Industrial Hearing Conservation Certification Course: 3 Day

IMPORTANCE OF HEARING CONSERVATION: – The impact of hearing loss on the employee, the employer, the family and the community are explained.

HEARING CONSERVATION OVERVIEW: – The components and benefits of a hearing conservation program are discussed.

PHYSICS OF SOUND: Participants will develop a basic understanding of the physical concepts relating to: intensity/loudness, frequency/pitch, and duration aspects of sound.

These concepts are necessary for such activities as audiogram interpretation, audiometry, understanding noise legislation, threshold limit values, sound level measurement interpretation, noise control, hearing protection activities, etc.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE EAR:  The structures and function of the auditory system are presented.

CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS (AND TREATMENT):  The various causes and treatment options of hearing loss and how these affect the interpretation of damage from occupational causes are discussed

AUDITORY EFFECTS OF NOISE ON HEARING: This section includes a description of a typical hearing loss from prolonged exposure to occupational causes, such as noise, and the impact of these on the individual’s hearing.

NON-AUDITORY EFFECTS OF NOISE: This information describes how excessive exposure to intense noise has potentially negative physiological effects on the human body; effects not hearing-based.

NOISE REGULATIONS: This presentation provides an understanding of the current Department of Labour legislation related to noise exposure, in the workplace, in various provinces.  Community noise legislation is also addressed.

SOUND LEVEL MEASUREMENTS/INTERPRETING MEASUREMENT REPORTS: This section describes the activities involved in measuring and analyzing sound.  The focus is not on how to do this measurement, but on how to understand and use the report based on these measurements.

NOISE CONTROL/PROTECTION OF HEARING: This segment covers understanding basic noise control techniques.  Additionally, the participants are educated in the proper procedure in which to choose appropriate hearing protection devices.

AUDIOGRAMS/AUDIOMETERS/CALIBRATION/HEARING TESTING: The purpose of this segment is to provide a thorough understanding of hearing testing, the equipment and processes involved in these related activities.  Hearing testing is covered academically, and a hearing testing practicum is provided.  Course participants successfully completing the course are capable of providing industrial hearing testing.

HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM ORGANIZATION:  Topics related to client counselling; referral procedures; record-keeping; scheduling and other activities relating to the operation of a successful hearing conservation program will be discussed.

COMPENSATION ISSUES: This unit provides an overview of the compensation process.

HEARING CONSERVATION EDUCATION: Methods of employee education are discussed that are designed to encourage employee support, and assure success of the hearing conservation program.

EXAMINATION: A formal, written examination is utilized to assess participant understanding.

COURSE DURATION: This course involves 20 hours (or 20-hour equivalency) participation