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751 Hearing Conservation Program Management
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Providing Hearing Protection Devices (HPD's)

Management has two primary responsibilities in ensuring that hearing protection devices protect hearing effectively: facilitation and enforcement.

Facilitation

Management facilitation involves ensuring that program implementers obtain the types of devices they need. Management can do this by making sure the procurement department does not override the implementer's selections. Employee participation in the selection of hearing protectors should be encouraged.

Management should extend its commitment to hearing protectors by requiring all personnel, including managers and visitors, to wear protectors in designated areas, and by encouraging employees to take hearing protectors home to use whenever engaging in noisy activities.

Management should give program implementer's the opportunity to pilot-test hearing protectors on a few employees. This will greatly facilitate decisions relating to the selection and ultimate effectiveness of these devices.

Program implementers should also be given resources and facilities to train employees in the use and care of hearing protectors.

Enforcement

Enforcing the use of hearing protection strategies is management's second vital responsibility.

Use of personal safety equipment, such as hearing protectors, must be clearly stated as a condition of employment, and management should be prepared to deal accordingly with those who violate the policy. Those who have decided not to wear hearing protection in noisy areas also have decided not to work for the company.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-4. What are management's two roles in ensuring that hearing protection devices protect hearing effectively?