Hearing Conservation Program

What is a baseline audiogram?

The baseline audiogram is the reference audiogram
against which future audiograms are compared. Employers
must provide baseline audiograms within 6 months of an
employee's first exposure at or above an 8-hour TWA of
85 dB. An exception is allowed when the employer uses a
mobile test van for audiograms. In these instances, baseline
audiograms must be completed within 1 year after an
employee's first exposure to workplace noise at or above a
TWA of 85 dB.

What are annual audiograms?

Employers must provide annual audiograms within
1 year of the baseline Employers must compare annual
audiograms to baseline audiograms to determine whether
the audiogram is valid and whether the employee has lost
hearing ability or experienced a standard
threshold shift (STS). An STS is an average shift in either ear
of 10 dB or more at 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 hertz.

At Company Health Medicine we can help you set baseline audiograms as well as performing and evaluating annual audiograms using dedicated software that has the ability to perform age correction. Our team can set up at your facility (see picture to the left)  to help you conserve lost wages for each of your employees that would need to travel to a clinic for evaluation.

 Use this link for more OSHA information on Hearing Conservation: