§227.109. Audiometric testing program. — Inbound Citations

(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.

(1) Not yet had a baseline audiogram established pursuant to § 227.109; or

(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) 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.

Deadheading means the physical relocation of a train employee from one point to another as a result of a railroad-issued oral or written directive.

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.

Division headquarters means the location designated by the railroad where a high-level operating manager (e.g., a superintendent, division manager, or equivalent), who has jurisdiction over a portion of the railroad, has an office.

Emergency escape breathing apparatus or EEBA means an atmosphere-supplying respirator device that is designed for use only during escape from a hazardous atmosphere.

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.

Freight car means a vehicle designed to transport freight, or railroad personnel, by rail and includes, but is not limited to, a—

(2) Experienced a standard threshold shift and is required to use hearing protectors under § 227.109(h).