Hearing protection - Washington

Most of Washington’s requirements for occupational noise exposure are identical to federal OSHA requirements; however, the state adds further requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:

• Washington state, unlike federal OSHA, includes the following additional terms in its definitions section, WAC 296-817-099: A-weighted, continuous noise, fast response, impulsive or impact noise, permanent threshold shift, qualified reviewer, slow response, and temporary threshold shift.
• Washington state defines the following terms differently than federal OSHA: baseline audiogram, criterion sound level, decibel (dB), noise dose, and sound level.
• Washington state is missing the following definitions found in federal OSHA’s regulations: action level, medical pathology, and representative exposure.
• Washington state adds a scope section at WAC 296-817-100.
• If you have many employees that perform the same tasks under similar conditions, you may use representative monitoring.
• Washington state provides examples of: exposures that may equal or exceed 85 dBA TWA₈, conditions that may be expected to increase exposure, controls that eliminate noise at the source or block noise, and controls and work practices that may reduce noise exposure.
• Within five working days of receiving results, notify an employee if that person’s exposure equals or exceeds 85 dBA TWA₈.
• Hearing protectors must be provided when exposure equals or exceeds:
  • 85 dBA TWA₈ (noise dosimetry, providing an average exposure over eight hours)
  • 115 dBA (slow response sound level meter, identifying short-term noise exposures)
  • 140 dBC (fast response sound level meter, identifying almost instantaneous noise exposures)
• Washington state provides detailed requirements for the selection of hearing protectors at WAC 296-817-20015.
• Hearing protection must reduce the employee’s eight-hour noise exposure to 85 dBA or less. When you use the A-weighted exposure measurements (reported as dBA TWA₈, hearing protection must reduce the noise exposure according to Table 2 found in WAC 296-817-20015. For noise that equals or exceeds 115 dBA or 140 dBC, the hearing protection must have a noise reduction rating of 20 dB. Washington state also allows you to evaluate hearing protection using other methods in NIOSH publication 95-105, Compendium of Hearing Protection.
• When there are changes in engineering and administrative controls, you must update the related information in your training program.
• Among other things listed in WAC 296-817-20020, noise and hearing protection training must include noise controls, the purpose of hearing protection auditing (when you rely on auditing according to WAC 296-817-500), and employee’s right to access the records kept under WAC 296-817.
• Employers must maintain a written program describing your initial and refresher training.
• For areas where noise exceeds 115 dBA, post warning signs at the entrances or boundaries of these areas to state that the area is a high noise area and hearing protectors are required.
• Employers must perform audiometric testing to identify hearing loss and program deficiencies and take proper actions to remedy any deficiencies identified. WAC 296-817-20035 goes over examples of deficiency indicators.
• WAC 296-817-20035 also goes over what to evaluate once a standard threshold shift is discovered.
• Employers must document hearing protection audits, if performed, and maintain them for the duration of employment of the affected employee. Detailed requirements are found in WAC 296-817-20040.
• Dosimeters must meet the Class 2AS-90/80-5 requirements of ANSI S1.25-1991. These dosimeters are usually marked Type 2. Detailed requirements are found in WAC 296-817-30005.
• Sound level meters must meet Type 2 requirements of ANSI S1.4-1984. These devices are usually marked Type 2. Detailed requirements about capabilities, calibration, and use are found in WAC 296-817-30005.
• If you have constant noise levels, you may estimate employee noise exposure according to WAC 296-817-30015.
• When measuring employee noise exposure include all the conditions mentioned in WAC 296-817-30010. Determine total daily noise exposure for employees with a noise dosimeter, but if noise levels are constant, employers may estimate exposure using a sound level meter. Once noise exposure is measured, identify employees for each of the following exposure levels (called Noise Evaluation Criteria):
  • 85 dBA TWA₈: These employees must wear hearing protection, receive training, and receive audiometric testing.
  • 90 dBA TWA₈: In addition to requirements for the 85 dBA TWA₈ level, you must implement noise controls.
  • 115 dBA: These employees must wear hearing protection and you must post signs in these work areas to warn of the exposure.
  • 140 dBC: These employees must wear hearing protection.
• When using a sound level meter to estimate noise dose, compute an employee’s full-day noise exposure using Table 3 in WAC 296-817-30015.
• To conduct a baseline audiogram you may do one of the following:
  • Complete an audiogram within 180 days after the employee is assigned, or
  • Cover the employee under a hearing protection audit program according to WAC 296-817-500 (but this option is only available when the employee is hired to work temporarily for less than one year).
• Employers may conduct the required annual audiometric tests at any time during the work shift.
• An employee must be informed of the results of his/her audiometric test results.
• Obtain an opinion from the healthcare professional supervising audiograms. The opinion must explain whether the audiogram indicates possible work-related hearing loss and any recommendations for changes in hearing protection.
• If the audiometric test reviewer requires any clinical audiological evaluation or otological examination to evaluate the cause of hearing loss or when there is indication of a medical condition caused by wearing hearing protectors, employers must pay for these further evaluations and exams.
• Employers must make arrangements for the reviewer to communicate suspected medical conditions (unrelated to the workplace) to the employee. The employer must keep this information confidential and properly handled.
• Supra-aural headphones must be used for audiometric testing.
• Audiometric tests must meet ANSI S3.6-1996.
• Audiometric calibration must meet ANSI S3.6-1996.
• Audiometric test rooms must meet ANSI S3.1-1999.
• Washington state goes over the hearing protection audit and third-party audiometric testing requirements at WAC 296-817-500.
• Washington state, unlike federal OSHA, does not allow employers to make allowance for the contribution of aging (presbycusis) to the change in hearing level and correct the annual audiogram according to 29 CFR 1910.95 Appendix F when determining if a standard threshold shift has occurred.
• Washington state, unlike federal OSHA, is missing the requirement for the employer to use one of the evaluation methods described in 29 CFR 1910.95 Appendix B. Instead Washington state relies on the requirements in WAC 296-817-20015 for ensuring that hearing protectors are effective.
• Washington state, unlike federal OSHA, does not require that the employer make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of the standard nor post a copy in the workplace. Washington state feels this requirement is unnecessary because employees have plenty of access to the regulation through the internet, labor unions, and other means.
• Washington state, unlike federal OSHA, does not require the employer to provide to affected employees any informational materials pertaining to the standard that are supplied to the employer by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries or the Washington Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Washington state feels this requirement is unnecessary because employees have plenty of access to the informational materials through the internet, labor unions, and other means.
• Washington state’s WAC 296-817, unlike federal OSHA, is missing the requirement for the employer to provide, upon request, all materials related to the employer’s training and education program pertaining to the standard to the Washington Department of Labor & Industries or DOSH. However, this may already be a general requirement under, WAC 296-800-35006 and RCW 49.17.070.
• Washington state’s WAC 296-817, unlike federal OSHA, is missing the requirement for the employer to transfer to the successor employer all records required to be maintained by WAC 296-817 if the employer ceases to do business. WAC 296-817 also is missing the requirement to require the successor employer to retain those records for the remainder of the period prescribed in the standard. However, WAC 296-802-60005 contains requirements for transferring exposure and medical records to the successor employer.

To ensure that you are in compliance with these requirements, click on the following links to view the state and federal regulations: