Free CAOHC Recordkeeping and Program Management Questions and Answers 1 — 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?
- Noise exposure for 2 years, audiometric tests for 5 years.
- Noise exposure for 5 years, audiometric tests for 30 years.
- Noise exposure for 2 years, audiometric tests for the duration of employment. (Correct answer)
- Noise exposure for 30 years, audiometric tests for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
Correct answer: Noise exposure for 2 years, audiometric tests for the duration of employment.
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?
- The employee must report tinnitus to the Professional Supervisor.
- 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. (Correct answer)
- The shift must be greater than an average of 15 dB at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz.
- A second audiogram must confirm the STS within 10 days.
Correct 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.
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?
- Noise monitoring and exposure assessment.
- Audiometric testing for all exposed employees.
- Mandatory job rotation for all employees exposed above the PEL. (Correct answer)
- Providing a selection of suitable hearing protectors.
Correct answer: Mandatory job rotation for all employees exposed above the PEL.
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?
- 5 working days
- 30 calendar days
- Immediately upon request
- 15 working days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 15 working days
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?
- Immediately purchase new hearing protectors with the highest possible NRR for all employees.
- Assume the audiometric testing equipment is malfunctioning and schedule an exhaustive calibration.
- Analyze the STS data by department, job title, and HPD type to identify trends and problem areas. (Correct answer)
- Revise the baseline audiograms for all employees with an STS to reset the data.
Correct answer: Analyze the STS data by department, job title, and HPD type to identify trends and problem areas.
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.
Question 6: A company is acquired by a new owner. What is the successor employer's responsibility regarding the audiometric records and baseline audiograms from the previous owner?
- They must establish new baseline audiograms for all employees within 6 months.
- They must transfer the records to NIOSH and are not required to maintain them.
- They must receive and retain the records, continuing to use the established baselines for STS comparison. (Correct answer)
- They are only required to keep the last annual audiogram, not the full history.
Correct answer: They must receive and retain the records, continuing to use the established baselines for STS comparison.
According to OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.95(m)(5), when an employer ceases business, they must transfer all required records to the successor employer. The successor employer is then required to retain these records and should continue to use the established baseline audiograms for comparison unless there is a valid reason to question their accuracy.
Free CAOHC Recordkeeping and Program Management Questions and Answers 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?