conservation programs/ processes
 Noise surveys and noise dosimetry of all job classifications will be conducted in order
to identify noise levels and exposures above 85 dBA. Risk ranking, identification of
“similar exposure groups” and prioritization of highest risk employee groups will be given
priority attention in the sampling strategy plan.
 Noise “mapping” each site specific hearing conservation standard will identify the
process by which the site will be comprehensively’ mapped” for noise exposure
potentials, and the means by which the information will be (is) communicated to the
facility employees
 A site specific training plan will be developed which will outline the process by which
employees will be trained/educated on the site specific hearing conservation program
 All employees who are exposed to noise levels above 85 dBA will be required to enter
the site hearing conservation program
 All employees entered into the site hearing conservation program will be required to
wear hearing protection whenever they are working in areas where exposures to noise
may exceed 85 dBA.
 Baseline audiometric examination will be conducted on all employees entered into the
hearing conservation program, and all newly hired employees to establish an initial
baseline. Initial baselines will be taken in both ears in the 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000,
and 8000 – hertz ranges.
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
Initial baselines will be compared to annual audiograms. Any employee whose baseline
shows a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in either ear in the 1000 to 4000 hertz
frequencies of 10 decibels will be:
1. Retested within 30 days to verify threshold shift
2. Evaluated immediately for noise exposure and proper use of hearing protection.
3. The employee will be required to use hearing protection at all times in operating
areas of the property
4. The employee will be referred out for medical evaluation and recommendations
for further protective measures
5. Notified in writing, within 30 days, the results of the baseline audiometric exam
and the results of the comparison between hearing exams.



After a STS is detected and verified, annual audiometric examination will be increased to
bi-annual audiometric examination for this employee, Bi-annual examinations will be
conducted until two (2) consecutive examinations reveal no threshold shift of ten (10)
decibels, the last audiogram taken will be used to establish a new baseline for the
employee.
After a new baseline audiogram is established, the employee will continue under the
hearing conservation program guidelines for annual audiometric examination.
Any employee whose baseline comparison shows a hearing loss in either ear in the
1000 to 4000 hertz frequencies of twenty five (25) decibels or more will be:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Required to use hearing protection at all times in operating areas of the property.
Retested within 30 days to verify the loss.
Evaluated immediately for noise exposure, and proper use of hearing protection.
The employee will be referred out for medical evaluation and recommendations
for further protective measures.
5. Notified in writing within 30 days, of the results of the baseline audiometric
exams, and the recommendations of the referral Physician
6. Annual audiometric examinations will be increased to bi-annual audiometric
examination for this employee. Bi-annual examinations will be conducted until
two (2) consecutive examinations reveal no threshold shift of ten (10) or more
decibels. The last audiogram taken will be used to establish a new baseline for
the employee,
7. Confirmed hearing losses in either ear in the 1000 to 4000 hertz frequencies of
twenty five (25) decibels or more will be reported to MSHA using MSHA form
7000-1
All site specific Hearing Conservation Programs must meet or exceed the elements of CFR
30, Part 62
3.0 Document Security
3.1 Mandatory – All documents reflecting medical evaluations regarding personal noise /
hearing loss issues including audiometric exams information are to be considered strictly
confidential and filed in the employee’s site medical file. Personal medical evaluation
documents are not to be left lying on desks, left on copying machines etc.
3.2 Document Distribution – Each site will establish its own filing and distribution procedure
which will be in compliance with the requirements of the CCI IH document standard – WKP
– IH – 004
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4. Electronic Document Distribution Security - Each site will be responsible to
Develop their own electronic filing system provided it meets or exceeds all
Provisions of part #3 of this document.
5. Noise Exposure Action Levels
Provision Condition
Action Required by Management
§ 62.120 Employee’s noise
None
exposure is less
than the action level
§ 62.120 Employee’s
exposure equals or
exceeds the action
level, but does not
exceed the
permissible
exposure level
(PEL)
Management enrolls the employee in hearing
conservation program (HCP) which includes (1) a
system of monitoring, (2) voluntary, with two
exceptions, use of operator-provided hearing
protectors, (3) voluntary audiometric testing, (4)
training, and (5) record keeping.
§ 62.130 Employee’s
exposure exceeds
the PEL
Operator uses/continues to use all feasible
engineering and administrative controls to reduce
exposure to PEL; enrolls the employee in a HCP
including ensured use of operator-provided hearing
protectors; posts administrative controls and provides
copy to affected employee; must never permit a
employee to be exposed to sound levels exceeding
115 dba.
§ 62.140 Employee’s
exposure exceeds
the dual hearing
protection level
Operator enrolls the employee in a HCP, continues
to meet all the requirements of § 62.130, ensures
concurrent use of earplug and earmuff.
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