Posted By Fred Pratley With the new Physical Agents directive and the reduced noise thresholds coming into force, is there an obligation (moral or otherwise) to perform audiometry? Having carried out noise level assessments for some time, and having performed audiometry on those in "at risk" areas- i.e.most of the day above 90d(B)A, and done all the necessary engineering actions, and ear plugs etc, I am now being asked if audiometry be extended into rest of general area, where there are constant noise levels of 82/83d(B)A which will fall within the scope of the new rules. I am tempted to follow a policy of doing a baseline on all involved, about 100 or so, and then keeping tabs on anyone showing results below expected levels. Any thoughts? Thanks Fred

Posted By Adrian Watson Fred, Regulation 9(1) requires you to provide suitable health surveillance where the risk assessment indicates a risk to workers’ health, ie a risk from exposure to noise without taking account of the noise reduction provided by hearing protection. There is strong evidence to show that regular exposure above the upper exposure action values can pose a risk to health. You should therefore provide health surveillance to workers regularly exposed above the upper exposure action values. Where exposure is between the lower and upper exposure action values, or where employees are only occasionally exposed above the upper exposure action values, you should provide health surveillance if you find out that an individual may be particularly sensitive to noise. Regards Adrian Watson

Posted By Paul Leadbetter Fred You could try pointing out the employee's duty to cooperate with the employer on H & S matters but it is more likely to come down to the subtle art of persuasion. Paul

Posted By erina Hi Fred Being an industrial audiometrist this is and will remain a nightmare...the saying that you can lead the horse to water but not make him drink well...frustrations..... this is what I did in South Africa..after job area's had noise levels checked I kept a pers. register...very easy to do...empl. name and id/coy number-job description noise level's, hours of exp.per day/week acc. to law. these baselines should be conductedd within 24h of employment with emply 16h noise free before testing with o/scopical exam.and wellness questionaire to rule out any infections to the ent. or other abnormalities...It is not just about getting the audiogram done...history of empl prior to yours eg. involv. requiring shooting practise, mining, drilling even airconditioners. etc. If this employer worked in an noise area prior to yours it will def. have an effect on his audiogram. If he should have noise ind. hearing loss...you'd have to be able to determine where it occured. Baseline audiometry is performed and only legal if all equipment are callibrated yearly or after being moved...with allowed background noise measured prior to testing..all equipment clean and in good working order..with registers to proof...by an qualified reg. audiometrist with up to date proof of comp. within 24 hrs of empl.and baseline+comp. done with no more than 24h period between the two audiogrammes. The two audiogramms should not difffer more than 10dBs between the two..if so a third test should be done within 24 hours STILL NOISE FREE. If still no valid audiogram...further invest. should be done....many things can effect testing....smoking 5-7 minutes before a test.... being afraid of enclosed space....you have to be an extremely well experienced audiometrist as mallingering testees can cause you major problems and believe me they do take advantage of a situation where needed. Alos if any ear infecction is present the testee should visit gp get meds.,complete treatment and return only after 14 days after started treatment... Ok once baselines have been done and ppe's needed and given with full education of the pro 's of using....have testee SIGN THEIR REGISTER Low noise area's dep. on individual should be done once a year and high risk area's more frequent. with pre employment and exit medical. with agreement of understanding why ppe's are issued and to be used...now if you have regular safety meetings on this matter and note please note every date of such meeting and signature...if he/she fails to wear the ppe when noise risk area's you may take on some other steps to enforce h.e laws but also then you have proof of all the previous steps you have taken to ensure hearing loss... If you need to cry on a shoulder call me....I know all about the challenges of the audiometry and love it....Good luck....hehehehehe erina

Posted By erina will check it out on the web but I can assure you that in South Africa you would not have a leg to stand on if Industrial audiometry is performed by non reg. qualified or non qualified.. with follow up training courses. Your certificates must be on hand at all times... Mabe in the UK it's diffirent will have a look and post response asap. You could also check Brit. dept of audiology...I am and will always be extremely cautious as were employees and noise exp. is concerned have had too many sad cases that had to be refered for compensation due to non challant behaviour by employers...rule out every little aspect of the particular case to safeguard yourself. erina

Posted By erina HI FRED THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AUDIOLOGIST AND AUDIOMETRIST the audiometrist is the competent qualified and experienced person who does hearing asessments and then refers to an audiologist for further investigation when/where needed. you are so right...By the way I am from South Africa.....we make use of audiometrist who are well trained and must be registered at SA occupational health nursing pract. They perform audiometry testing and only when detecting a problem the employee gets refered to an audiologist...this way you might have 5 out of 50 people needing to see an audiologist and safe a lot of money....you cut out unneccessary costs...that is why audiometrists should be qualified and experienced in this field.. to be able to read and understand the audiogram and know when to refer.... You take the work load off the audiologist and you save a lot of money a bit more balanced. either way...it has to be done hope the outcome good.. erina