Hi Everyone
Could anyone give me some advice on hearing tests and occupational health. I work as an offshore medic and am looking for some guidance.
I work on a drilling rig and yes we provide hearing tests for personnell working in high noise area's and do noise maps and dosimetry to identify those at high risk of NIHL. But my query is should we be sending all personnell working on the rig for occupational audiograms as when I have been through all the guidance it is all risk based on the individuals exposure. Hearing protection is provided at every exit for personnel leaving the accomodation. Everyone has their 2 yearly UKOG medicals would this be sufficient for HSE requirements or would the hearing tests already undertaken for these medicals need to be requested as occupational health hearing assessments.
I am interested on your comments as the HSE on their last visit were against having a blanket hearing policy for everyone going outside as it detracted from peoples perception of high noise areas!
Hope you get the jist of what I'm trying to get at.
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and any comments would be greatfully recieved.

I advise that you get hold of your H&S professional as they will be able to answer the question noting that I would go with the results of the risk assessments noting that many on a rig live and work in low noise risk environments

I note your comment "as the HSE on their last visit were against having a blanket hearing policy for everyone going outside as it detracted from peoples perception of high noise areas"

This seems to be in contrast to many threads on PPE on construction sites where a significant number of posters suggest that a blanket policy is better as people get used to wearing their PPE.

I can see both sides of the argument, but suspect I lean towards the "no blanket policy" but policies should be aimed at the specific people at most risk.