Does OSHA require audiometric testing be done in a sound booth?
Does OSHA require audiometric testing be done in a sound booth?
All audiometric exams performed as part of the Agency’s Medical Examination Program must take place in an appropriate test environment that does not interfere with the accuracy of the audiometric test thresholds. Sound booths are generally the best way to prevent sound interference and optimize best employee audiogram outcomes.
There may be times when you are required to perform audiograms onsite and where a sound booth is not available. In this scenario, a quiet room is allowed to serve as the testing environment as long as sound pressure levels can be monitored by an allowable sound level meter. When sound levels exceed the allowable level, the operator must be able to pause the test until levels resume to an acceptable level.
Rooms used for audiometric testing should meet these allowable sound pressure levels:
