OPNAVINST 5100.19E CHAPTER B4

Question 1

The goal of the hearing conservation program (HCP) is to prevent occupational hearing loss and assure auditory fitness for duty
of all Navy personnel.

Answer 1

Noise-induced hearing loss is the fleet’s number one

occupational health hazard.

Question 2

High intensity noise exposure
results from a wide variety of shipboard operations, including gun or missile fire, aircraft noise, and ship’s propulsion
systems.

Answer 2

HEARING CONSERVATION RESPONSIBILITIES
a. The commanding officer shall ensure that HCP is
established and maintained within the command.

Question 3

Maintain a record of noise hazardous areas and

equipment.

Answer 3

The baseline or subsequent industrial hygiene
surveys, where available, shall serve as documentation. Ensure that noise hazardous spaces/equipment are posted and labeled accordingly.

Question 4

Industrial hygiene officers shall:
(1) Maintain and ensure proper calibration of sound level measuring equipment.
(2) Annually, certify audiometric testing booths
installed aboard the ships.

Answer 4

**Ensure that personnel who require hearing retests
due to a significant threshold shift (STS) are excluded from
hazardous noise areas, defined as areas exceeding 84 dB(A) (Aweighted
sound pressure level (SPL) measured in decibels) for
continuous or 140 dBSPL peak, for at least 14 hours before the scheduled test. Hearing protection may not be used to meet this 8 requirement.

Question 5

NOTE:
Noise exclusion should not be imposed for individuals
scheduled for annual hearing testing.

Answer 5

The Medical Department Representative (MDR) shall:
(1) Coordinate with division officers to identify and
maintain a current roster of personnel routinely exposed to
hazardous levels of occupational noise, as guided by the baseline or other industrial hygiene surveys.

Question 6

Conduct training for all hands during indoctrination that includes the elements of the hearing conservation program.

Answer 6

Elements and rationale for the HCP to include: proper wearing and maintenance of hearing protection devices; command program and individual responsibilities;
individual’s responsibility in protecting their own hearing, and how hearing loss affects career progression, etc.

Question 7

Ensure annual refresher training, per B0408b for

the HCP-enrolled personnel is performed.

Answer 7

Schedule personnel in HCP for annual audiometric

testing.

Question 8

All test results are uploaded to the defense

occupational and environmental readiness system – hearing conservation (DOEHRS–HC) data repository.

Answer 8

Ensure that personnel who require hearing retests
due to a significant threshold shift (STS) are excluded from
hazardous noise areas,

Question 9

Significant threshold shift (STS) is defined as areas exceeding 84 dB(A) for
continuous or 140 dBSPL peak, for at least 14 hours before the scheduled test.

Answer 9

Ensure the certification of annual electroacoustic

calibration of audiometers and audiometric test chambers.

Question 10

Technicians conducting testing will hold current DoD
occupational hearing conservation certification (CAOHC) through
completion of an approved DoD or Navy sponsored course.

Answer 10

Enter into the web-enabled safety system (WESS),
per reference B4-1, work-related significant threshold shift (STS). This is defined as hearing changes from baseline that average 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz (Hz) in one or both ears.

Question 11

OSHA reportable criterion is met when a change in the person’s total hearing level reaches 25 dB or greater above audiometric zero in the same ears and
frequencies.

Answer 11

NAVMED 6260/2A or equivalent shall be used to

label smaller, individual pieces of equipment or tools that produce hazardous noise

Question 12

NOISE ABATEMENT
a. Reduction of noise at the source is in the best
interests of the Navy and its personnel.

Answer 12

Noise abatement actions will normally be accomplished

during ship or equipment design, construction or testing.

Question 13

A combination of insert type and circumaural (muff)
type hearing protective devices (double-protection) shall beworn: (1) In all areas where sound levels exceed 104 dB(A), When a medical officer or audiologist determines
that double-protection is required.

Answer 13

single protection up to and between 140 dBSPL peak and double protection at 165 dBSPL peak and above)

Question 14

Personnel who are routinely required to work in designated noise
hazardous areas or with labeled noise hazardous equipment shall be entered into HCP.

Answer 14

**All personnel shall receive a baseline hearing test upon entry into naval service recorded on a reference audiogram (DD Form 2215).

Question 15

Hearing tests performed at military entrance processing stations (MEPS) shall not be used as a baseline hearing test.

Answer 15

Monitoring Hearing Tests. All personnel assigned to
duties in designated noise hazardous areas or operating noise hazardous equipment shall be included in HCP. These persons shall receive a hearing test annually, beginning within one year of assignment to those duties,

Question 16

Test results shall be uploaded to the DOEHRS-HC central data repository as well as recorded on a Hearing Conservation Data Form (Form DD 2216).

Answer 16

Termination Hearing Tests. Personnel shall receive a

hearing test upon termination of service.

Question 17

Other Hearing Tests. Hearing tests performed for
reasons other than hearing conservation or routine physicals, such as complaints of hearing difficulties or a sensation of ringing or
fullness in the ear(s), shall be performed as indicated by a
medical provider. The results of these tests should be recorded on a standard form (SF 600) and maintained in the health record.

Answer 17

TRAINING
a. All personnel included in HCP shall receive training
relative to HCP prior to working in noise hazardous areas or with noise hazardous equipment and annually thereafter.

Question 18

Annual refresher training must be conducted for
personnel enrolled in the HCP. Often this training is
accomplished in conjunction with the annual audiogram.

Answer 18

The MDR shall maintain a current roster of personnel

who routinely work in designated noise hazardous areas and shall update this roster semi-annually.

Question 19

The MDR shall maintain a
“tickler file” for scheduling annual audiometric examinations of these personnel. The MDR shall update the “tickler file”
monthly with the results of the audiometric exams.

Answer 19

Appendix B4-A

HEARING CONSERVATION DETAILED INFORMATION:

Question 20

For an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 84

decibels on the A-weighted scale (dB(A)) for frequencies of 20 to 16,000 Hertz (Hz)

Answer 20

For periods of less than 16 hours in any 24-hour period,
the NOEL can be determined from the following equation:
T = 16/(2^([(L - 80)/4]))
Where: T = time in hours(decimal)
L = effective sound level in dB(A)

Question 21

The record of noise measurements shall be kept by the measuring activity for a period of 50 years.

Answer 21

Noise survey data will be
recorded on NEHC 5100/17 and 5100/18 forms or using a computergenerated
equivalent containing all the data fields of these forms.

Question 22

Noise hazardous equipment is that which produces

sound levels greater than 84 B(A) or 140 dB peak sound pressure level.

Answer 22

Audiometric booths must be certified annually by
an industrial hygienist, audiologist or other qualified
personnel under their direct supervision.

Question 23

Industrial hygiene officers shall Maintain and ensure proper calibration of sound level
measuring equipment.

Answer 23

Annually, certify audiometric testing booths
installed aboard the ships.

Question 24

(5) Ensure that personnel who require hearing retests
due to a significant threshold shift (STS) are excluded from
hazardous noise areas, defined as areas exceeding 84 dB(A) (A-
weighted sound pressure level (SPL) measured in decibels) for
continuous or 140 dBSPL peak, for at least 14 hours before the
scheduled test. Hearing protection may not be used to meet this
requirement.

Answer 24

All personnel exposed to gunfire in a training
situation or to noise from large caliber gun or missile firing,
under any circumstances, shall wear sufficient hearing
protective devices (single protection up to and between 140
dBSPL peak and double protection at 165 dBSPL peak and above) to
reduce the individual’s effective exposure level to below 84
dB(A)/140 dBSPL, administrative controls as discussed in
appendices B4-B and B4-C will be required.

Question 25

Termination Hearing Tests. Personnel shall receive a hearing test upon termination of service.

Answer 25

When two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels comprise the daily noise exposure, their combined effect must be considered.

Question 26

When TWA exposures are likely to exceed 84 dB(A), then
personnel shall be included in Hearing Conservation

Answer 26

The record of noise measurements shall be kept by the measuring activity for a period of 50 years

Question 27

3) Work environments found to have noise levels
greater than 84 dB(A) (continuous or intermittent), or 140 dB
peak sound pressure level for impact or impulse noise shall be

Answer 27

analyzed to determine the potential hazard and shall be
resurveyed within 30 days of any significant modifications or
changes in work routine which could impact/alter the noise
intensity/exposure level.