49
Transportation
4
2011-10-01
2011-10-01
false

OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE
227

PART 227
Transportation
Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued)
FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pt. 227

PART 227—OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE

Subpart A—General
Sec.
227.1
Purpose and scope.
227.3
Application.
227.5
Definitions.
227.7
Preemptive effect.
227.9
Penalties.
227.11
Responsibility for compliance.
227.13
Waivers.
227.15
Information collection.

Subpart B—Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees
227.101
Scope and applicability.
227.103
Noise monitoring program.
227.105
Protection of employees.
227.107
Hearing conservation program.
227.109
Audiometric testing program.
227.111
Audiometric test requirements.
227.113
Noise operational controls.
227.115
Hearing protectors.
227.117
Hearing protector attenuation.
227.119
Training program.
227.121
Recordkeeping.
Appendix A to Part 227—Noise Exposure Computation
Appendix B to Part 227—Methods for Estimating the Adequacy of Hearing Protector Attenuation
Appendix C to Part 227—Audiometric Baseline Revision
Appendix D to Part 227—Audiometric Test Rooms
Appendix E to Part 227—Use of Insert Earphones for Audiometric Testing
Appendix F to Part 227—Calculations and Application of Age Corrections to Audiograms
Appendix G to Part 227—Schedule of Civil Penalties

Authority:
49 U.S.C. 20103, 20103, note, 20701-20702; 28 U.S.C. 2461, note; and 49 CFR 1.49.

Source:
71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General
§ 227.1
Purpose and scope.
(a) The purpose of this part is to protect the occupational health and safety of employees whose predominant noise exposure occurs in the locomotive cab.
(b) This part prescribes minimum Federal health and safety noise standards for locomotive cab occupants. This part does not restrict a railroad or railroad contractor from adopting and enforcing additional or more stringent requirements.
§ 227.3
Application.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this part applies to all railroads and contractors to railroads.
(b) This part does not apply to—
(1) A railroad that operates only on track inside an installation that is not part of the general railroad system of transportation;
(2) A rapid transit operation in an urban area that is not connected to the general railroad system of transportation;
(3) A rapid transit operation in an urban area that is connected to the general system and operates under a shared use waiver;
(4) A railroad that operates tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operations, whether on or off the general railroad system of transportation; or
(5) Foreign railroad operations that meet the following conditions: Employees of the foreign railroad have a primary reporting point outside of the U.S. but are operating trains or conducting switching operations in the U.S.; and the government of that foreign railroad has implemented requirements for hearing conservation for railroad employees; the foreign railroad undertakes to comply with those requirements while operating within the U.S.; and FRA's Associate Administrator for Safety determines that the foreign requirements are consistent with the purpose and scope of this part. A “foreign railroad” refers to a railroad that is incorporated in a place outside the U.S. and is operated out of a foreign country but operates for some distance in the U.S.
§ 227.5
Definitions.
As used in this part—
Action level means an eight-hour time-weighted-average sound level (TWA) of 85 dB(A), or, equivalently, a dose of 50 percent, integrating all sound levels from 80 dB(A) to 140 dB(A).
Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration or the Administrator's delegate.
Artifact means any signal received or recorded by a noise measuring instrument that is not related to occupational noise exposure and may adversely impact the accuracy of the occupational noise measurement.
Audiogram means a record of audiometric testing, showing the thresholds of hearing sensitivity measured at discrete frequencies, as well as other recordkeeping information.
Audiologist means a professional, who provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment/rehabilitative services for auditory, vestibular, and related impairments and who
(1) Has a Master's degree or doctoral degree in audiology and
(2) Is licensed as an audiologist by a State; or in the case of an individual who furnishes services in a State which does not license audiologists, has successfully completed 350 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum (or is in the process of accumulating such supervised clinical experience), performed not less than 9 months of supervised full-time audiology services after obtaining a master's or doctoral degree in audiology or a related field, and successfully completed a national examination in audiology approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Audiometry means the act or process of measuring hearing sensitivity at discrete frequencies. Audiometry can also be referred to as audiometric testing.
Baseline audiogram means an audiogram, recorded in accordance with § 227.109, against which subsequent audiograms are compared to determine the extent of change of hearing level.
Class I, Class II, and Class III railroads have the meaning assigned by the regulations of the Surface Transportation Board (49 CFR part 120; General Instructions 1-1).
Continuous noise means variations in sound level that involve maxima at intervals of 1 second or less.
Decibel (dB) means a unit of measurement of sound pressure levels.
dB(A) means the sound pressure level in decibels measured on the A-weighted scale.
Employee means any individual who is engaged or compensated by a railroad or by a contractor to a railroad to perform any of the duties defined in this part.
Exchange rate means the change in sound level, in decibels, which would require halving or doubling of the allowable exposure time to maintain the same noise dose. For purposes of this part, the exchange rate is 5 decibels.
FRA means the Federal Railroad Administration.
Hearing protector means any device or material, which is capable of being worn on the head, covering the ear canal or inserted in the ear canal; is designed wholly or in part to reduce the level of sound entering the ear; and has a scientifically accepted indicator of its noise reduction value.
Hertz (Hz) means a unit of measurement of frequency numerically equal to cycles per second.
Medical pathology means a condition or disease affecting the ear which is medically or surgically treatable.
Noise operational controls means a method used to reduce noise exposure, other than hearing protectors or equipment modifications, by reducing the time a person is exposed to excessive noise.
Occasional service means service of not more than a total of 20 days in a calendar year.
Otolaryngologist means a physician specializing in diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, and throat.
Periodic audiogram is a record of follow-up audiometric testing conducted at regular intervals after the baseline audiometric test.
Person means an entity of any type covered under 1 U.S.C. 1, including but not limited to the following: a railroad; a manager, supervisor, official, or other employee or agent of a railroad; an owner, manufacturer, lessor, or lessee of railroad equipment, track, or facilities; an independent contractor providing goods or services to a railroad; and any employee of such owner, manufacturer, lessor, lessee, or independent contractor.
Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Monitoring Program in a hearing conservation program means an audiologist, otolaryngologist, or a physician with experience and expertise in hearing and hearing loss.
Qualified Technician is a person who is certified by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation or equivalent organization; or who has satisfactorily demonstrated competence in administering audiometric examinations, obtaining valid audiograms, and properly using, maintaining, and checking calibration and proper functioning of the audiometers used; and is responsible to the Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Testing Program.
Railroad means any form of non-highway ground transportation that runs on rails or electromagnetic guide-ways and any entity providing such transportation, including:
(1) Commuter or other short-haul railroad passenger service in a metropolitan or suburban area and commuter railroad service that was operated by the Consolidated Rail Corporation on January 1, 1979; and
(2) High speed ground transportation systems that connect metropolitan areas, without regard to whether those systems use new technologies not associated with traditional railroads. The term “railroad” is also intended to mean a person that provides transportation by railroad, whether directly or by contracting out operation of the railroad to another person. The term does not include rapid transit operations in an urban area that are not connected to the general railroad system of transportation.
Representative personal sampling means measurement of an employee's noise exposure that is representative of the exposures of other employees who operate similar equipment under similar conditions.
Sound level or Sound pressure level means ten times the common logarithm of the ratio of the square of the measured A-weighted sound pressure to the square of the standard reference pressure of twenty micropascals, measured in decibels. For purposes of this regulation, SLOW time response, in accordance with ANSI S1.43-1997 (Reaffirmed 2002), “Specifications for Integrating-Averaging Sound Level Meters,” is required. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference of this standard in this section in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy of the incorporated standard from the American National Standards Institute at 1819 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036 or http://www.ansi.org. You may inspect a copy of the incorporated standard at the Federal Railroad Administration, Docket Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Standard threshold shift (STS) means a change in hearing sensitivity for the worse, relative to the baseline audiogram, or relative to the most recent revised baseline (where one has been established), of an average of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear.
Time-weighted-average eight-hour (or 8-hour TWA) means the sound level, which, if constant over 8 hours, would result in the same noise dose as is measured. For purposes of this part, the exchange rate is 5 decibels.
Tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion operations means railroad operations that carry passengers, often using antiquated equipment, with the conveyance of the passengers to a particular destination not being the principal purpose.
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 74 FR 25173, May 27, 2009]
§ 227.7
Preemptive effect.
Under 49 U.S.C. 20106, issuance of these regulations preempts any State law, regulation, or order covering the same subject matter, except an additional or more stringent law, regulation, or order that is necessary to eliminate or reduce an essentially local safety hazard; is not incompatible with a law, regulation, or order of the United States Government; and does not impose an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce.
§ 227.9
Penalties.
(a) Any person who violates any requirement of this part or causes the violation of any such requirement is subject to a civil penalty of at least $650 and not more than $25,000 per violation, except that: penalties may be assessed against individuals only for willful violations, and, where a grossly negligent violation or a pattern of repeated violations has created an imminent hazard of death or injury to persons, or has caused death or injury, a penalty not to exceed $100,000 per violation may be assessed. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. See appendix G to this part for a statement of agency civil penalty policy.
(b) Any person who knowingly and willfully falsifies a record or report required by this part may be subject to criminal penalties under 49 U.S.C. 21311.
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 73 FR 79702, Dec. 30, 2008]
§ 227.11
Responsibility for compliance.
Although the duties imposed by this part are generally stated in terms of the duty of a railroad, any person, including a contractor for a railroad, who performs any function covered by this part must perform that function in accordance with this part.
§ 227.13
Waivers.
(a) A person subject to a requirement of this part may petition the Administrator for a waiver of compliance with such requirement. The filing of such a petition does not affect that person's responsibility for compliance with that requirement while the petition is being considered.
(b) Each petition for waiver under this section must be filed in the manner and contain the information required by part 211 of this chapter.
(c) If the Administrator finds that a waiver of compliance is in the public interest and is consistent with railroad safety, the Administrator may grant the waiver subject to any conditions the Administrator deems necessary.
§ 227.15
Information collection.
(a) The information collection requirements of this part were reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and are assigned OMB control number 2130-NEW.
(b) The information collection requirements are found in the following sections: §§ 227.13, 227.103, 227.107, 227.109, 227.111, 227.117, 227.119, and 227.121.

Subpart B—Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees.
§ 227.101
Scope and applicability.
(a) This subpart shall apply to the noise-related working conditions of—
(1) Any person who regularly performs service subject to the provisions of the hours of service laws governing “train employees” (see 49 U.S.C. 21101(5) and 21103), but, subject to a railroad's election in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, does not apply to:
(i) Employees who move locomotives only within the confines of locomotive repair or servicing areas, as provided in §§ 218.5 and 218.29(a) of this chapter, or
(ii) Employees who move a locomotive or group of locomotives for distances of less than 100 feet and this incidental movement of a locomotive or locomotives is for inspection or maintenance purposes, or
(iii) Contractors who operate historic equipment in occasional service, provided that the contractors have been provided with hearing protectors and, where necessary, are required to use the hearing protectors while operating the historic equipment;
(2) Any direct supervisor of the persons described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section whose duties require frequent work in the locomotive cab; and
(3) At the election of the railroad, any other person (including a person excluded by paragraph (a)(1) of this section) whose duties require frequent work in the locomotive cab and whose primary noise exposure is reasonably expected to be experienced in the cab, if the position occupied by such person is designated in writing by the railroad, as required by § 227.121(d).
(b) Occupational noise exposure and hearing conservation for employees not covered by this subpart is governed by the appropriate occupational noise exposure regulation of the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration located at 29 CFR 1910.95.
§ 227.103
Noise monitoring program.
(a) Schedule. A railroad shall develop and implement a noise monitoring program to determine whether any employee covered by the scope of this subpart may be exposed to noise that may equal or exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85 dB(A), in accordance with the following schedule:
(1) Class 1, passenger, and commuter railroads no later than February 26, 2008.
(2) Railroads with 400,000 or more annual employee hours that are not Class 1, passenger, or commuter railroads no later than August 26, 2008.
(3) Railroads with fewer than 400,000 annual employee hours no later than August 26, 2009.
(b) Sampling strategy. (1) In its monitoring program, the railroad shall use a sampling strategy that is designed to identify employees for inclusion in the hearing conservation program and to enable the proper selection of hearing protection.
(2) Where circumstances such as high worker mobility, significant variations in sound level, or a significant component of impulse noise make area monitoring generally inappropriate, the railroad shall use representative personal sampling to comply with the monitoring requirements of this section, unless the railroad can show that area sampling produces equivalent results.
(c) Noise measurements. (1) All continuous, intermittent, and impulse sound levels from 80 decibels to 140 decibels shall be integrated into the noise measurements.
(2) Noise measurements shall be made under typical operating conditions using:
(i) A sound level meter conforming, at a minimum, to the requirements of ANSI S1.4-1983 (Reaffirmed 2001) (incorporated by reference, see § 227.103(h)), Type 2, and set to an A-weighted SLOW response;
(ii) An integrated sound level meter conforming, at a minimum, to the requirements of ANSI S1.43-1997 (Reaffirmed 2002) (incorporated by reference, see § 227.103(h)), Type 2, and set to an A-weighted slow response ; or
(iii) A noise dosimeter conforming, at a minimum, to the requirements of ANSI S1.25-1991 (Reaffirmed 2002) (incorporated by reference, see § 227.103(h)) and set to an A-weighted SLOW response.
(3) All instruments used to measure employee noise exposure shall be calibrated to ensure accurate measurements.
(d) The railroad shall repeat noise monitoring, consistent with the requirements of this section, whenever a change in operations, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that:
(1) Additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level; or
(2) The attenuation provided by hearing protectors being used by employees may be inadequate to meet the requirements of § 227.103.
(e) In administering the monitoring program, the railroad shall take into consideration the identification of work environments where the use of hearing protectors may be omitted.
(f) Observation of monitoring. The railroad shall provide affected employees or their representatives with an opportunity to observe any noise dose measurements conducted pursuant to this section.
(g) Reporting of monitoring results. (1) The railroad shall notify each monitored employee of the results of the monitoring.
(2) The railroad shall post the monitoring results at the appropriate crew origination point for a minimum of 30 days. The posting should include sufficient information to permit other crews to understand the meaning of the results in the context of the operations monitored.
(h) Incorporation by reference. The materials listed in this section are incorporated by reference in the corresponding sections noted. These incorporations by reference were approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy of the incorporated materials from the American National Standards Institute at 1819 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036 or http://www.ansi.org. You may inspect a copy of the incorporated standards at the Federal Railroad Administration, Docket Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
(1) ANSI S1.4-1983 (Reaffirmed 2001), Specification for Sound Level Meters, incorporation by reference (IBR) approved for § 227.103(c)(2)(i).
(2) ANSI S1.43-1997 (Reaffirmed 2002), Specifications for Integrating-Averaging Sound Level Meters, IBR approved for § 227.103(c)(2)(ii).
(3) ANSI S1.25-1991 (Reaffirmed 2002), Specification for Personal Noise Dosimeters, IBR approved for § 227.103(c)(2)(iii).
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 74 FR 25173, May 27, 2009]
§ 227.105
Protection of employees.
(a) A railroad shall provide appropriate protection for its employees who are exposed to noise, as measured according to § 227.103, that exceeds the limits specified in appendix A of this part.
(b) In assessing whether exposures exceed 115 dB(A), as set forth in paragraph (a) of this section and appendix A to this part, the apparent source of the noise exposures shall be observed and documented and measurement artifacts may be removed.
(c) Except as set forth in paragraph (d) of this section, exposure to continuous noise shall not exceed 115dB(A).
(d) Exposures to continuous noise greater than 115 dB(A) and equal to or less than 120 dB(A) are permissible, provided that the total daily duration does not exceed 5 seconds.
§ 227.107
Hearing conservation program.
(a) Consistent with the requirements of the noise monitoring program required by § 227.103, the railroad shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as set forth in §§ 227.109 through 227.121, for all employees exposed to noise at or above the action level.
(b) For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposure shall be computed in accordance with the tables in appendix A of this part, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of hearing protectors.
§ 227.109
Audiometric testing program.
(a) Each railroad shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as set forth in this section and include employees who are required to be included in a hearing conservation program pursuant to § 227.107.
(b) Cost. The audiometric tests shall be provided at no cost to employees.
(c) Tests. Audiometric tests shall be performed by:
(1) An audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician who has experience and expertise in hearing and hearing loss; or
(2) A qualified technician.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Baseline audiogram. This paragraph (e) applies to employees who are required by § 227.107 to be included in a hearing conservation program.
(1) New employees. (i) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(1)(ii), for employees hired after February 26, 2007, the railroad shall establish a valid baseline audiogram within 6 months of the new employee's first tour of duty.
(ii) Where mobile test vans are used to meet the requirement in paragraph (e)(1)(i), the railroad shall establish a valid baseline audiogram within one year of the new employee's first tour of duty.
(2) Existing employees. (i) For all employees without a baseline audiogram as of February 26, 2007, Class 1, passenger, and commuter railroads, and railroads with 400,000 or more annual employee hours shall establish a valid baseline audiogram by February 26, 2009; and railroads with less than 400,000 annual employee hours shall establish a valid baseline audiogram by February 26, 2010.
(ii) If an employee has had a baseline audiogram as of February 26, 2007, and it was obtained under conditions that satisfy the requirements found in 29 CFR 1910.95(h), the railroad must use that baseline audiogram.
(iii) If the employee has had a baseline audiogram as of February 26, 2007, and it was obtained under conditions that satisfy the requirements in 29 CFR 1910.95(h)(1), but not the requirements found in 29 CFR 1910.95(h)(2) through (5), the railroad may elect to use that baseline audiogram provided that the Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Monitoring Program makes a reasonable determination that the baseline audiogram is valid and is clinically consistent with other materials in the employee's medical file.
(3) Testing to establish a baseline audiogram shall be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to occupational noise in excess of the action level. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the requirement that baseline audiograms be preceded by 14 hours without exposure to occupational noise.
(4) The railroad shall notify its employees of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the 14-hour period immediately preceding the audiometric examination.
(f) Periodic audiogram. (1) The railroad shall offer an audiometric test to each employee included in the hearing conservation program at least once each calendar year. The interval between the date offered to any employee for a test in a calendar year and the date offered in the subsequent calendar year shall be no more than 450 days and no less than 280 days.
(2) The railroad shall require each employee included in the hearing conservation program to take an audiometric test at least once every 1095 days.
(g) Evaluation of audiogram. (1) Each employee's periodic audiogram shall be compared to that employee's baseline audiogram to determine if the audiogram is valid and to determine if a standard threshold shift has occurred. This comparison may be done by a qualified technician.
(2) If the periodic audiogram demonstrates a standard threshold shift, a railroad may obtain a retest within 90 days. The railroad may consider the results of the retest as the periodic audiogram.
(3) The audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician shall review problem audiograms and shall determine whether there is a need for further evaluation. A railroad shall provide all of the following information to the person performing this review:
(i) The baseline audiogram of the employee to be evaluated;
(ii) The most recent audiogram of the employee to be evaluated;
(iii) Measurements of background sound pressure levels in the audiometric test room as required in appendix D of this part: Audiometric Test Rooms; and
(iv) Records of audiometer calibrations required by § 227.111.
(h) Follow-up procedures. (1) If a comparison of the periodic audiogram to the baseline audiogram indicates that a standard threshold shift has occurred, the railroad shall inform the employee in writing within 30 days of the determination.
(2) Unless a physician or audiologist determines that the standard threshold shift is not work-related or aggravated by occupational noise exposure, the railroad shall ensure that the following steps are taken:
(i) Employees not using hearing protectors shall be fitted with hearing protectors, shall be trained in their use and care, and shall be required to use them.
(ii) Employees already provided with hearing protectors shall be refitted, shall be retrained in the use of hearing protectors offering greater attenuation, if necessary, and shall be required to use them.
(iii) If subsequent audiometric testing is necessary or if the railroad suspects that a medical pathology of the ear is caused or aggravated by the wearing of hearing protectors, the railroad shall refer the employee for a clinical audiological evaluation or an otological examination.
(iv) If the railroad suspects that a medical pathology of the ear unrelated to the use of hearing protectors is present, the railroad shall inform the employee of the need for an otological examination.
(3) If subsequent audiometric testing of an employee, whose exposure to noise is less than an 8-hour TWA of 90 dB, indicates that a standard threshold shift is not persistent, the railroad shall inform the employee of the new audiometric interpretation and may discontinue the required use of hearing protectors for that employee.
(i) Revised baseline. A railroad shall use the following methods for revising baseline audiograms:
(1) Periodic audiograms from audiometric tests conducted through February 26, 2009, may be substituted for the baseline measurement by the Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Monitoring Program who is evaluating the audiogram if:
(i) The standard threshold shift revealed by the audiogram is persistent; or
(ii) The hearing threshold shown in the periodic audiogram indicates significant improvement over the baseline audiogram.
(2) Baseline audiograms from audiometric tests conducted after February 26, 2009, shall be revised in accordance with the method specified in appendix C of this part: Audiometric Baseline Revision.
(j) Standard threshold shift. In determining whether a standard threshold shift has occurred, allowance may be made for the contribution of aging (presbycusis) to the change in hearing level by correcting the annual audiogram according to the procedure described in appendix F of this part: Calculation and Application of Age Correction to Audiograms.
§ 227.111
Audiometric test requirements.
(a) Audiometric tests shall be pure tone, air conduction, hearing threshold examinations, with test frequencies including 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz. Tests at each frequency shall be taken separately for each ear.
(b) Audiometric tests shall be conducted with audiometers (including microprocessor audiometers) that meet the specifications of and are maintained and used in accordance with ANSI S3.6-2004 “Specification for Audiometers.” The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this standard in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy of the incorporated standard from the American National Standards Institute at 1819 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036 or http://www.ansi.org. You may inspect a copy of the incorporated standard at the Federal Railroad Administration, Docket Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, Washington, DC 20005, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For more information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
(1) Pulsed-tone audiometers should be used with the following on and off times: F-J and J-K shall each have values of 225 ± 35 milliseconds (ms).
(2) Use of insert earphones shall be consistent with the requirements listed in appendix E of this part: Use of Insert Earphones for Audiometric Testing.
(c) Audiometric examinations shall be administered in a room meeting the requirements listed in appendix D of this part: Audiometric Test Rooms.
(d) Audiometer calibration. (1) The functional operation of the audiometer shall be checked before each day's use by testing a person with known, stable hearing thresholds or by appropriate calibration device, and by listening to the audiometer's output to make sure that the output is free from distorted or unwanted sounds. Deviations of 10 decibels or greater require an acoustic calibration.
(2) Audiometer calibration shall be checked acoustically at least annually according to the procedures described in ANSI S3.6-2004. Frequencies below 500 Hz and above 8000 Hz may be omitted from this check. The audiometer must meet the sound pressure accuracy requirements of section 7.2 of ANSI S3.6-2004 of 3 dB at any test frequency between 500 and 5000 Hz and 5 dB at any test frequency 6000 Hz and higher for the specific type of transducer used. For air-conduction supra-aural earphones, the specifications in Table 6 of ANSI S3.6-2004 shall apply. For air-conduction insert earphones, the specifications in Table 7 of ANSI S3.6-2004 shall apply. Audiometers that do not meet these requirements must undergo an exhaustive calibration.
(3) Exhaustive Calibration. An exhaustive calibration shall be performed in accordance with ANSI S3.6-2004, according to the following schedule:
(i) At least once every two years on audiometers not used in mobile test vans. Test frequencies below 500 Hz and above 6000 Hz may be omitted from this calibration.
(ii) At least annually on audiometers used in mobile test vans.
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 74 FR 25173, May 27, 2009]
§ 227.113
Noise operational controls.
(a) Railroads may use noise operational controls at any sound level to reduce exposures to levels below those required by Table A-1 of appendix A of this part.
(b) Railroads are encouraged to use noise operational controls when employees are exposed to sound exceeding an 8-hour TWA of 90 dB(A).
§ 227.115
Hearing protectors.
(a) General requirements for hearing protectors. (1) The railroad shall provide hearing protectors to employees at no cost to the employee.
(2) The railroad shall replace hearing protectors as necessary.
(3) When offering hearing protectors, a railroad shall consider an employee's ability to understand and respond to voice radio communications and audible warnings.
(4) The railroad shall give employees the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors. The selection shall include devices with a range of attenuation levels.
(5) The railroad shall provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees.
(6) The railroad shall ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors.
(b) Availability of hearing protectors. A railroad shall make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to sound levels that meet or exceed the action level.
(c) Required use at action level. A railroad shall require the use of hearing protectors when an employee is exposed to sound levels that meet or exceed the action level, and the employee has:
(1) Not yet had a baseline audiogram established pursuant to § 227.109; or
(2) Experienced a standard threshold shift and is required to use hearing protectors under § 227.109(h).
(d) Required use for TWA of 90 dB(A). The railroad shall require the use of hearing protectors when an employee is exposed to sound levels equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 90 dB(A) or greater. The hearing protectors should be used to reduce sound levels to within those levels required by appendix A of this part.
§ 227.117
Hearing protector attenuation.
(a) A railroad shall evaluate hearing protector attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the protector will be used. The railroad shall use one of the evaluation methods described in appendix B of this part; “Methods for Estimating the Adequacy of Hearing Protector Attenuation.”
(b) Hearing protectors shall attenuate employee exposure to an 8-hour TWA of 90 decibels or lower, as required by § 227.115.
(c) For employees who have experienced a standard threshold shift, hearing protectors must attenuate employee exposure to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or lower.
(d) The adequacy of hearing protector attenuation shall be re-evaluated whenever employee noise exposures increase to the extent that the hearing protectors provided may no longer provide adequate attenuation. A railroad shall provide more effective hearing protectors where necessary.
§ 227.119
Training program.
(a) The railroad shall institute an occupational noise and hearing conservation training program for all employees included in the hearing conservation program.
(1) The railroad shall offer the training program to each employee included in the hearing conservation program at least once each calendar year. The interval between the date offered to any employee for the training in a calendar year and the date offered in the subsequent calendar year shall be no more than 450 days and no less than 280 days.
(2) The railroad shall require each employee included in the hearing conservation program to complete the training at least once every 1095 days.
(b) The railroad shall provide the training required by paragraph (a) of this section in accordance with the following:
(1) For employees hired after February 26, 2007, within six months of the employee's first tour of duty in a position identified within the scope of this part.
(2) For employees hired on or before February 26, 2007, by Class 1, passenger, and commuter railroads, and railroads with 400,000 or more annual employee hours, by no later than February 26, 2009;
(3) For employees hired on or before February 26, 2007, by railroads with fewer than 400,000 annual employee hours, by no later than February 26, 2010.
(c) The training program shall include and the training materials shall reflect, at a minimum, information on all of the following:
(1) The effects of noise on hearing;
(2) The purpose of hearing protectors;
(3) The advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types of hearing protectors;
(4) Instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care of hearing protectors;
(5) The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures;
(6) An explanation of noise operational controls, where used;
(7) General information concerning the expected range of workplace noise exposure levels associated with major categories of railroad equipment and operations (e.g., switching and road assignments, hump yards near retarders, etc.) and appropriate reference to requirements of the railroad concerning use of hearing protectors;
(8) The purpose of noise monitoring and a general description of monitoring procedures;
(9) The availability of a copy of this part, an explanation of the requirements of this part as they affect the responsibilities of employees, and employees' rights to access records under this part;
(10) How to determine what can trigger an excessive noise report, pursuant to § 229.121(b); and
(11) How to file an excessive noise report, pursuant to § 229.121(b).
§ 227.121
Recordkeeping.
(a) General requirements—(1) Availability of records. Each railroad required to maintain and retain records under this part shall:
(i) Make all records available for inspection and copying/photocopying to representatives of the FRA, upon request;
(ii) Make an employee's records available for inspection and copying/photocopying to that employee, former employee, or such person's representative upon written authorization by such employee;
(iii) Make exposure measurement records for a given run or yard available for inspection and copying/photocopying to all employees who were present in the locomotive cab during the given run and/or who work in the same yard; and
(iv) Make exposure measurement records for specific locations available to regional or national labor representatives, upon request. These reports shall not contain identifying information of an employee unless an employee authorizes the release of such information in writing.
(2) Electronic records. All records required by this part may be kept in electronic form by the railroad. A railroad may maintain and transfer records through electronic transmission, storage, and retrieval provided that:
(i) The electronic system be designed so that the integrity of each record is maintained through appropriate levels of security such as recognition of an electronic signature, or other means, which uniquely identify the initiating person as the author of that record. No two persons shall have the same electronic identity;
(ii) The electronic system shall ensure that each record cannot be modified in any way, or replaced, once the record is transmitted and stored;
(iii) Any amendment to a record shall be electronically stored apart from the record which it amends. Each amendment to a record shall be uniquely identified as to the person making the amendment;
(iv) The electronic system shall provide for the maintenance of records as originally submitted without corruption or loss of data; and
(v) Paper copies of electronic records and amendments to those records, that may be necessary to document compliance with this part shall be made available for inspection and copying/photocopying by representatives of the FRA.
(3) Transfer of records. If a railroad ceases to do business, it shall transfer to the successor employer all records required to be maintained under this subpart, and the successor employer shall retain them for the remainder of the period prescribed in this part.
(b) Exposure measurements records. The railroad shall:
(1) Maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements required by § 227.103; and
(2) Retain these records for the duration of the covered employee's employment plus thirty years.
(c) Audiometric test records. The railroad shall:
(1) Maintain employee audiometric test records required by § 227.109, including:
(i) The name and job classification of the employee;
(ii) The date of the audiogram;
(iii) The examiner's name;
(iv) The date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of the audiometer;
(v) Accurate records of the measurements of the background sound pressure levels in audiometric test rooms;
(vi) The model and serial number of the audiometer used for testing; and
(2) Retain the records required by § 227.107 for the duration of the covered employee's employment plus thirty years.
(d) Positions and persons designated records. The railroad shall:
(1) Maintain a record of all positions or persons or both designated by the railroad to be placed in a Hearing Conservation Program pursuant to § 227.107; and
(2) Retain these records for the duration of the designation.
(e) Training program materials records. The railroad shall:
(1) Maintain copies of all training program materials used to comply with § 227.119(c) and a record of employees trained; and
(2) Retain these copies and records for three years.
(f) Standard threshold shift records. The railroad shall:
(1) Maintain a record of all employees who have been found to have experienced a standard threshold shift within the prior calendar year and include all of the following information for each employee on the record:
(i) Date of the employee's baseline audiogram;
(ii) Date of the employee's most recent audiogram;
(iii) Date of the establishment of a standard threshold shift;
(iv) The employee's job code; and
(v) An indication of how many standard threshold shifts the employee has experienced in the past, if any; and
(2) Retain these records for five years.
Pt. 227, App. A

Appendix A to Part 227—Noise Exposure Computation
This appendix is mandatory.

I. Computation of Employee Noise Exposure
A. Noise dose is computed using Table A-1 as follows:
1. When the sound level, L, is constant over the entire work day, the noise dose, D, in percent, is given by: D = 100 C/T, where C is the total length of the work day, in hours, and T is the duration permitted corresponding to the measured sound level, L, as given in Table A-1.
2. When the work day noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise at different levels, the total noise dose over the work day is given by:
D = 100 (C1/T1 + C2/T2 + . . . + Cn/Tn), where Cn indicates the total time of exposure at a specific noise level, and Tn indicates the duration permitted for that level as given by Table A-1.
B. The eight-hour TWA in dB may be computed from the dose, in percent, by means of the formula: TWA = 16.61 log10 (D/100) + 90. For an eight-hour work day with the noise level constant over the entire day, the TWA is equal to the measured sound level.
C. Exposure to impulsive or impact noise should not exceed 140 dB peak sound pressure level.
D. Any time that an employee spends deadheading shall be included in the calculation of the noise dose.
E. A table relating dose and TWA is given in Section II of this Appendix.
Table A-1 ^1
A-weighted sound level, L (decibel) | Duration permitted T (hour)
80 | 32
81 | 27.9
82 | 24.3
83 | 21.1
84 | 18.4
85 | 16
86 | 13.9
87 | 12.1
88 | 10.6
89 | 9.2
90 | 8
91 | 7.0
92 | 6.1
93 | 5.3
94 | 4.6
95 | 4
96 | 3.5
97 | 3.0
98 | 2.6
99 | 2.3
100 | 2
101 | 1.7
102 | 1.5
103 | 1.3
104 | 1.1
105 | 1
106 | 0.87
107 | 0.76
108 | 0.66
109 | 0.57
110 | 0.5
111 | 0.44
112 | 0.38
113 | 0.33
114 | 0.29
115 | 0.25
116 | 0.22
117 | 0.19
118 | 0.16
119 | 0.14
120 | 0.125
121 | 0.11
122 | 0.095
123 | 0.082
124 | 0.072
125 | 0.063
126 | 0.054
127 | 0.047
128 | 0.041
129 | 0.036
130 | 0.031
140 | 0.078
^1 Numbers above 115 dB(A) are italicized to indicate that they are noise levels that are not permitted. The italicized numbers are included only because they are sometimes necessary for the computation of noise dose.
In the above table the duration permitted, T, is computed by
where L is the measured A-weighted sound level.

II. Conversion Between “Dose” and “8-Hour Time-Weighted Average” Sound Level
A. Compliance with subpart B of part 227 is determined by the amount of exposure to noise in the workplace. The amount of such exposure is usually measured with a dosimeter which gives a readout in terms of “dose.” In order to better understand the requirements of the regulation, dosimeter readings can be converted to an “8-hour TWA.”
B. In order to convert the reading of a dosimeter into TWA, see Table A-2, below. This table applies to dosimeters that are set by the manufacturer to calculate dose or percent exposure according to the relationships in Table A-1. So, for example, a dose of 91 percent over an eight-hour day results in a TWA of 89.3 dB, and a dose of 50 percent corresponds to a TWA of 85 dB.
C. If the dose as read on the dosimeter is less than or greater than the values found in Table A-2, the TWA may be calculated by using the formula: TWA = 16.61 log10 (D/100) + 90 where TWA = 8-hour time-weighted average sound level and D = accumulated dose in percent exposure.
Table A-2—Conversion From “Percent Noise Exposure” or “Dose” to “8-Hour Time-Weighted Average Sound Level” (TWA)
Dose or percent noise exposure | TWA
10 | 73.4
15 | 76.3
20 | 78.4
25 | 80.0
30 | 81.3
35 | 82.4
40 | 83.4
45 | 84.2
50 | 85.0
55 | 85.7
60 | 86.3
65 | 86.9
70 | 87.4
75 | 87.9
80 | 88.4
81 | 88.5
82 | 88.6
83 | 88.7
84 | 88.7
85 | 88.8
86 | 88.9
87 | 89.0
88 | 89.1
89 | 89.2
90 | 89.2
91 | 89.3
92 | 89.4
93 | 89.5
94 | 89.6
95 | 89.6
96 | 89.7
97 | 89.8
98 | 89.9
99 | 89.9
100 | 90.0
101 | 90.1
102 | 90.1
103 | 90.2
104 | 90.3
105 | 90.4
106 | 90.4
107 | 90.5
108 | 90.6
109 | 90.6
110 | 90.7
111 | 90.8
112 | 90.8
113 | 90.9
114 | 90.9
115 | 91.1
116 | 91.1
117 | 91.1
118 | 91.2
119 | 91.3
120 | 91.3
125 | 91.6
130 | 91.9
135 | 92.2
140 | 92.4
145 | 92.7
150 | 92.9
155 | 93.2
160 | 93.4
165 | 93.6
170 | 93.8
175 | 94.0
180 | 94.2
185 | 94.4
190 | 94.6
195 | 94.8
200 | 95.0
210 | 95.4
220 | 95.7
230 | 96.0
240 | 96.3
250 | 96.6
260 | 96.9
270 | 97.2
280 | 97.4
290 | 97.7
300 | 97.9
310 | 98.2
320 | 98.4
330 | 98.6
340 | 98.8
350 | 99.0
360 | 99.2
370 | 99.4
380 | 99.6
390 | 99.8
400 | 100.0
410 | 100.2
420 | 100.4
430 | 100.5
440 | 100.7
450 | 100.8
460 | 101.0
470 | 101.2
480 | 101.3
490 | 101.5
500 | 101.6
510 | 101.8
520 | 101.9
530 | 102.0
540 | 102.2
550 | 102.3
560 | 102.4
570 | 102.6
580 | 102.7
590 | 102.8
600 | 102.9
610 | 103.0
620 | 103.2
630 | 103.3
640 | 103.4
650 | 103.5
660 | 103.6
670 | 103.7
680 | 103.8
690 | 103.9
700 | 104.0
710 | 104.1
720 | 104.2
730 | 104.3
740 | 104.4
750 | 104.5
760 | 104.6
770 | 104.7
780 | 104.8
790 | 104.9
800 | 105.0
810 | 105.1
820 | 105.2
830 | 105.3
| 840 | 105.4
850 | 105.4
860 | 105.5
870 | 105.6
880 | 105.7
890 | 105.8
900 | 105.8
910 | 105.9
920 | 106.0
930 | 106.1
940 | 106.2
950 | 106.2
960 | 106.3
970 | 106.4
980 | 106.5
990 | 106.5
999 | 106.6
Pt. 227, App. B

Appendix B to Part 227—Methods for Estimating the Adequacy of Hearing Protector Attenuation
This appendix is mandatory.
Employers must select one of the following three methods by which to estimate the adequacy of hearing protector attenuation.

I. Derate by Type
Derate the hearing protector attenuation by type using the following requirements:
A. Subtract 7 dB from the published Noise Reduction Rating (NRR).
B. Reduce the resulting amount by:
1. 20% for earmuffs,
2. 40% for form-able earplugs, or
3. 60% for all other earplugs.
C. Subtract the remaining amount from the A-weighted TWA. You will have the estimated A-weighted TWA for that hearing protector.

II. Method B From ANSI S12.6-1997 (Reaffirmed 2002)
Use Method B, which is found in ANSI S12.6-1997 (Reaffirmed 2002) “Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation of Hearing Protectors.” The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this standard in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy of the incorporated standard from the American National Standards Institute at 1819 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036, or http://www.ansi.org. You may inspect a copy of the incorporated standard at the Federal Railroad Administration, Docket Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

III. Objective Measurement
Use actual measurements of the level of noise exposure (as an A-weighted SLOW response dose) inside the hearing protector when the employee wears the hearing protector in the actual work environment.
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 74 FR 25173, May 27, 2009]
Pt. 227, App. C

Appendix C to Part 227—Audiometric Baseline Revision
This appendix is mandatory beginning on February 26, 2009.

I. General
A. A professional reviewer (audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician) shall use these procedures when revising baseline audiograms.
B. Although these procedures can be programmed by a computer to identify records for potential revision, the final decision for revision rests with a human being. Because the goal of the guidelines is to foster consistency among different professional reviewers, human override of the guidelines must be justified by specific concrete reasons.
C. These procedures do not apply to: The identification of standard threshold shifts (STS) other than an FRA STS ^1 or to the calculation of the 25-dB average shifts that are reportable on the Form FRA F 6180.55a.
^1 OSHA and FRA use the same definition for Standard Threshold Shift (STS). FRA's definition is located in § 227.5. OSHA's definition is located in 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(10)(i).
D. Initially, the baseline is the latest audiogram obtained before entry into the hearing conservation program. If no appropriate pre-entry audiogram exists, the baseline is the first audiogram obtained after entry into the hearing conservation program. Each subsequent audiogram is reviewed to detect improvement in the average (average of thresholds at 2, 3, and 4 kHz) and to detect an FRA STS. The two ears are examined separately and independently for improvement and for worsening. If one ear meets the criteria for revision of baseline, then the baseline is revised for that ear only. Therefore, if the two ears show different hearing trends, the baseline for the left ear may be from one test date, while the baseline for the right ear may be from a different test date.
E. Age corrections do not apply in considering revisions for improvement (Rule 1). The FRA-allowed age corrections from appendix F of Part 227 ^2 may be used, if desired, before considering revision for persistent STS. Rule 2 operates in the same way, whether age corrections are used or not.
^2 FRA and OSHA use the same age-correction provisions. FRA's is found in appendix F of part 227 and OSHA's in appendix F of 29 CFR 1910.95.

II. Rule 1: Revision for Persistent Improvement
If the average of the thresholds for 2, 3, and 4 kHz for either ear shows an improvement of 5 dB or more from the baseline value, and the improvement is present on one test and persistent on the next test, then the record should be identified for review by the audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician for potential revision of the baseline for persistent improvement. The baseline for that ear should be revised to the test which shows the lower (more sensitive) value for the average of thresholds at 2, 3, and 4 kHz unless the audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician determines and documents specific reasons for not revising. If the values of the three-frequency average are identical for the two tests, then the earlier test becomes the revised baseline.

III. Rule 2: Revision for Persistent Standard Threshold Shift
A. If the average of thresholds for 2, 3, and 4 kHz for either ear shows a worsening of 10 dB or more from the baseline value, and the STS persists on the next periodic test (or the next test given at least 6 months later), then the record should be identified for review by the audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician for potential revision of the baseline for persistent worsening. Unless the audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician determines and documents specific reasons for not revising, the baseline for that ear should be revised to the test which shows the lower (more sensitive) value for the average of thresholds at 2, 3, and 4 kHz. If both tests show the same numerical value for the average of 2, 3, and 4 kHz, then the audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician should revise the baseline to the earlier of the two tests, unless the later test shows better (more sensitive) thresholds for other test frequencies.
B. Following an STS, a retest within 90 days of the periodic test may be substituted for the periodic test if the retest shows better (more sensitive) results for the average threshold at 2, 3, and 4 kHz.
C. If the retest is used in place of the periodic test, then the periodic test is retained in the record, but it is marked in such a way that it is no longer considered in baseline revision evaluations. If a retest within 90 days of periodic test confirms an FRA STS shown on the periodic test, the baseline will not be revised at that point because the required six-month interval between tests showing STS persistence has not been met. The purpose of the six-month requirement is to prevent premature baseline revision when STS is the result of temporary medical conditions affecting hearing.
D. Although a special retest after six months could be given, if desired, to assess whether the STS is persistent, in most cases, the next annual audiogram would be used to evaluate persistence of the STS.
Pt. 227, App. D

Appendix D to Part 227—Audiometric Test Rooms
This appendix is mandatory.
A. Rooms used for audiometric testing shall not have background sound pressure levels exceeding those in Table D-1 when measured by equipment conforming at least to the Type 2 requirements of ANSI S1.4-1983 (Reaffirmed 2001) and to the Class 2 requirements of ANSI S1.11-2004, “Specification for Octave-Band and Fractional-Octave-Band Analog and Digital Filters.”
B. The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of ANSI S1.4-1983 (Reaffirmed 2001) and S.1.11-2004 in this section in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy of the incorporated standard from the American National Standards Institute at 1819 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036 or http://www.ansi.org. You may inspect a copy of the incorporated standard at the Federal Railroad Administration, Docket Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
Table D-1—Maximum Allowable Octave-Band Sound Pressure Levels for Audiometric Test Rooms
Octave-band center frequency (Hz) | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 4000 | 8000
Sound pressure levels—supra-aural earphones | 40 | 40 | 47 | 57 | 62
Sound pressure levels—insert earphones | 50 | 47 | 49 | 50 | 56
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 74 FR 25173, May 27, 2009]
Pt. 227, App. E

Appendix E to Part 227—Use of Insert Earphones for Audiometric Testing
This appendix is mandatory.
Section 227.111(d) allows railroads to use insert earphones for audiometric testing. Railroads are not required to use insert earphones, however, where they elect to use insert earphones, they must comply with the requirements of this appendix.

I. Acceptable Fit
A. The audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician responsible for conducting the audiometric testing, shall identify ear canals that prevent achievement of an acceptable fit with insert earphones, or shall assure that any technician under his/her authority who conducts audiometric testing with insert earphones has the ability to identify such ear canals.
B. Technicians who conduct audiometric tests must be trained to insert the earphones correctly into the ear canals of test subjects and to recognize conditions where ear canal size prevents achievement of an acceptable insertion depth (fit).
C. Insert earphones shall not be used for audiometric testing of employees with ear canal sizes that prevent achievement of an acceptable insertion depth (fit).

II. Proper Use
The manufacturer's guidelines for proper use of insert earphones must be followed.

III. Audiometer Calibration
A. Audiometers used with insert earphones must be calibrated in accordance with ANSI S3.6-2004, “Specification for Audiometers.” The Director of the Federal Register approves the incorporation by reference of this standard in this section in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy of the incorporated standard from the American National Standards Institute at 1819 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036 or http://www.ansi.org. You may inspect a copy of the incorporated standard at the Federal Railroad Administration, Docket Room, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
B. Audiometers used with insert earphones must be calibrated using one of the couplers listed in Table 7 of ANSI S3.6-2004.
C. The acoustical calibration shall be conducted annually.
D. The functional calibration must be conducted before each day's use of the audiometer.

IV. Background Noise Levels
Testing shall be conducted in a room where the background ambient noise octave-band sound pressures levels meet appendix D to this part.

V. Conversion From Supra Aural Earphones
At the time of conversion from supra-aural to insert earphones, testing must be performed with both types of earphones.
A. The test subject must have a quiet period of at least 14 hours before testing. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the quiet period.
B. The supra-aural earphone audiogram shall be compared to the baseline audiogram, or the revised baseline audiogram if appropriate, to check for a Standard Threshold Shift (STS). In accordance with § 227.109(f)(2), if the audiogram shows an STS, retesting with supra-aural earphones must be performed within 90 days. If the resulting audiogram confirms the STS, then it is adopted as the current test instead of the prior one.
C. If retesting with supra-aural earphones is performed, then retesting with insert earphones must be performed at that time to establish the baseline for future audiometric tests using the insert earphones.

VI. Revised Baseline Audiograms
A. If an STS is confirmed by the re-test with supra-aural earphones, the audiogram may become the revised baseline audiogram per the requirements of § 227.109(i) for all future hearing tests with supra-aural earphones. The insert-earphone audiogram will become the new reference baseline audiogram for all future hearing tests performed with insert earphones.
B. If an STS is not indicated by the test with supra-aural earphones, the baseline audiogram remains the reference baseline audiogram for all future supra-aural earphone tests, until such time as an STS is observed. In this case, the insert-earphone audiogram taken at the same time will become the new reference baseline audiogram for all future hearing tests performed with insert earphones.
C. Transitioning Employees with Partial Shifts. Employers must account for the workers who are in the process of developing an STS (e.g., demonstrate a 7 dB average shift), but who at the time of the conversion to insert earphones do not have a 10 dB average shift. Employers who want to use insert earphones must enter the 7 dB shift information in the employee's audiometric test records although it is not an “STS”. When the next annual audiogram using insert earphones shows an average threshold shift at 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hz of 3 dB, completing the full shift (7 dB + 3 dB), employers must then label that average shift as an STS. This triggers the follow-up procedures at § 227.109(h).

VII. Records
All audiograms (including both those produced through the use of insert earphones and supra-aural headsets), calculations, pure-tone individual and average threshold shifts, full STS migrations, and audiometric acoustical calibration records, are to be preserved as records and maintained according to § 227.121(c).
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 74 FR 25173, May 27, 2009]
Pt. 227, App. F

Appendix F to Part 227—Calculations and Application of Age Corrections to Audiograms
This appendix is non-mandatory.
In determining whether a standard threshold shift (STS) has occurred, allowance may be made for the contribution of aging to the change in hearing level by adjusting the most recent audiogram. If the employer chooses to adjust the audiogram, the employer shall follow the procedure described below. This procedure and the age correction tables were developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in a criteria document. See “Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Noise,” Department of Health and Human Services (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-126. For each audiometric test frequency:
I. Determine from Tables F-1 or F-2 the age correction values for the employee by:
A. Finding the age at which the most recent audiogram was taken and recording the corresponding values of age corrections at 1000 Hz through 6000 Hz;
B. Finding the age at which the baseline audiogram was taken and recording the corresponding values of age corrections at 1000 Hz through 6000 Hz.
II. Subtract the values found in step (I)(B) from the value found in step (I)(A).
III. The differences calculated in step (II) represented that portion of the change in hearing that may be due to aging.
Example: Employee is a 32-year-old male. The audiometric history for his right ear is shown in decibels below.
Employee's age | Audiometric test frequency (Hz) | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 | 4000 | 6000
26 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5
27* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5
28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5
29 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 5
30 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 10
31 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 15
32* | 5 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 20
a. The audiogram at age 27 is considered the baseline since it shows the best hearing threshold levels. Asterisks have been used to identify the baseline and most recent audiogram. A threshold shift of 20 dB exists at 4000 Hz between the audiograms taken at ages 27 and 32.
b. (The threshold shift is computed by subtracting the hearing threshold at age 27, which was 5, from the hearing threshold at age 32, which is 25). A retest audiogram has confirmed this shift. The contribution of aging to this change in hearing may be estimated in the following manner:
c. Go to Table F-1 and find the age correction values (in dB) for 4000 Hz at age 27 and age 32.
| Frequency (Hz) | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 | 4000 | 6000
Age 32 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14
Age 27 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 11
Difference | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3
d. The difference represents the amount of hearing loss that may be attributed to aging in the time period between the baseline audiogram and the most recent audiogram. In this example, the difference at 4000 Hz is 3 dB. This value is subtracted from the hearing level at 4000 Hz, which in the most recent audiogram is 25, yielding 22 after adjustment. Then the hearing threshold in the baseline audiogram at 4000 Hz (5) is subtracted from the adjusted annual audiogram hearing threshold at 4000 Hz (22). Thus the age-corrected threshold shift would be 17 dB (as opposed to a threshold shift of 20 dB without age correction).
Table F-1—Age Correction Values in Decibels for Males
Years | Audiometric test frequencies (Hz) | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 | 4000 | 6000
20 or younger | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8
21 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8
22 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8
23 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9
24 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 9
25 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10
26 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10
27 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 11
28 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11
29 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 12
30 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12
31 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 13
32 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14
33 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 14
34 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 15
35 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 15
36 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 16
37 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 17
38 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 17
39 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 18
40 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 19
41 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 20
42 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 20
43 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 21
44 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 22
45 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 23
46 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 24
47 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 24
48 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 25
49 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 21 | 26
50 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 22 | 27
51 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 28
52 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 29
53 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 25 | 30
54 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 26 | 31
55 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 27 | 32
56 | 10 | 11 | 20 | 28 | 34
57 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 29 | 35
58 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 31 | 36
59 | 11 | 12 | 22 | 32 | 37
60 or older | 11 | 13 | 23 | 33 | 38
Table F-2—Age Correction Values in Decibels for Females
Years | Audiometric test frequencies (Hz) | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 | 4000 | 6000
20 or younger | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6
21 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6
22 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6
23 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7
24 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7
25 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7
26 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8
27 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8
28 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8
29 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9
30 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9
31 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9
32 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10
33 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10
| 34 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10
35 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11
36 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11
37 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12
38 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12
39 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12
40 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 13
41 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 13
42 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13
43 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 14
44 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 14
45 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 15
46 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 15
47 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16
48 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 16
49 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 16
50 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 17
51 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 17
52 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 18
53 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 18
54 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 19
55 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 19
56 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 20
57 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 20
58 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 21
59 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 21
60 or older | 14 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 22
Pt. 227, App. G

Appendix G to Part 227—Schedule of Civil Penalties
Section | Violation | Willful violation
Subpart A—General
227.3Application:
(b)(4) Failure to meet the required conditions for foreign railroad operations | $2,500 | $5,000
Subpart B—General Requirements
227.103Noise monitoring program:
(a) Failure to develop and/or implement a noise monitoring program | 7,500 | 10,000
(b) Failure to use sampling as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(c) Failure to integrate sound levels and/or make noise measurements as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(d) Failure to repeat noise monitoring where required | 2,500 | 5,000
(e) Failure to consider work environments where hearing protectors may be omitted | 2,500 | 5,000
(f) Failure to provide opportunity to observe monitoring | 2,000 | 4,000
(g) Reporting of Monitoring Results:
(1) Failure to notify monitored employee | 2,500 | 5,000
(2) Failure to post results as required | 2,500 | 5,000
227.105Protection of employees:
(a) Failure to provide appropriate protection to exposed employee | 7,500 | 10,000
(b) Failure to observe and document source(s) of noise exposures | 2,500 | 5,000
(c)-(d) Failure to protect employee from impermissible continuous noise | 5,000 | 7,500
227.107Hearing conservation program:
(a) Failure to administer a HCP | 7,500 | 10,000
(b) Failure to compute noise exposure as required | 3,500 | 7,000
227.109 Audiometric testing program:
(a) Failure to establish and/or maintain an audiometric testing program | 7,500 | 10,000
(b) Failure to provide audiometric test at no cost to employee | 2,500 | 5,000
(c) Failure to have qualified person perform audiometric test | 2,500 | 5,000
(d) [Reserved] | |
(e) Failure to establish baseline audiogram as required | 3,500 | 7,000
(f) Failure to offer and/or require periodic audiograms as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(g) Failure to evaluate audiogram as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(h) Failure to comply with follow-up procedures as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(i) Failure to use required method for revising baseline audiograms | 2,500 | 5,000
227.111Audiometric test requirements:
(a) Failure to conduct test as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(b) Failure to use required equipment | 2,500 | 5,000
(c) Failure to administer test in room that meets requirements | 2,500 | 5,000
| (d) Complete failure to calibrate | 5,000 | 7,500
(1) Failure to perform daily calibration as required | 2,000 | 4,000
(2) Failure to perform annual calibration as required | 2,000 | 4,000
(3) Failure to perform exhaustive calibration as required | 2,000 | 4,000
227.115Hearing protectors (HP):
(a) Failure to comply with general requirements | 3,000 | 6,000
(b) Failure to make HP available as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(c) Failure to require use of HP at action level | 5,000 | 7,500
(d) Failure to require use of HP at TWA of 90 dB(A) | 5,000 | 7,500
227.117Hearing protector attenuation:
(a) Failure to evaluate attenuation as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(b)-(c) Failure to attenuate to required level | 2,500 | 5,000
(d) Failure to re-evaluate attenuation | 2,500 | 5,000
227.119Training program:
(a) Failure to institute a training program as required | 5,000 | 7,500
(b) Failure to provide training within required time frame | 2,500 | 5,000
(c) Failure of program and/or training materials to include required information | 2,500 | 5,000
227.121Recordkeeping:
(a) General Requirements:
(1) Failure to make record available as required | 2,500 | 5,000
(3) Failure to transfer or retain records as required | 2,000 | 4,000
(b)-(f) Records:
(1) Failure to maintain record or failure to maintain record with required information | 2,000 | 4,000
(2) Failure to retain records for required time period | 2,000 | 4,000
^1 A penalty may be assessed against an individual only for a willful violation. The Administrator reserves the right to assess a penalty of up to $100,000 for any violation where circumstances warrant. See 49 CFR part 209, appendix A.
[71 FR 63123, Oct. 27, 2006, as amended at 73 FR 79703, Dec. 30, 2008]