[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 49, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2007] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 49CFR227.121] [Page 394-404] TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 227_OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE--Table of Contents Subpart B_Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees. Sec. 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 [[Page 395]] 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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. 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 [[Page 396]] 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\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Duration A-weighted sound level, L (decibel) 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 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR27OC06.004 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. [[Page 397]] 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 [[Page 398]] 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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, 1120 Vermont Ave., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005, 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. 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 Sec. 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, [[Page 399]] 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. 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, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005, 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 400]] 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, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005, 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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 [[Page 401]] 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 227.121(c). 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Audiometric test frequency (Hz) Employee's age ----------------------------------------------------------- 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 [[Page 402]] 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Audiometric test frequencies (Hz) Years ----------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Audiometric test frequencies (Hz) Years ----------------------------------------------------------- 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 [[Page 403]] 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix G to Part 227--Schedule of Civil Penalties ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Willful Section Violation violation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subpart A--General 227.3 Application: (b)(4) Failure to meet the required $2,500 $5,000 conditions for foreign railroad operations............................... Subpart B--General Requirements 227.103 Noise monitoring program: (a) Failure to develop and/or implement a 7,500 10,000 noise monitoring program................. (b) Failure to use sampling as required... 2,500 5,000 (c) Failure to integrate sound levels and/ 2,500 5,000 or make noise measurements as required... (d) Failure to repeat noise monitoring 2,500 5,000 where required........................... (e) Failure to consider work environments 2,500 5,000 where hearing protectors may be omitted.. (f) Failure to provide opportunity to 2,000 4,000 observe monitoring....................... (g) Reporting of Monitoring Results: (1) Failure to notify monitored 2,500 5,000 employee............................. (2) Failure to post results as 2,500 5,000 required............................. 227.105 Protection of employees: (a) Failure to provide appropriate 7,500 10,000 protection to exposed employee........... (b) Failure to observe and document 2,500 5,000 source(s) of noise exposures............. (c)-(d) Failure to protect employee from 5,000 7,500 impermissible continuous noise........... 227.107 Hearing conservation program: (a) Failure to administer a HCP........... 7,500 10,000 (b) Failure to compute noise exposure as 3,500 7,000 required................................. 227.109 Audiometric testing program: (a) Failure to establish and/or maintain 7,500 10,000 an audiometric testing program........... (b) Failure to provide audiometric test at 2,500 5,000 no cost to employee...................... (c) Failure to have qualified person 2,500 5,000 perform audiometric test................. (d) [Reserved]............................ ........... ........... (e) Failure to establish baseline 3,500 7,000 audiogram as required.................... (f) Failure to offer and/or require 2,500 5,000 periodic audiograms as required.......... (g) Failure to evaluate audiogram as 2,500 5,000 required................................. (h) Failure to comply with follow-up 2,500 5,000 procedures as required................... (i) Failure to use required method for 2,500 5,000 revising baseline audiograms............. 227.111 Audiometric test requirements: (a) Failure to conduct test as required... 2,500 5,000 [[Page 404]] (b) Failure to use required equipment..... 2,500 5,000 (c) Failure to administer test in room 2,500 5,000 that meets requirements.................. (d) Complete failure to calibrate......... 5,000 7,500 (1) Failure to perform daily 2,000 4,000 calibration as required.............. (2) Failure to perform annual 2,000 4,000 calibration as required.............. (3) Failure to perform exhaustive 2,000 4,000 calibration as required.............. 227.115 Hearing protectors (HP): (a) Failure to comply with general 3,000 6,000 requirements............................. (b) Failure to make HP available as 2,500 5,000 required................................. (c) Failure to require use of HP at action 5,000 7,500 level.................................... (d) Failure to require use of HP at TWA of 5,000 7,500 90 dB(A)................................. 227.117 Hearing protector attenuation: (a) Failure to evaluate attenuation as 2,500 5,000 required................................. (b)-(c) Failure to attenuate to required 2,500 5,000 level.................................... (d) Failure to re-evaluate attenuation.... 2,500 5,000 227.119 Training program: (a) Failure to institute a training 5,000 7,500 program as required...................... (b) Failure to provide training within 2,500 5,000 required time frame...................... (c) Failure of program and/or training 2,500 5,000 materials to include required information 227.121 Recordkeeping: (a) General Requirements: (1) Failure to make record available 2,500 5,000 as required.......................... (3) Failure to transfer or retain 2,000 4,000 records as required.................. (b)-(f) Records: (1) Failure to maintain record or 2,000 4,000 failure to maintain record with required information................. (2) Failure to retain records for 2,000 4,000 required time period................. ------------------------------------------------------------------------