3-13. HEALTH EDUCATION, SUPERVISION, AND DISCIPLINE
a. Personnel exposed to hazardous noise levels must be taught the nature of
the hazard from excessive noise and the measures which they can employ to reduce
the hazard. They must also be fully indoctrinated in the proper use and care of their
personal protective equipment. These educational efforts must not be limited to the
initial job safety orientation, but must be integrated into a continuing program of on-the-
job training and supervision (see Figure 3-10). One of the goals of this continuing
program should be the development of a high degree of worker safety discipline.
b. Supervisory and command personnel should be fully indoctrinated in the
overall aspects of the hearing conservation program. They have a responsibility to
imbue workers with a confidence that all possible engineering controls have been
implemented, and with an awareness of the importance of personal protective devices.
Supervisors and commanders are charged with the overall responsibility for the success
of the program. They must be prepared to take disciplinary action, if required to ensure
compliance with safety procedures. Imaginative use of multimedia materials such as
films, video tapes, pamphlets, posters, decals, along with classes and seminars can
greatly aid in the conduct of a health education program of the type required in a
successful hearing conservation program.
3-14. MEDICAL CONTROL MEASURES
a. Audiograms must be a part of all replacement physical examinations. They
are an absolute requirement when the individual is to be assigned duties in a noisy
environment. In purely military units, the tasks and duties associated with certain
military occupational specialties (MOS) will involve exposure to high noise levels; pre-
assignment hearing evaluations should be made of all soldiers to be assigned in such
an MOS.
b. Audio metric testing must be done only by trained personnel. The baseline or
reference audiogram should be made at least 15 hours after the most recent exposure
to high intensity noise. For the purposes of a hearing conservation program, only air
conduction tests are required.
c. Losses in excess of 20 dB indicate the need for referral of the individual to a
physician for otological study. In all cases, accurate recording of the audiometric results
is vital. Results of the audiometric examination along with other pertinent hearing
conservation data can be conveniently entered on DD Forms 2215 and 2216.
MD0165
3-22