[Title 29 CFR 1904.10]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 29 - LABOR]
[Subtitle B - Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued)]
[Chapter Xvii - OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT]
[Part 1904 - Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses]
[Subpart C - Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria]
[Sec. 1904.10 - Recording criteria for cases involving occupational hearing loss.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


29LABOR52002-07-012002-07-01false1904.10Sec. 1904.10LABORRegulations Relating to Labor (Continued)OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENTRecording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and IllnessesRecordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria
Sec. 1904.10  Recording criteria for cases involving occupational hearing loss.

    (a) Basic requirement. If an employee's hearing test (audiogram) 
reveals that a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) has occurred, you must 
record the case on the OSHA 300 Log by checking the ``hearing loss'' 
column.
    (b) Implementation. (1) What is a Standard Threshold Shift? A 
Standard Threshold Shift, or STS, is defined in the occupational noise 
exposure standard at 29 CFR 1910.95(c)(10)(i) as a change in hearing 
threshold, relative to the most recent audiogram for that employee, of 
an average of 10 decibels (dB) or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz in 
one or both ears.
    (2) How do I determine whether an STS has occurred? If the employee 
has never previously experienced a recordable hearing loss, you must 
compare the employee's current audiogram with that employee's baseline 
audiogram. If the employee has previously experienced a recordable 
hearing loss, you must compare the employee's current audiogram with the 
employee's revised baseline audiogram (the audiogram reflecting the 
employee's previous recordable hearing loss case).
    (3) May I adjust the audiogram results to reflect the effects of 
aging on hearing? Yes, when comparing audiogram results, you may adjust 
the results for the employee's age when the audiogram was taken using 
Tables F-1 or F-2, as appropriate, in Appendix F of 29 CFR 1910.95.
    (4) Do I have to record the hearing loss if I am going to retest the 
employee's hearing? No, if you retest the employee's hearing within 30 
days of the first test, and the retest does not confirm the STS, you are 
not required to record the hearing loss case on the OSHA 300 Log. If the 
retest confirms the STS, you must record the hearing loss illness within 
seven (7) calendar days of the retest.
    (5) Are there any special rules for determining whether a hearing 
loss case is work-related? Yes, hearing loss is presumed to be work-
related if the employee is exposed to noise in the workplace at an 8-
hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA or greater, or to a total noise 
dose of 50 percent, as defined in 29 CFR 1910.95. For hearing loss cases 
where the employee is not exposed to this level of noise, you must use 
the rules in Sec. 1904.5 to determine if the hearing loss is work-
related.

[[Page 55]]

    (6) If a physician or other licensed health care professional 
determines the hearing loss is not work-related, do I still need to 
record the case? If a physician or other licensed health care 
professional determines that the hearing loss is not work-related or has 
not been significantly aggravated by occupational noise exposure, you 
are not required to consider the case work-related or to record the case 
on the OSHA 300 Log.
    (c) Recording criteria for calendar year 2002. From January 1, 2002 
until December 31, 2002, you are required to record a work-related 
hearing loss averaging 25dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz in 
either ear on the OSHA 300 Log. You must use the employee's original 
baseline audiogram for comparison. You may make a correction for 
presbycusis (aging) by using the tables in Appendix F of 29 CFR 1910.95. 
The requirement of Sec. 1904.37(b)(1) that States with OSHA-approved 
state plans must have the same requirements for determining which 
injuries and illnesses are recordable and how they are recorded shall 
not preclude the states from retaining their existing criteria with 
regard to this section during calendar year 2002.
    Note to Sec. 1904.10: Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section are 
effective on January 1, 2003. Paragraph (c) of this section applies from 
January 1, 2002 until December 31, 2002.

[66 FR 6122, Jan. 19, 2001, as amended at 66 FR 52034, Oct. 12, 2001]

    Effective Date Note: At 67 FR 44047, July 1, 2002, Sec. 1904.10 was 
revised, effective Jan. 1, 2003. For the convenience of the user, the 
revised text is set forth as follows:

Sec. 1904.10  Recording criteria for cases involving occupational 
          hearing loss.

    (a) Basic requirement. If an employee's hearing test (audiogram) 
reveals that the employee has experienced a work-related 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, you 
must record the case on the OSHA 300 Log.
    (b) Implementation.
    (1) What is a Standard Threshold Shift? A Standard Threshold Shift, 
or STS, is defined in the occupational noise exposure standard at 29 CFR 
1910.95(g)(10)(i) as a change in hearing threshold, relative to the 
baseline audiogram for that employee, of an average of 10 decibels (dB) 
or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz (Hz) in one or both ears.
    (2) How do I evaluate the current audiogram to determine whether an 
employee has an STS and a 25-dB hearing level?
    (i) STS. If the employee has never previously experienced a 
recordable hearing loss, you must compare the employee's current 
audiogram with that employee's baseline audiogram. If the employee has 
previously experienced a recordable hearing loss, you must compare the 
employee's current audiogram with the employee's revised baseline 
audiogram (the audiogram reflecting the employee's previous recordable 
hearing loss case).
    (ii) 25-dB loss. Audiometric test results reflect 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.
    (3) May I adjust the current audiogram to reflect the effects of 
aging on hearing?
    Yes. When you are determining whether an STS has occurred, you may 
age adjust the employee's current audiogram results by using Tables F-1 
or F-2, as appropriate, in Appendix F of 29 CFR 1910.95. You may not use 
an age adjustment when determining whether the employee's total hearing 
level is 25 dB or more above audiometric zero.
    (4) Do I have to record the hearing loss if I am going to retest the 
employee's hearing?
    No, if you retest the employee's hearing within 30 days of the first 
test, and the retest does not confirm the recordable STS, you are not 
required to record the hearing loss case on the OSHA 300 Log. If the 
retest confirms the recordable STS, you must record the hearing loss 
illness within seven (7) calendar days of the retest. If subsequent 
audiometric testing performed under the testing requirements of the 
Sec. 1910.95 noise standard indicates that an STS is not persistent, you 
may erase or line-out the recorded entry.
    (5) Are there any special rules for determining whether a hearing 
loss case is work-related?
    No. You must use the rules in Sec. 1904.5 to determine if the 
hearing loss is work-related. If an event or exposure in the work 
environment either caused or contributed to the hearing loss, or 
significantly aggravated a pre-existing hearing loss, you must consider 
the case to be work related.
    (6) If a physician or other licensed health care professional 
determines the hearing loss is not work-related, do I still need to 
record the case?
    If a physician or other licensed health care professional determines 
that the hearing loss is not work-related or has not been significantly 
aggravated by occupational noise exposure, you are not required to 
consider the case work-related or to record the case on the OSHA 300 
Log.

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    (7) How do I complete the 300 Log for a hearing loss case?
    When you enter a recordable hearing loss case on the OSHA 300 Log, 
you must check the 300 Log column for hearing loss.
    Note to 1904.10(b)(7):
    The applicability of paragraph (b)(7) is delayed until further 
notice.