(1) The employer must conduct a baseline audiogram when an employee is first assigned to work involving noise exposures that equal or exceed 85 dBA TWA8.

(a) Make sure this audiogram is completed no more than one hundred eighty days after the employee is first assigned;

(b) Make sure employee is covered by a hearing protection audit program (as described by WAC 296-307-638 and available as an alternative only for employees hired for less than one year).

Note:

Employers who utilize mobile test units are allowed up to one year to obtain a valid baseline audiogram for each exposed employee. The employees must still be given training and hearing protection as required by this part.

(2) The employer must make sure employees are not exposed to workplace noise at least fourteen hours before testing to establish a baseline audiogram.

Hearing protectors may be used to accomplish this.

(3) The employer must notify employees of the need to avoid high levels of nonoccupational noise exposure (such as loud music, headphones, guns, power tools, motorcycles, etc.) during the fourteen-hour period immediately preceding the baseline audiometric examination.

PDFWAC 296-307-63610

Establish a baseline audiogram for each exposed employee.