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HomeMy WebLinkAbout96-078•~~~ d~ SUP~'+"~i` • ~~ •• •. t',~'~ • t ~: ~- ~ . a, , ~a~ ** • -w ~ ~•~. •~ '~ ~'~~s~~lufiorl RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BUTTE COUNTY HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM ~~0. 96-78 WHEREAS, the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5095 through 5100 of the General Industry Safety Orders directs employers in California to conduct sound level analyses when information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 8.5 decibels, and; WHEREAS, Butte County conducts sound level analyses and determines employees are exposed to sound levels that are harmful to their hearing, and; WHEREAS, it is the desire of Butte County to protect employees from the harmful effects of noise induced hearing loss and to comply with the provisions of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and; WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Butte County Board of Supervisors to establish guidelines and procedures for the protection of employee's hearing by administering a Hearing Conservation Program in compliance with the California Code of Regulations. This is accomplished through noise measurements, control of noise exposure, and audiometric testing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors as follows: 1. The County of Butte Hearing Conservation Program attached hereto is hereby adopted to become effective immediately. 2. The Chief Administrative Officer is responsible for the Hearing Conservation Program for Butte County employees. This responsibility is hereby delegated to each department head, court officer andJor appointing authority, and the Butte County Safety Officer. 3. It is the responsibility of these persons to ensure the overall implementation of the Hearing Conservation Program by directing the tasks identified in the plan. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 23rd July By the following vote: AWES: Supervisors Meyer, Dolan, Houx, Thomas and Chair McLaughlin NOES: None ABSENT: None NOT VOTING: Nano Ed McLaughli Chair Board of Supervisors ATTEST; JOHN S. BLACKLOCK, Chief Administrative Officer and Cleric of the Board of Supervisors By: CierlclDeputy •,e~~.F ;,s~ . ~:.. ~=~~ - ~t a ~u r~ ;~ HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM Approved By: Board of Supervisors Date: July 1996 Pursuant Ta: Section 5095 - 5100, Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (Cal-OSHA's Occupational Noise Standard) Butte County Hearing Conservation Program Table of Contents Subject Page INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 1 PURPOSE .......................................................... 1 HEARING CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS ............................. 1 Noise Measurements and Exposure Analysis .......................... 2 Control of Noise Exposure ......................................... 2 Annual Audiometric Testing ........................................ 3 HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES ...................................... 3 Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) ..................................... 4 RECORDKEEPING ................................................... 4 TRAINING .......................................................... 4 RESPONSIBILITIES Management ................................................... 5 Supervisors .................................................... 5 Employees ..................................................... 6 Risk Management/Safety .......................................... 6 Personnel ...................................................... 6 APPFNI~IX A DEFINITIONS ............................................. 7 B DEPARTMENTS AND EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM ......... $ C NOISE SURVEYS ........................................9,10 D AUDIOMETRIC TESTING SERVICES AGREEMENT ...........11,12 E3utte County Hearing Conservation Progra INTRODUCTION The human ear is an extremely delicate, highly sensitive instrument. The human ear is capable of responding to frequencies ranging from 20 to 20,000 Hz. A healthy human ear is very sensitive to frequencies ranging from 500 Hz to 4,000 Hz. This range is also generally the range of speech. Our hearing can alert us to our surroundings, whether it be a baby crying, the sound of a moving stream or an approaching vehicle. The human ear is a valuable organ we unfortunately take for granted and unappreciate- until there is a problem or loss of hearing. The human ear cannot be turned off as we can our vision when we close our eyes. Daily our ears are exposed to laud sounds; at home, at work and at play. Too much exposure to elevated sound levels can damage the inner ear, initially causing a temporary threshold shift and finally a hearing loss that is permanent. Hearing loss due to noise exposure affects the high frequency sounds first, causing the person to have difficulty understanding what is heard. If the hearing loss increases, the understanding difficulties become worse. A noise-induced hearing loss cannot be corrected through any type of medical or surgical procedure. Personal amplification (i.e., a hearing aid) can aid or help individuals to hear better. A hearing aid is a mechanical device which is unable to replace or duplicate the remarkable hearing sensitivity of the human ear.' PURPOSE The primary objective of a hearing conservation program is to protect employees against noise in the work environment which by its intensity and/ar duration potentially poses a hazard to hearing. This program establishes procedures for noise control and hearing conservation in the work place. HEARING CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS Title 8, Section 5097, California Cade of Regulations, mandates implementation of an effective hearing conservation program, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels (dB) measured on the A-scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. Departments determined to have specific operations, facilities andlor equipment which expose employees at or above the "action level" {8-hour TWA of 85 dBA) shall implement the basic provisions of this plan as follows: )) Noise measurements and exposure analysis; 2) Control of noise exposure; 3) Audiometric testing. The Butte County Public Works and Buildings and Grounds Departments shall adhere to the provisions of this plan. See Appendix B and G for more information. Other departments may become subject to the requirements of this plan pending future sound level surveys. 1. Quest Technobgies, Manual for Short Course in Basic Noise Measurement and Dosimetry, Append'a B. 3utte County Hearing Conservation Progr~. NOISE MEASUREMENTS AND EXPOSURE ANALYSIS Sound pressure levels or noise measurements shall be measured using the "A-Weighting/Slow Response" of a standard sound level meter or noise dosimeter. Noise measurements shall be conducted by Risk ManagementlSafety when levels are suspected to be at or above 85 dBA; whenever employees complain of noise levels that cause temporary hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus); whenever communication by speech is difficult for employees in close proximity to one another. If personal sampling or area sampling of the noise level identifies an employee to be included in the Hearing Conservation Program, additional monitoring shall be conducted to obtain measurements of other employees who may be similarly exposed. CONTROL OF NOISE EXPOSURE When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Figure 1, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels below the permissible exposure levels {PEL} of Figure i, hearing protection devices shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels below the levels of Figure 1. The permissible exposure levels allowed for a period.of exposure time are defined as follows: Figure l Permitted Duration Sound Level Per Workday (dBA) (Hours) Permitted Duration Sound Level Per Workday {dBA) (Hours) 90 8.00 103 1.32 91 6.96 104 1.15 92 6.06 105 1.00 93 5.28 106 0.86 94 4.60 107 0.76 95 4.00 108 0.66 96 3.48 109 0.56 97 3.03 110 0.50 g8 2.63 111 0.43 99 2.30 112 0.38 100 2.00 113 0.33 101 1.73 114 0.28 102 1.52 115 - 0.25 2 Butte County Nearing Conservation Progr~ ANNUAL AUDIOMETRIC TESTING All employees exposed to a TWA of 85 dBA must be included in the Hearing Gonservation Program, which includes an initial baseline audiogram and subsequent annual audiograms, at no cost to the affected employees. Audiometric examinations are required to monitor the affected employees hearing. The baseline audiogram shall be compared to that of the annual audiogram to determine if a standard threshold shift has occurred. Audiometric tests shall be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist or other physician, or by a person who is certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, or by an audiometric technician who has satisfactorily demonstrated competence in administering audiometric examinations, obtaining valid audiograms, and properly using, maintaining and calibrating audiometers. A technician who performs audiometric tests must be responsible to the audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician. Butte County Risk ManagementlSafety has authorized Oroville Hospital Industrial Medicine to administer the audiogram requirements of this section. HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES Personal protective equipment for use in high noise level areas is.an essential tool in implementing an effective Hearing Conservation Program where personnel exposure cannot be sufficiently reduced by administrative or engineering controls to the PEL. Hearing protectors shall be made available to the affected employees and replaced as necessary. The effectiveness of the hearing protective device depends upon the following factors which are related to the manner in which the sound energy is transmitted through or around the device. 1) Seal Leaks: Small leaks in the seal between the hearing protector and the skin which can significantly reduce the low frequency attenuation; as the air leak becomes larger, attenuation becomes reduced at all frequencies. 2) Material Leaks: Leaks which permit transmission of sound directly through the material of the device. 3) Device Vibration: Vibration of the hearing protective device itself caused by exposure to external sound energy. 4) Bone Conduction: The level of sound reaching the inner ear by bone conduction would be about 50 dB below the level of air conduction; therefore, a perfect hearing protective device worn in or over the ear cannot provide more than 50 dB reduction below the level of air conduction.2 Employees required to wear hearing protection devices shall be given the opportunity to select hearing protectars from a variety of suitable types. (e.g. ear plugs and ear muffs} 2. Quest Technobgies, Manual forshort Course in Basic Noise Measurement and DosimetrY, Append'a A 3 Butte County Hearing Conservation Progr< NOISE REDUCTION RATING {NRR} Hearing protection devices must attenuate employee exposure at least to an 8-hour TWA of 90 dBA. For employees who have experienced a standard threshold shift, hearing protection devices must attenuate employee exposures to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA. The following method is used to evaluate the adequacy of hearing protection devices for Butte County employees: 1) Using a QUEST M-27 Noise Lagging Dosimeter: • Obtain employee's A-weighted dose and convert to TWA. 2) Subtract 7 dB from the hearing protector's NRR. 3) Subtract the remainder (NRR minus 7dB) from the employee's measured A-weighted TWA to obtain the estimated TWA under the hearing protector. RECORDKEEPING Risk Management/Safety and Personnel shall establish a recordkeeping system which meets the requirements of Sections 3204 and 5100, Title 8 of the Califamia Code of Regulations. The following records shall be maintained: 1) Noise exposure measurements. 2) Audiometric test results including audiograms, name and classification of employee, date of audiogram, the name of the examiner and the date of audiometer calibration. 3) Training Records Audiometric test results shall be placed in the employee's medical file which is maintained in the Personnel Department. Noise exposure measurements and employee training records will be maintained by Risk ManagementlSafety in the Administration Office. All records required shall be provided upon written request to affected employees, former employees, representatives designated by the individual employee or a designated representative of Gal-OSHA. TRAINING Training sessions for employees identified far inclusion in the Hearing Conservation Program will include discussion of the effects of noise on hearing: the purpose of hearing protectors; use and care of hearing protectors; and the purpose and explanation of audiometric testing. The advantages and disadvantages of different hearing protectors, alternation of various types and instructions on selection and fitting, shall also be reviewed with employees. Annual re-training will be required for employees exposed to excessive noise levels as specified in this Hearing Conservation Program. 4 Butte County Hearing Conservation Progra RESPONSIBILITIES MANAGEMENT • Ensure implementation of the Hearing Conservation Program throughout all departments within the County; • Authorize budgeting and expenditure of necessary resources to implement the program; • Provide corrective action as may be deemed necessary or practical to modify or replace equipment, machinery, facilities and tools which exceed an 8-hour TWA of 90 dBA; • Ensure that employees receive annual audiometric tests as deemed necessary by Risk Managernent/Safety. • Request sound level studies and analyses if specific operations, facilities and/or equipment are suspected of exceeding the 8-hour TWA threshold of 85 dBA. SUPERVISORS • Equip employees with approved hearing protection devices as prescribed by Risk Management/Safety; • Identify those areas and jobs where hearing protection is required; • Initiate or re-evaluate noise level studies of specific operations, facilities and/or equipment following employee complaints of temporary hearing loss or constant tinnitus (ringing in the ears); • Conduct training and educate employees about the effects of noise-induced hearing loss; • Make frequent checks to ensure employees are properly using hearing protection devices. Strictly enforce the use of hearing protection devices; • Utilize Risk Management/Safety to conduct sound level studies of specific operations, facilities and/or equipment to determine the degree of employee noise level exposure; 5 Butte County Hearing Conservation Program EMPLOYEES • Wear hearing protection devices at specific operations, facilities and/or equipment determined to be at the 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA; • Replace damaged or dirty hearing protection devices as soon as possible; • Report temporary hearing loss or constant tinnitus to the immediate supervisor. RISK MANAGEMENT/SAFETY • Assist departments in their efforts to implement an effective hearing conservation program; • "`Record all reported Standard Threshold Shifts (STS) of 10 dB or more on the OSHA 200 log; • Ensure audiometric testing is conducted by qualified persons and conducted in accordance with Section 5097 and 5100, Title 8 of the Califamia Code of Regulations; • Retain noise exposure measurement and training records. PERSONNEL • Retain baseline and annual audiometric test results in the employees' medical files. In determining whether a standard threshold shift has occurred, allowance may be made for the contribution of aging (presbycusis) to the change in hearing level by the annual audiogram according to the procedure described in Sections 5095-5100, Appendix F: Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. 6 APPENDIX A Butte County Hearing Conservation Program DEFINITIONS Action Level- An 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels measured on the A-scale, slow response, or equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. Attenuation- To lessen the sound pressure level. Audiogram- A chart, graph, or table resulting from an audiometric test showing an individual's hearing threshold levels as a function of frequency. A-Weighted Sound Level (dBA}- An electrically achievable filter capable of making the noise dosimeter or sound level meter respond closer to the way the human ear hears. It attenuates the frequencies below several hundred Hertz as well as the high frequencies above six thousand Hertz. Decibel (dB}- Unit of measurement of sound level. Dose- Cal-OSHA mandates the maximum allowable exposure to accumulated noise is 100°1°. A 100% dose occurs for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 90 dBA (or any equivalent exposure). The dose will double (halve) every time the TWA increases (decreases) 5 dBA which is the Cal-OSHA criterion level. Hearing Protector- A device inserted into or placed over the ear for the purpose of reducing air-conducted sounds, e.g. ear plugs or earmuffs. Noise- Disturbing, harmful or unwanted sound. Noise Induced Hearing Loss- The term used to refer to the slowly progressive inner ear hearing loss that results from exposure to continuous noise over a long time period as contrasted to acoustic trauma or physical injury to the ear. Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)- An EPA requirement far hearing protectors showing the rated effectiveness in terms of decibels (dB) of noise attenuation. In most cases, therefore, the exposure of employees wearing the protector closely approximates the value obtained by subtracting the NRR from the A-weighted noise level. The range of NRR for existing hearing protectors is approximately 0 to 30. Higher numbers denote greater effectiveness. Sound- Particle displacement (compression and rarefaction) of air molecules caused by external forces. Standard Threshold Shift (STS)- A change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiograrn of an average of 10 dB or mare. Time Weighted Average (TWA} Sound Level- TWA represents a constant sound level averaged over eight hours that would result in the equivalent sound energy as the noise that was sampled. 7 APPENDIX B Butte County Hearing Conservation Program DEPARTMENTS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM DEPARTMENT JOB CLASSIFICATIONS Public Works ................................. Road Maintenance Public Works ...................................Yards and Stores Public Works ................................Vehicle Maintenance Buildings and Grounds ........................Grounds Maintenance 8 Q Q Q M~ W ~/W V n~ V Q W 0 "~' ,..,~ ~ tC') O N to W ~ =,. c0 tD rt u'~ 6s O oD 07 C? ~t 00 d' d' CD 00 M m .+~.. ~ 'II to ~ O 00 N v Q O O~ cf' CO cU CO 1'~- W ~7' 00 L 43 O H Z W ~ ~ ~ ~ O ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ O ~ ~ O ~, Q ~ ~ O ~ _C ~ ~ C ~ ~ 'p ?y ~ ?~ ~ ~ ~ ~ O .~ Y O .~ Y ,~ f/J Q O ~ Y ~ to I Q W ~ 'Q O ~ O ~- t - ~ r ~- ~ ~ ~ N r"^- ~ ~ ~., 00 tts ~ C ~ W W a Q m U C1 W a w APPENDIX C ^~ V .~ vJ ~\ . Q Z ~~ i ~~ ~ O(S) 00~ O~~ 0 0 0 0 0 r O Q~ ~ ~ U ~ ~ ~ a~ -- - I - -- -- 9 a~ m E 0 m c o~ o~ 0 J m °' 'o °~ Z ~ N ~ ~ >. ~ ~ ~ ~ a~ ~ U c ~ o ~ ~, ~~ ~- w Q Q I- Q W /~ tV~ V V a i.l.l r, .° 0 W V) L ~ ~ N C~ ~ rJ- ~ - ~? N ~ ~ O O ~ ~' ~ ^ Q .... m 'a . . h- N O O (r3 .. ('7 qp O h- r O CO Od CD 00 ~ ~ ~ ~ Z W a ~ U Ll.l L Q- ~ ~ ~ / v VJ L ~ ~ cn -~ N °' V1 ~ ~ ~' ° ~«- ~ ~' `- o E ° N ~~ ay ~ ~ m ~ U W ~ © ~ ~ r r- ~ ~ N r- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ O r• W J W d W APPENDIX C W I I ' .-. ~ !'~ ~ W ',~ ~ ~, fi .a ~ ;^ .~. '~,, ~ •~ U i I' ~_ ~I ~ ~ ~ Q .J .o ~ ~ '~ z ~ ~' ',, I'__~ Q i i 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~ M N r 0 Q1 CO ~'- tQ t7 ~") N r r r r r O Q? ~ U ~ ~ ~ Q J I 10 d d N T N U c 0 V Uf N .~ 0 c yr m 0 J dt N .~ Z N N N Q C a~ .7 W APPENDIX D ~ti OROHE,ILTH OROV[LLE HOSP[TAL AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES PROVIDED Butte County - Safety Dept authorizes Oroville Hospital Industrial Medicine Department to perform the fallowing professional services. Exam/Test Price Physical Examination ~ UrinelToxicology Drug Screen ~_ (price includes confirmations if we use our lab) Urine Specimen Collection Orly S X Audiogram (Hearing Test) 1~ s©o Pulmonary Function Test ~ Back X-Ray ~_ Chest X-Ray ,~.__ T.B. Skin Test ,~_ Pre-Placement Fitness Exam ~_ Hepatitis Vaccine ~_ Other : ~- Other: ~_ pest results, reports, and any other pertinent information will be mailed andlor verbally given only to the following individuals}, Jeff Deel as soon as these are received by Oroville Hospital. Specific con ditions of this service to be provided to include(s) the fallowing: If appropriate, drug screens are performed by a urine/toxicolgy analysis. If Oroville Hospital lab is used there is no extra charge for a positive confirmation. Laboratory response time far negative results is ~8hrs. Positive results require up to 72hrs for confirmation. All invoices and payments will be generated by, and paid to, Oroville Hospital. The term of either party. and subsequent by: this agreement shall be continuous until terminated by Policys and procedures for services to be provided, payment are specific to this agreement and authorized Oroville Hospital: ~~_ ~t~~,(~ Signatu Sandra Slavin Name Coordinator Industrial Medicine Title A Nonprofit Healthcare System 2767 OLIVE HIGHWAY - OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95966 916-533-8500 Accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations APPENDIX D Services Agreement Addendum The Butte County Risk Management/Safety Office agrees to have Oroville Hospital Industrial Medicine to conduct baseline and annual audiometric testing for Butte County employees included in the County's Hearing Conservation Program. Butte County Public Works and Butte County Buildings and Grounds will require testing of personnel in various job classifications. Fallowing testing the respective departments should be billed accordingly. EVALUATION OF AUDIOGRAM Audiometric testing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 5097(c) through 5097(f), Title 8 of the Califomia Cade of Regulations. The Oroville Hospital Industrial Medicine's examiner of employee audiometric test results shall compare the employee's baseline audiogram to the annual audiogram to determine if the audiogram is valid and if a standard threshold shift, as defined in Section 5097 {d)(8), has occurred. Oroville Industrial Medicine shall contact Risk Management/Safety at 538-7631 to inform the Risk Manager or Safety Officer of the standard threshold shift. All subsequent audiometric test results forwarded to Risk ManagementlSafety shall indicate on the report the standard threshold shift observed. RECORDKEEPING Audiometric test results shall include the audiogram, name and classification of employee, date of audiogram, the name of the examiner and date of audiometer calibration. Audiometric test results shall be retained by Oroville Hospital Industrial Medicine for 30 years. Audiometric test room records shall be retained in accordance with the provisions of Section 5100, Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. 12