Table of Contents. 1. Applicability. No. T-O&M X115 Title: Hearing Conservation Revised: TERMINALS O&M PROCEDURE

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1 Table of Contents Table of Contents Applicability Scope Core Information and Requirements Hearing Conservation Program Description Action Level Occupational Permissible Exposure Limit Exposure Assessments Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) Audiometric Testing Program Responsibilities Warning Signs Training Documentation Audiometric Testing Records Exposure Records Training Records References Applicability Liquid Refined Products Chemical Crude Highly Volatile Liquids (HVLs) / High Vapor Pressure (HVPs) Food Grade Products Asphalt CO2 Bulk Coal/Coke Petcoke Ferro Alloy s Aggregates Fertilizers Cement Steel Salt Specialty Warehousing Paper Page 1 of 7

2 KMMS 2. Scope Lumber Transload Mining The Company s Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) is established to prevent employees occupational noise-induced hearing loss and to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for occupational noise exposure, 29 CFR Core Information and Requirements 3.1. Hearing Conservation Program Description The Company maintains an HCP for employees who are exposed to sound levels equal to or in excess of the Action Level. Engineering and/or administrative control methods are used to maintain employee exposures below the Action Level whenever feasible. When these methods are not feasible, affected employees shall be included in the HCP, which includes noise exposure monitoring, audiometric testing, using hearing protection devices, employee training and record keeping Action Level The Action Level for the HCP is a sound exposure level equal to or greater than an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85 dba or a dose of 50%, as measured by a noise dosimeter set to A-Weighting and slow response Occupational Permissible Exposure Limit The current Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) value is 90 dba as an 8-hour TWA. This means that employees may be exposed to a sound level of 90 dba for a continuous 8-hour period without hearing protection. As sound levels increases above 90 dba, the standard requires shorter exposure durations. The following table shows the current OSHA PELs for sound level exposure: Hours Duration Per Day Sound Level dba Slow Response Exposure Assessments Job/Position Survey Annually during hearing conservation program review, survey the various job position titles to identify personnel who may potentially be exposed to high sound level environments for significant periods due to changes in the workplace. Based on these Page 2 of 7

3 surveys, conduct follow-up exposure monitoring as needed to determine exposure levels, HCP applicability and appropriate actions. Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) representatives or operations personnel may use T-OM Job/Position Noise Survey for this purpose. Operations should send copies of completed forms to EHS for final review and disposition Monitoring Noise EHS will conduct a sound level survey (if the area is representative of the employee s potential exposure) using an approved sound level meter (ANSI Type 2 or better). Integrate all continuous, intermittent and impulse sound levels between 80 and 130 decibels into the sound level measurement. Properly calibrate all instruments before and after use and according to the manufacturer s recommendations. When the employee s work is not at a stationary task during his/her work shift, the sound levels vary during the work shift, or there is the presence of impulse sound sources greater than 130 db, conduct noise dosimeter exposure monitoring to determine an employee s time weighted average exposure. Provide employees or their representatives the opportunity to observe sound level exposure monitoring. Notify each employee of his/her monitoring results. Conduct sound level exposure monitoring when an employee s exposure may be equal to or greater than the Action Level. Provide employees or their representatives the opportunity to observe sound level exposure monitoring. Notify each employee exposed at or above the Action Level of monitoring results. Conduct repeat monitoring whenever workplace changes such as new equipment or building modifications may result in increased exposure or render protective equipment inadequate. The repeat monitoring may require first using a sound level meter to spot test areas that have changed and then noise dosimeters to assess employee time weighted average based on the SLM results Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) Based on workplace sound levels and individual employee exposure, HPDs will be selected to reduce sound exposure levels below the action level. HPD manufacturers assign a noise reduction rating (NRR) to each make/model of hearing protection device. Use data from the sound level survey or noise dosimeter measurements to determine if the HPD NRR will reduce exposure below the action level. OSHA requires 7 db be subtracted from the NRR and subtract the remainder from the A-Weighted survey results to evaluate if the HPD selection reduces exposure below the measured sound levels. The formula for this determination is as follows: Estimated Exposure (dba) = Workplace Noise Levels (dba) (NRR- 7) Make HPDs available to employees who are exposed to sound levels of 85dBA or greater. Hearing protection use is required when: Employee exposure exceeds the OSHA PEL (90 dba, 8-hour TWA). Employee exposure exceeds the Action Level (85 dba 8-hour TWA) and the employee has not yet had a baseline audiogram or has experienced a standard threshold shift Working in areas where warning signs state that hearing protection is required Provide a variety of suitable hearing protection products. Train employees regarding use and care for HPDs. Page 3 of 7

4 Continue to evaluate work areas and work processes where hearing protection is required for feasible engineering and administrative controls that could eliminate the need for HPDs, or otherwise reduce overall noise exposures as low as possible Audiometric Testing Employees included in the HCP shall participate in baseline and annual audiometric testing. A contracted testing organization will conduct audiometric tests using qualified personnel meeting requirements of 29 CFR (g) and (h). Audiometric testing equipment shall meet requirements of 29 CFR , Appendix C, D and E Baseline Audiograms The baseline audiogram forms the basis to which all subsequent audiograms are compared. Obtain baseline audiograms for employees exposed at or above the Action Level within six months of exposure. Testing to establish a baseline audiogram shall be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the requirement that baseline audiograms be preceded by 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. Input baseline audiograms into the Medical Records, Safety Related (MRSR) Application database at Safety related medical records are to be kept confidential, and should not be kept with other employee records, such as a personnel file, timesheets, and training files. Audiograms should be kept in a separate medical records file in a secure location Annual Audiograms Conduct hearing testing annually for employees exposed at or above the Action Level. Upon completion of annual audiometric testing, the EHS Department should review results for comparison to baseline audiograms to confirm test validity, identify hearing changes, and determine if a standard threshold shift has occurred. This review may be conducted by a qualified audiometric testing contractor, but a final review of the contractor s determinations should also be performed by the EHS Department. A standard threshold shift is defined as a change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of an average of 10 db or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz (Hz) in either ear. In determining whether a standard threshold shift has occurred, allowance may be made for the contribution of aging (prebycusis) to the change in hearing level by correcting the annual audiogram according to CFR Appendix F: Calculations and application of age corrections to audiograms. Input annual audiograms into the Medical Records, Safety Related (MRSR) Application database at Safety related medical records are to be kept confidential, and should not be kept with other employee records, such as a personnel file, timesheets, and training files. Audiograms should be kept in a separate medical records file in a secure location Procedure for Standard Threshold Shift If a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) is identified through annual testing, a retest may be obtained within 30 days. If the retest confirms the shift is persistent, have test results Page 4 of 7

5 reviewed by an audiologist, otolaryngologist or other qualified person to determine if the change is work-related or if further evaluation is needed. If an STS is confirmed, notify the EHS representative and follow proper steps to ensure that follow-up testing and documentation is completed. If a comparison of the annual audiogram to the baseline audiogram indicates a standard threshold shift as occurred, the employee shall be informed in writing within 21 days of the determination. If it is determined by the EHS Department that an employee has experienced a workrelated Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in hearing in one or both ears, and the employee's total hearing level is 25 decibels (db) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear(s) as the STS, the case must be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log. A 25 db hearing loss is defined as an audiometric test result that reflects the employee's overall hearing ability in comparison to audiometric zero. Therefore, using the employee's current audiogram, you must use the average hearing level at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz to determine whether or not the employee's total hearing level is 25 db or more. An example of an OSHA recordable STS audiometric test result and a non-osha recordable STS audiometric test result: Current Audiogram Baseline for Employee A Shift 2000 Hz Hz Hz Record on OSHA 300 Log Average Yes Current Audiogram Baseline for Employee B Shift 2000 Hz Hz Hz Record on OSHA 300 Log Average No 3.7. Program Responsibilities Line Management Identify changes in processes or the workplace that may result in increased or decreased employee sound level exposure. Inform the EHS representative of any changes that need further assessment Confirm that a variety of hearing protection devices is made available and that they are worn when required Ensure work areas and processes are identified and properly posted Maintain copies of all training records EHS Representatives Page 5 of 7

6 Conduct job/position surveys to identify employees or locations that need further evaluation. Conduct sound level survey and/or noise exposure monitoring as needed and notify employees or their representatives of monitoring results. Provide hearing protection resources to employees and/or line management Maintain copies of all exposure monitoring records for at least two years and provide copies to the EHS Department for retention of 40 years. Administer a contract with a licensed audiometric testing organization to conduct annual audiograms and/or training for employees participating in the HCP Employees Actively participate in all aspects of the HCP Ensure HPDs are properly worn in areas posted as a noise hazard or as hearing protection required and for specific tasks Maintain HPDs in a hygienic manner Inform management of workplace changes that create an increase in sound levels and influence exposure to employees EHS Department 3.8. Warning Signs Maintain a written HCP program procedure that complies with the mandated requirements and any local program procedures as applicable. Periodically conduct field audits to determine HCP effectiveness. Develop contract specifications for a licensed audiometric testing organization to conduct annual audiograms for employees included in the HCP. Provide written notification of an observed STS to affected employees when notified by EHS Representative or the contract testing organization Provide HCP information to employees and make a copy of the OSHA standard available in the workplace. Oversee site-specific HCP requirements. Provide direction to line management concerning HCP elements and managing employees who demonstrate hearing changes related to workplace exposure Ensure that any employee who demonstrates an STS (as identified by the contracting testing organization) is notified in writing of the results and that the case is entered in the OSHA 300 log as appropriate Review T-OM Job/Position Noise Survey Provide technical expertise as requested Post warning signs identifying high noise areas (wherever sound levels of 85 dba or greater are continuous over an 8-hour shift). 4. Training Provide hearing conservation training initially and annually thereafter to personnel included in the HCP. Training may be conducted by the contract organization conducting audiometric testing or during a safety meeting. As a minimum training shall consist of the following: The effects of noise on hearing The purpose of hearing protectors The advantages and disadvantages of various types of hearing protection Instructions for selecting, fitting, using and caring for hearing protection devices The purpose of audiometric testing An explanation of audiometric test procedures Page 6 of 7

7 Provide a copy of 29 CFR , Occupational Noise Exposure, to affected employees or their representatives upon request and make it available at locations where the Action Level (85 dba) for noise is exceeded. 5. Documentation 5.1. Audiometric Testing Records The contract testing organization and EHS shall maintain an accurate record of all audiometric testing in conformance with 29 CFR (m) Exposure Records Each facility shall maintain records of noise exposure monitoring Training Records Each facility shall maintain HCP training records. 6. References OSHA 29 CFR , Occupational Noise Exposure and Appendices T-O&M Procedure 100, Employees OM Responsibilities T-O&M Procedure 120, Personal Protective Equipment T-OM Job/Position Noise Survey Medical Records, Safety Related (MRSR) Application Procedure Noise and Hearing Conservation Manual, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Page 7 of 7