Beginning in 2003, employers will be required to record work-related hearing loss cases when an employee's hearing test shows a marked decrease in overall hearing. Under the new rule, the criteria will record 10-decibel shifts from the employee's initial hearing test when they also result in an overall hearing level of 25 decibels. The old criteria recorded 25-decibel shifts. Employers can make adjustments for hearing loss caused by aging, seek the advice of a physician or licensed health care professional to determine if the loss is work-related, and perform additional hearing tests to verify the persistence of the hearing loss.
"Hearing loss can result in a serious disability and put employees at risk of being injured on the job," OSHA Administrator John Henshaw said. "This approach will help employers better protect their workers and help all of us improve our national injury and illness statistics and prevent future hearing loss among our nation's workers."
The agency seeks public comments on a proposed one-year delay of the recordkeeping rule's definition of MSDs and whether to include MSDs and hearing loss columns on the OSHA Form 300 Log of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Written comments on the agency's proposal to delay must be submitted by Aug. 30 in triplicate to the Docket Office, Docket R-02B, Room N2625, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20210. Electronic comments may be submitted to ecomments.osha.gov. Because of security-related problems in receiving regular mail service in a timely manner, OSHA is requesting that comments be hand-delivered to the Docket Office, or sent by Express Mail or other overnight delivery service, electronic mail or facsimile at (202) 693-1648.
Detailed information on OSHA's recordkeeping requirements is available on OSHA's web site.
