751 Hearing Conservation Program Management

When Should an Employer Perform an Audiogram?

For maximum protection of the employees (and for that matter, the company), audiograms should be performed:

• during pre-employment;
• prior to initial assignment in a hearing hazardous work area;
• annually as long as the employee is assigned to a noisy job;
• at the time of reassignment out of a hearing hazardous job; and
• at the termination of employment.

Employees who are not exposed should be given periodic audiograms as part of the company's health care program. The audiograms of these employees can be compared to those of the exposed employees whenever the overall effectiveness of the hearing conservation program is evaluated. In an optimally effective program, the two employee groups will show essentially the same amount of audiometric change.

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