skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Hearing conservation programs (HCPs): The effectiveness of one company's HCP in a 12-hr work shift environment

Abstract

An existing hearing conservation program (HCP), originally designed when an 8-hr work shift schedule was in effect, was evaluated at a plant site where a 12-hr work shift schedule is now utilized. The study included the following phases: a noise analysis of the work environment, HCP evaluation through the use of audiometric data base analysis (ADBA), applying ADBA procedures and a comparison of the shift in hearing threshold levels (HTLs) for the 8-hr and 12-hr work shifts, and an evaluation of the hearing protection devices (HPDs) being used at the facility over the 12-hr work shift by measuring temporary threshold shift (TTS). The mean measured employee time-weighted average (TWA) in the process area where the TTS study was conducted was 92 dBA. It was found that the existing HCP is at best marginal. The most likely causes of this less-than-desirable rating are inadequate audiometric testing procedures and inadequate HPD utilization. Furthermore, it was concluded that, at this time, the introduction of the 12-hr work shift has had no impact on the level of effectiveness of the HCP. In evaluating the three HPDs in use at the facility (3-M foam earplug, E-A-R foam earplug, and Bilsom Soft earplug), it was foundmore » that they all offered effective protection from noise at all audiometric test frequencies (0.5 to 6 kHz) except 0.5 kHz. All three HPDs exhibited TTS at 0.5 kHz with the TTS measured significant at the p less than 0.05 level for the E-A-R and 3-M wearer groups.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6417745
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 51:8; Journal ID: ISSN 0002-8894
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; AUDITORY ORGANS; SENSITIVITY; NOISE; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; INFORMATION SYSTEMS; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; PERSONNEL; BODY; ORGANS; SENSE ORGANS; 560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects

Citation Formats

Reynolds, J L, Royster, L H, and Pearson, R G. Hearing conservation programs (HCPs): The effectiveness of one company's HCP in a 12-hr work shift environment. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.1080/15298669091369907.
Reynolds, J L, Royster, L H, & Pearson, R G. Hearing conservation programs (HCPs): The effectiveness of one company's HCP in a 12-hr work shift environment. United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298669091369907
Reynolds, J L, Royster, L H, and Pearson, R G. 1990. "Hearing conservation programs (HCPs): The effectiveness of one company's HCP in a 12-hr work shift environment". United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298669091369907.
@article{osti_6417745,
title = {Hearing conservation programs (HCPs): The effectiveness of one company's HCP in a 12-hr work shift environment},
author = {Reynolds, J L and Royster, L H and Pearson, R G},
abstractNote = {An existing hearing conservation program (HCP), originally designed when an 8-hr work shift schedule was in effect, was evaluated at a plant site where a 12-hr work shift schedule is now utilized. The study included the following phases: a noise analysis of the work environment, HCP evaluation through the use of audiometric data base analysis (ADBA), applying ADBA procedures and a comparison of the shift in hearing threshold levels (HTLs) for the 8-hr and 12-hr work shifts, and an evaluation of the hearing protection devices (HPDs) being used at the facility over the 12-hr work shift by measuring temporary threshold shift (TTS). The mean measured employee time-weighted average (TWA) in the process area where the TTS study was conducted was 92 dBA. It was found that the existing HCP is at best marginal. The most likely causes of this less-than-desirable rating are inadequate audiometric testing procedures and inadequate HPD utilization. Furthermore, it was concluded that, at this time, the introduction of the 12-hr work shift has had no impact on the level of effectiveness of the HCP. In evaluating the three HPDs in use at the facility (3-M foam earplug, E-A-R foam earplug, and Bilsom Soft earplug), it was found that they all offered effective protection from noise at all audiometric test frequencies (0.5 to 6 kHz) except 0.5 kHz. All three HPDs exhibited TTS at 0.5 kHz with the TTS measured significant at the p less than 0.05 level for the E-A-R and 3-M wearer groups.},
doi = {10.1080/15298669091369907},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6417745}, journal = {American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA)},
issn = {0002-8894},
number = ,
volume = 51:8,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}