The hearing conservation program is essential in establishing the employees exposed to noise that is beyond the OSHS’s limits and taking precautionary measures of rescuing them. The program has various requirements. It requires a noise monitoring tool to be installed in every place of work to assess the level of noise generated by each activity carried out (O’Brien, Driscoll & Ackermann, 2015, p.265). Secondly, the noise control requirement is a necessity as it ensures that identified noise is mitigated. Thirdly, the firm owner may not be in a position to control the noise produced especially when its mitigation will result in closing down the business. This calls for the adoption of hearing protection, which is one essential requirement of the OSHA guidelines. The protective device should be comfortable enough to allow workers to use it regularly. Furthermore, there must be audiometric testing that will establish yearly the degree to which employees’ hearing has been impaired by noise. This will aid in putting strategies in place to ensure that the lost hearing ability is restored as well as protecting the employees from further damage (Khan, Bielko & McCullagh, 2018, p.7). The last requirement is the training of the employees on the importance of hearing protection. The education offered will enable them to take a personal approach to care while on duty.

Steps for the program

I will take various steps to ensure that the program is successful. I will suggest the installation of dosimeters to monitor sound intensity and reduction in the time spent by employees on using noisy machines. Also, I will recommend for the purchase of protective devices for the employees as well as audiograms to test employee hearing ability to establish the effects of damage caused. Lastly, I will ensure that employees trained regularly on ways of protecting themselves from hazardous noise.

References

Khan, K. M., Bielko, S. L., & McCullagh, M. C. (2018). Efficacy of hearing conservation education programs for youth and young adults: A systematic review. BMC Public        Health, 18(1), 1-12.    Doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6198-7

O’Brien, I., Driscoll, T., & Ackermann, B. (2015). Description and evaluation of a hearing conservation            program in use in a professional symphony orchestra. The Annals of           Occupational Hygiene, 59(3), 265. doi:10.1093/annhyg/meu092