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DOCUMENT RESUME
034195 - [A2593735]
Hearing Protection: Problems in the Department of Defense.
LrD-77-308: B-163375. September 15, 1977. 13 pp. + 2 appendices
(8 pT_.)
Report to the Congress; by Plmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Consumer and Worker Protection: Standards, Laws, a0,
Regulations Enforcement (903); Environmental Protection
Programs: Environmental Protection Standards (2201).
Contact: Logistics and Communications liv.
Budget Function: Health: Prevention ant Control of Health
Problems (553).
Organization Concerned: Department of Defense.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Armed Services;
Senate Ccmmittee on Armed Services; Congress.
Authorit.,: Poise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901-18)
The repartment of Defense (DOD) is paying out millions
of dollars for employees* job-related hearing losses. In
a.dition, safety regulations have been disregarded and
disciplinary actions lacking. A complete and well-defined policy
on bearinc protection is needed and installation officials
should comply with all regulations covering the hearing program.
Findings/ccnclusions: Hearing loss claims by Government workers,
about 951 from DOD, have doubled since 1973. Federal agencies
have not agreed on a safe noise exposure level.
RecommendatJons: She Secretary of Defense should have the Navy
aud Defense agencies, where applicable: adopt an 85-decibel,
8-hour exposure level as the maximum for unprotected workers;
issue guidanc6 on work area surveys that will result in better
identification of hazardous noise areas; agencies establish a
monitoring system to make sure that the r,gquired initial and
yearly hearing tests are given to all workers assigned to noisy
areas; adopt uniform criteria for deciding when engineering
controls should be used; and provide guidance on the need to
enforce penalties for hearing protection violators under
existing regulations and to carry out educational programs on
hearing coiservation. (Author/SC)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaavyz0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)