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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. Industrial Hygiene WKP –IH-007 Hearing Conservation Page 1 of 3 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 Industrial Hygiene WKP –IH-007 Hearing Conservation Page 2 of 3 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. Industrial Hygiene WKP –IH-007 Hearing Conservation Page 3 of 3