Hearing Conservation Program
1. Program Description 1.1 The purpose of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) is to prevent permanent noise induced hearing loss resulting from on the job noise exposure. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) regulation requires employers to provide employees with proper protection against the effects of noise exposure when sound levels exceed an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) of 90 dBA (Permisible Exposure Level PEL) The protective measures may be provided either through engineering or administrative controls. If these control measures fail to reduce the noise within the acceptable limits, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used. Additionally, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8 hour (TWA) sound level of 85 dBA, referred to as the (Action Level AL) the employer shall develop and administer a Hearing Conservation Program.