CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Recordkeeping and Program Management Questions and Answers

Question 1

According to OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.95, what are the respective record retention periods for employee noise exposure measurement records and audiometric test records?

Accepted Answer

Noise exposure for 2 years, audiometric tests for the duration of employment.

Answer

OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure standard (29 CFR 1910.95(m)(3)) specifies different retention periods for different records. Noise exposure measurement records must be retained for two years, while audiometric test records must be kept for the entire duration of the affected employee's employment.

Question 2

An employee in a hearing conservation program experiences a work-related Standard Threshold Shift (STS). To be recordable on the OSHA 300 Log, what additional criterion must be met?

Accepted Answer

The employee's total hearing level is 25 dB or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear as the STS.

Answer

According to OSHA 29 CFR 1904.10, for a work-related STS to be a recordable case on the OSHA 300 Log, the employee's current audiogram must also show a total hearing level of 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero, averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz, in the same ear that experienced the STS.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a required core element of an OSHA-compliant Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) under 29 CFR 1910.95?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory job rotation for all employees exposed above the PEL.

Answer

The required elements of an HCP are noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, employee training, and recordkeeping. While job rotation can be an administrative control for noise, it is not a universally mandated component of every HCP under the standard.

Question 4

An employee submits a written request for a copy of their audiometric test records. According to OSHA's standard on access to employee exposure and medical records (29 CFR 1910.1020), how long does the employer have to provide access to the records?

Accepted Answer

15 working days

Answer

OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1020(e) requires that employers provide access to records in a reasonable time, place, and manner, but no later than fifteen (15) working days after the request is made.

Question 5

As part of a hearing conservation program evaluation, a program manager notes that the facility's overall rate of Standard Threshold Shifts (STS) has been steadily increasing over the past three years. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate initial program management action?

Accepted Answer

Analyze the STS data by department, job title, and HPD type to identify trends and problem areas.

Answer

An increasing STS rate is a key indicator of program ineffectiveness. The first step in addressing the problem is to analyze the data to understand where and why the failures are occurring. This allows for targeted interventions, such as retraining, re-fitting HPDs, or prioritizing noise control in specific areas, rather than implementing broad, potentially ineffective solutions.

CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Practice Test

CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Practice Test

CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Recordkeeping and Program Management Questions and Answers