The field of occupational medicine continually evolves as new requirements and technologies emerge, impacting how work environments prioritize safety and compliance. A frequent point of discussion revolves around the importance of CAOHC (Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation) certification for professionals involved in hearing conservation programs. While OSHA does not stipulate CAOHC certification as mandatory, many industry leaders and organizations consider it a hallmark of best practices for maintaining high standards in hearing conservation efforts.
Context and Industry Feedback
Recently, the requirement for CAOHC certification surfaced in contract negotiations, highlighting an ongoing debate:
“We recently got a new requirement for one of our contracts that clinicians need to have a CAOHC certification to participate. The feedback we are getting from our clinicians is that a lot do not already have the certification, getting it takes about 20 hours and doesn’t make sense for their current practices.”
Such feedback is reflective of a larger question within the industry: Is CAOHC certification necessary, or has it become outmoded due to technological advances?
Benefits of CAOHC Certification
Although OSHA’s guidelines do not necessitate CAOHC certification for any instrument, traditional or microprocessor-based, many professionals find it invaluable. Jon Benson, Director of US Diagnostics Occupational Health, articulates the benefits well:
“As a company, I send my sales, marketing, customer service, and engineers to the CAOHC course as it provides an excellent overview of what a hearing conservation program is, regardless of the instrument being used. Because of the valuable training this gives, groups such as the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) continue to recommend and promote the CAOHC courses. Certainly, in industry, most all large companies that I have worked with consider this training a best practice and so require it for their technicians as well as many mobile testing services.”
Certification Versus Technology
The introduction of modern, microchip-enabled audiometric devices offers user-friendly interfaces that appeal to facilities seeking efficiency and ease of use:
- Traditional Audiometers require a demonstration of competency to ensure proficient operation due to their complexity. CAOHC certification has been the default method for most organizations.
- Newer Portable Devices: While they simplify the testing process and often come with factory training, the comprehensive understanding CAOHC training provides ensures accurate and effective program implementation.
Training Cost and Time Considerations
Prospective candidates often weigh the time and cost against perceived benefits:
- Time Investment: The CAOHC course typically requires about 20 hours of training. While clinicians may initially find this time investment disagreeable, the long-term advantages and potential for decreased error rates in testing can outweigh the short-term inconvenience.
- Cost: Although the certification may seem expensive upfront, many organizations find the enhanced skillset justifies the investment, leading to better career opportunities and improved service quality.
- More on Training from Jon Benson:
- OSHA requires that a technician be trained and “demonstrate competence”, using one of the two methods listed. As a company, the easiest way to prove that adequate training has happened is likely with the CAOHC course.
- For example, you could imagine if an employee suffered a workplace hearing loss and then came back to the company and the audiogram was in question, without some sort of documented staff training, the company leaves itself open to a challenge.
- For example, again, you could imagine that if an OSHA inspector was investigating a practice looking for compliance on 1910.95(g)(3), what sort of documentation would the practice have to provide?
- A company could come up with its own training, practicum, and exam, that they administered themselves to document competence and protect themselves from these situations, but I doubt that ever happens.
- So who can test, per 1910.95(g)(3)…
- “Audiometric tests shall be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician”
- OR A technician “responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist or physician.”
- OSHA requires that a technician be trained and “demonstrate competence”, using one of the two methods listed. As a company, the easiest way to prove that adequate training has happened is likely with the CAOHC course.
Best Practices for Hearing Conservation Programs
- Adopt CAOHC Certification: Despite not being a legal requirement, acquiring CAOHC certification is widely encouraged by industry leaders and recognized as a best practice to guarantee quality assurance in audiometric testing and hearing conservation.
- Utilize Certified Staff: Employing personnel with CAOHC certification ensures compliance with existing guidelines and adds expertise and reliability in executing hearing conservation strategies.
- Continuous Education and Awareness: Stay updated with interpretations and recommendations from organizations like OSHA. Resources such as OSHA’s interpretation letters can be particularly instructive (1983-08-04 and 1983-04-26).
- Balance Technology with Training: While technology should be embraced, it should not replace the foundational understanding obtained through certified training. Balance efficiency improvements with the depth of knowledge that CAOHC programs provide.
- 👉👉 Members – Download the NAOHP Audiometry Standard Policy & Procedure
Conclusion
The decision to require CAOHC certification represents a commitment to quality and excellence in hearing conservation programs. As technology in audiometric testing evolves, the role of human expertise remains significant. The comprehensive training that CAOHC certification provides is not just about meeting compliance standards; it’s about ensuring a superior level of care and safety that aligns with the best practices of leading organizations worldwide.
References
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.95
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1983-08-04
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1983-04-26
