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5100.19B, Navy Occupational Safety and Health
Program Manual for Forces Afloat; and NAVMED
P-5010-3, Manual of Naval Preventive Medicine,
chapter 3, “Ventilation and Thermal Stress Ashore and
Afloat.”
HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM
The Navy recognizes hearing loss as an
occupational hazard related to certain trades. For
example, gunfire and rocket fire produce high-intensity
impulse or blast noises that can cause hearing loss.
Hearing loss can result from the continuous or
intermittent noises of aircraft and marine engines, as
well as industrial activities. The noise of saws, lathes,
grinders, forging hammers, or internal combustion
engines also creates a hazard to your hearing.
Hearing loss is a serious concern within the Navy.
Action must be taken to reduce hearing loss attributed
to occupational exposure. Work-related hearing losses
result in costly compensation claims. Hearing loss may
also cause lower productivity and efficiency and may
contribute to mishaps. To prevent occupational,
noise-related hearing loss, the Navy has developed the
Hearing Conservation Program.
Goals of the Hearing Conservation Program
One goal of the Hearing Conservation Program is
to prevent occupational hearing loss among military and
civilian workers. Another is to ensure personnel can
hear well enough to perform their duties. The program
elements used to achieve these goals are as follows:
Surveying all work environments to identify
potentially hazardous noise levels and personnel
at risk
Using engineering controls (design methods) to
limit noise exposure
Requiring periodic hearing tests
Training personnel to protect their hearing when
working in hazardous noise environments
Ensuring personnel use personal protective
equipment
Education is vital to the overall success of a hearing
conservation program. Make sure your personnel
receive instruction in and understand the rationale for
the following elements of the Hearing Conservation
Program:
Proper wearing and maintenance of hearing-
protective devices and conditions requiring their
use
Command program and personnel respon-
sibilities for off-duty practices to help protect
hearing
Encourage your personnel to use hearing-protective
devices during off-duty activities that expose them to
hazardous noise sources, such as lawn mowers, chain
saws, and firearms. All personnel exposed to gunfire
during training or to artillery or missile firing under any
circumstances must wear hearing-protective devices.
Noise Measurements
To control hazardous noise exposure, we must
accurately determine the actual noise level using
standard procedures and compare these levels with
accepted criteria. Noise measurements arc taken as part
of the industrial hygiene survey or the workplace
monitoring program for the commands with periodic
sampling requirements.
How do you know if you need hearing protection?
Use the base-line thumb rule. Hearing protection is
required when you must raise your voice to talk to a
person who is one arm length away.
Taking noise measurements is part of the base-line
or 18-month Industrial Hygiene Survey aboard ship.
You need not take actual measurements during the
follow-up survey unless you suspect changes in noise
levels in the work environment. Keep records of noise
measurements until superseded by a later survey. Larger
afloat commands may establish a workplace monitoring
plan to conduct periodic sampling throughout the
18-month cycle.
Ashore, noise measurements arc taken according to
the workplace monitoring plan, and records are
maintained for 40 years. Resurveys are conducted
within 30 days of any significant modifications or
changes in work routine.
Analyzing Noise Measurements
Analyzing noise measurements to assess the hazard
potential is a complex task. An industrial hygienist or
some other qualified person under the industrial
hygienist’s direction performs the analysis. The analysis
determines hazardous noise areas, equipment, and
processes.
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