Audiometric Testing

"Occupational hearing loss is one of the leading causes of work-related disorders".  (Worksafe Alberta, January 2008)
Simply put, audiometric testing is an evaluation of a persons ability to hear. 
An audio test will determine if the donor's hearing is within a normal or abnormal range. 
Often companies will test their employees, much the same as when administering a spirometry test, with a pre-hire evaluation, as a baseline.  But initial tests can be done within 6 months of starting a job.  The requirements for audiometric test vary from province to province, but in Alberta the requirements are as follows:

Baseline Test - Within six months of beginning employment
First Periodic Test - 12 months after the baseline test was administered
Subsequent Periodic Tests - Every 24 months thereafter

Exceptions:
1.  Annual testing is required if the results of an audiometric screen are abnormal.
2.  Testing is required twice per year if the average level of noise exposure is above 110dB.

Regulated Industries

Some industries are regulated by part 16 of the Alberta Occupational Health & Safety Code.  This requires employers to protect their workers, when it is deemed that noise is a safety hazard in the workplace.  Noise exposure of over 85dB for an 8 hour period falls into this category.  Workers are expected to cooperate with their employee's in this venture, including, submitting to audiometric testing, when requested by the employer.

Common Decibel Levels

 Rain Drops  
40dB

Normal Conversation  
60dB

Busy City Traffic  
85dB

Hair Dryer  
90dB

Rock Concert                        
105dB

MP3 Player at Peak Volume      
115dB

Jackhammer                          
120dB

Gunshot or Fireworks              
140dB

Convenient

Audiometric testing is available at all of our SureHire power centres and many of our collection sites across North America, but for your convenience, we also offer another option.  Mobile Testing!  We are able to provide mobile audio testing on-site at your companys location or worksite.  This option offers the ability to easily test many of your employees in one session.

Audiometric Tracking

SureHire has created a state of the art audiometric tracking program for our clients.  No longer will companies have to keep records and determine who is due to complete their audio test.  SureHire can send out a monthly email letting you know which of your employees need to be tested that month.  Audiometric testing, does not need to be complicated and frustrating for companies.  At SureHire we use modern technology to ensure that the process is a simple as possible.

If you would like a demonstration of SureHire's tracking program, please contact our offices.  It is SureHire's goal to make the process of Audiometric testing as painless as possible.

For more information about hearing loss, including an in depth video, visit Hear the World

SureAudio

SureAudio is the newest addition to SureHire's audiometric testing program.

SureHire, in conjunction with Construction Labour Relations – Alberta and the Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta has created a centralized audiometric database for the construction industry.

SureAudio, was created in response to audiometric testing legislation within a highly transient workforce. In a transient workforce, workers are often not employed with a single employer long enough to receive a baseline test and it is rare to have a worker ever complete a periodic test.  To combat this problem, SureAudio was created as a central database for audiometric testing.  This means that workers are tracked as individuals, and are not associated with a single employer.

Employers that choose to join the SureAudio database, are notified about which of their workers are due for audiometric testing, based upon the individuals audiometric testing history, not just their history within the company.  This means that a worker can work for 4 different SureAudio participating employers in a 2 year period and their current employer will always know when they are due for their next audiometric test.

Employers can save money by reducing the instances of unnecessary testing. (ie. having someone test for a baseline audiometric test, even though they had a baseline test 7 months earlier with a different employer.) 

SureHire maintains the SureAudio database and provides the audiometric testing associated with said database.  We are able to provide audiometric testing throughout Canada, either at a location or on-site, depending upon the circumstances of your company. 

If you choose to join SureAudio, your companies previous audiometric testing records can be uploaded into the database.  The more companies that join and input their data, the more accurate this database will be.   The current SureAudio database contains approximately 10,000 Alberta Construction Workers. 

If you company is interested in joining the database or you would like to find out how audiometric testing may benefit your company please contact us at 1-866-944-HIRE (4473)or via the contact us form.