Section 325.60113. Baseline audiogram.

(1) Within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, the employer shall establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared.

(2)   Where mobile test vans are used to meet the audiometric  testing requirement, the employer shall obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level. Where baseline audiograms are obtained more than 6 months after the employee's first exposure at or above the action level, employees shall wear hearing protectors for any period exceeding 6 months after first exposure until the baseline audiogram is obtained.

(3)   Testing to establish a baseline audiogram shall be preceded by a period of not less than 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the requirement of 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise.

(4)   The employer shall notify employees of the need to avoid high levels of non- occupational noise exposure during the 14-hour period immediately preceding the audiometric examination.

History: 1986 AACS.