WAC 296-817-50025. Make sure third-party hearing loss prevention programs meet the following requirements

Important: Third-party hearing loss prevention programs are intended: (1) For short-term employees hired or assigned to duties having noise exposures for less than one year ; and (2) For seasonal employees. However, other employees may be included as long as you meet all requirements for hearing loss follow-ups and recordkeeping. (1) You must make sure that the third-party program is: (a) Equivalent to an employer program as required by this chapter; and (b) Uses audiometric testing to evaluate hearing loss. (2) You must make sure a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other qualified physician administers the third-party program. (3) You must make sure the third-party program has written procedures for: (a) Communicating with participating employers of program requirements; (b) Follow-up procedures for detected hearing loss; (c) Annual review of participating employer programs. (4) You must make sure the following program elements are corrected by you or the third-party program when deficiencies are found: (a) Noise exposures; (b) Hearing protection; (c) Employee training; (d) Noise controls. (5) You must obtain a review of your hearing loss prevention program at least once per year, conducted by the third-party program administrator or their representative, in order to: (a) Identify any tasks needing a revised selection of hearing protection; and (b) Provide an overall assessment of the employers' hearing loss prevention activities.