important:
Third-party hearing loss prevention programs are intended:
• For short-term employees hired or assigned to duties having noise exposures for less than one year
and
• For seasonal employees.
However, other employees may be included as long as you meet all requirements for hearing loss follow-ups and recordkeeping.
You must:
• Make sure that the third-party program is:
– Equivalent to an employer program as required by this part
and
– Uses audiometric testing to evaluate hearing loss.
• Make sure a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other qualified physician administers the third-party program
• Make sure the third-party program has written procedures for:
– Communicating with participating employers of program requirements
– Follow-up procedures for detected hearing loss
– Annual review of participating employer programs.
• Make sure the following program elements are corrected by you or the third-party program when deficiencies are found:
– Noise exposures
– Hearing protection
– Employee training
– Noise controls.
• Obtain a review of your hearing loss prevention program at least once per year, conducted by the third-party program administrator or their representative, in order to:
– Identify any tasks needing a revised selection of hearing protection
and
– Provide an overall assessment of the employers' hearing loss prevention activities.