Date of Adoption: December 2, 2003.

     Purpose: Chapter 296-27 WAC, Recordkeeping and reporting, in July 2003 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) deleted requirements of the occupational injury and illness recording and reporting requirements rule. OSHA's record-keeping rule had a provision, that effective January 1, 2004, employers of employees experiencing a "recordable work related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)" would check an MSD column on the OSHA 300 Log. This requirement will not be going into effect and employers will continue to record their MSDs that are recordable as they would any other injury or illness.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 296-27-01117; and amending WAC 296-27-01113 and 296-27-01119.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-19-105 on September 16, 2003.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 2, Repealed 1; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 2, Repealed 1.
     Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2004.

December 2, 2003

Paul Trause

Director

OTS-6604.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-22-029, filed 10/28/02, effective 1/1/03)

WAC 296-27-01113   Recording criteria for cases involving occupational hearing loss.   (1) Basic requirement. You must record a hearing loss case on the OSHA Log if an employee's hearing test (audiogram) reveals that a recordable threshold shift (RTS) in one or both ears has occurred.

     (2) Implementation.

     (a) How do I evaluate the current audiogram to determine whether a recordable threshold shift has occurred?

     (i) If the employee has never previously experienced a recorded hearing loss, you must compare the employee's current audiogram with that employee's baseline audiogram. If the employee has previously experienced a recorded hearing loss, you must compare the employee's current audiogram with the employee's revised baseline audiogram (the audiogram reflecting the employee's previously recorded hearing loss case.)

     (ii) The employee has a recordable threshold shift when:

     • There is a change in the hearing threshold, relative to the baseline audiogram for that employee, of an average of 10 decibels (dB) or greater at 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz (Hz) in one or both ears.

     AND

     • The employee's overall hearing loss (threshold) is 25 dB or greater (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear as the change.

Note:

Audiometric test results reflect the employee's overall hearing ability in comparison to audiometric zero.

     (b) May I adjust the current audiogram ((results)) to reflect the effects of aging on hearing? Yes((, when comparing audiogram results for determination of a recordable threshold shift, you may adjust the results for the employee's age when the audiogram was taken using the following tables:)). When you are determining whether an RTS has occurred, you may age adjust the employee's current audiogram results by using Tables A-1 or A-2, as appropriate, in Appendix A of this chapter. You may not use an age adjustment when determining whether the employee's total hearing level is 25 dB or more above audiometric zero.

((TABLE F-1 - AGE CORRECTION VALUES IN DECIBELS FOR MALES
((Years	Audiometric Test Frequency (Hz)
	1000	2000	3000	4000	6000
20 or younger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	3	4	5	8
21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	3	4	5	8
22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	3	4	5	8
23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	3	4	6	9
24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	3	5	6	9
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	3	5	7	10
26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	4	5	7	10
27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	5	4	6	7	11
28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	4	6	8	11
29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	4	6	8	12
30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	4	6	9	12
31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	4	7	9	13
32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	5	7	10	14
33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	5	7	10	14
34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6	5	8	11	15
35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	5	8	11	15
36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	5	9	12	16
37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	6	9	12	17
38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	6	9	13	17
39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	6	10	14	18
40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	6	10	14	19
41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	6	10	14	20
42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	7	11	16	20
43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	7	12	16	21
44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	7	12	17	22
45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	7	13	18	23
46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	8	13	19	24
47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	8	14	19	24
48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	8	14	20	25
49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	9	15	21	26
50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	9	16	22	27
51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	9	16	23	28
52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	10	17	24	29
53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	10	18	25	30
54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	10	18	26	31
55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	11	19	27	32
56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	11	20	28	34
57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	11	21	29	35
58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	12	22	31	36
59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	12	22	32	37
60 or older. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	13	23	33	38
TABLE F-2 - AGE CORRECTION VALUES IN DECIBELS FOR FEMALES
Years	Audiometric Test Frequency (Hz)
	1000	2000	3000	4000	6000
20 or younger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	4	3	3	6
21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	4	4	3	6
22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	4	4	4	6
23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	5	4	4	7
24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7	5	4	4	7
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	5	4	4	7
26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	5	5	4	8
27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	5	5	5	8
28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	5	5	5	8
29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	5	5	5	9
30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	6	5	5	9
31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	8	6	6	5	9
32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	6	6	6	10
33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	6	6	6	10
34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	6	6	6	10
35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	6	7	7	11
36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	7	7	7	11
37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9	7	7	7	12
38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	7	7	7	12
39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	7	8	8	12
40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	7	8	8	13
41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	8	8	8	13
42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10	8	9	9	13
43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	8	9	9	14
44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	8	9	9	14
45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	8	10	10	15
46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	9	10	10	15
47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	11	9	10	11	16
48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12	9	11	11	16
49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12	9	11	11	16
50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12	10	11	12	17
51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12	10	12	12	17
52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	12	10	12	13	18
53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13	10	13	13	18
54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13	11	13	14	19
55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13	11	14	14	19
56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13	11	14	15	20
57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13	11	15	15	20
58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14	12	15	16	21
59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14	12	16	16	21
60 or older. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14	12	16	17	22))

     You may not use an age adjustment in determining whether the employee's hearing level is 25 dB or greater.))

     (c) Do I have to record the hearing loss if I am going to retest the employee's hearing? No, if you retest the employee's hearing within thirty days of the first test, and the retest does not confirm the RTS, you are not required to record the hearing loss case on the OSHA 300 Log. If the retest confirms the RTS, you must record the hearing loss illness within seven calendar days of the retest. If subsequent audiometric testing indicates that an RTS is not persistent, you may erase or line-out the recorded entry.

     (d) Are there any special rules for determining whether a hearing loss case is work-related? No. You must use the rules in WAC 296-27-01103 to determine if the hearing loss is work-related. If an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the hearing loss, or significantly aggravated a preexisting hearing loss, you must consider the case to be work-related.

     (e) If a physician or other licensed health care professional determines the hearing loss is not work-related, do I still need to record the case? No. If a physician or other licensed health care professional determines that the hearing loss is not work-related or has not been significantly aggravated by occupational noise exposure, you are not required to consider the case work-related or to record the case on the OSHA 300 Log.

     (f) ((Effective January 1, 2004,)) When you enter a recordable hearing loss case on the OSHA 300 Log, you must check the 300 Log column for hearing loss.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 02-22-029, § 296-27-01113, filed 10/28/02, effective 1/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 02-01-064, § 296-27-01113, filed 12/14/01, effective 1/1/02.]

     In determining whether a recordable threshold shift has occurred, allowance may be made for the contribution of aging to the change in hearing level by adjusting the most recent audiogram. If you choose to adjust the audiogram, you must follow the procedure described below. This procedure and the age correction tables were developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the criteria document entitled "Criteria for a Recommended Standard...Occupational Exposure to Noise," ((HSM)-11001).

     For each audiometric test frequency:

     (i) Determine from Tables A-1 or A-2 the age correction values for the employee by:

     (A) Finding the age at which the most recent audiogram was taken and recording the corresponding values of age corrections at 1000 Hz through 6000 Hz;

     (B) Finding the age at which the baseline audiogram was taken and recording the corresponding values of age corrections at 1000 Hz through 6000 Hz.

     (ii) Subtract the values found in step (i)(B) from the value found in step (i)(A).

     (iii) The differences calculated in step (ii) represent that portion of the change in hearing that may be due to aging.

     EXAMPLE: Employee is a 32-year-old male. The audiometric history for his right ear is shown in decibels below.

Audiometric Test Frequency (Hz)
Employee's age	1000	2000	3000	4000	6000
26	10	5	5	10	5
*27	0	0	0	5	5
28	0	0	0	10	5
29	5	0	5	15	5
30	0	5	10	20	10
31	5	10	20	15	15
*32	5	10	10	25	20

     The audiogram at age 27 is considered the baseline since it shows the best hearing threshold levels. Asterisks have been used to identify the baseline and most recent audiogram. A threshold shift of 20 dB exists at 4000 Hz between the audiograms taken at ages 27 and 32.

     (The threshold shift is computed by subtracting the hearing threshold at age 27, which was 5, from the hearing threshold at age 32, which is 25.) A retest audiogram has confirmed this shift. The contribution of aging to this change in hearing may be estimated in the following manner:

     Go to Table A-1 and find the age correction values (in dB) for 4000 Hz at age 27 and age 32.

	Frequency (Hz)
	1000	2000	3000	4000	6000
Age 32	6	5	7	10	14
Age 27	5	4	6	7	11
Difference	1	1	1	3	3

     The difference represents the amount of hearing loss that may be attributed to aging in the time period between the baseline audiogram and the most recent audiogram. In this example, the difference at 4000 Hz is 3 dB. This value is subtracted from the hearing level at 4000 Hz, which in the most recent audiogram is 25, yielding 22 after adjustment. Then the hearing threshold in the baseline audiogram at 4000 Hz (5) is subtracted from the adjusted annual audiogram hearing threshold at 4000 Hz (22). Thus the age-corrected threshold shift would be 17 dB (as opposed to a threshold shift of 20 dB without age correction).

TABLE A-1 - AGE CORRECTION VALUES IN DECIBELS FOR MALES

Audiometric Test Frequency (Hz)
Age	1000	2000	3000	4000	6000
20 or younger	5	3	4	5	8
21	5	3	4	5	8
22	5	3	4	5	8
23	5	3	4	6	9
24	5	3	5	6	9
25	5	3	5	7	10
26	5	4	5	7	10
27	5	4	6	7	11
28	6	4	6	8	11
29	6	4	6	8	12
30	6	4	6	9	12
31	6	4	7	9	13
32	6	5	7	10	14
33	6	5	7	10	14
34	6	5	8	11	15
35	7	5	8	11	15
36	7	5	9	12	16
37	7	6	9	12	17
38	7	6	9	13	17
39	7	6	10	14	18
40	7	6	10	14	19
41	7	6	10	14	20
42	8	7	11	16	20
43	8	7	12	16	21
44	8	7	12	17	22
45	8	7	13	18	23
46	8	8	13	19	24
47	8	8	14	19	24
48	9	8	14	20	25
49	9	9	15	21	26
50	9	9	16	22	27
51	9	9	16	23	28
52	9	10	17	24	29
53	9	10	18	25	30
54	10	10	18	26	31
55	10	11	19	27	32
56	10	11	20	28	34
57	10	11	21	29	35
58	10	12	22	31	36
59	11	12	22	32	37
60 or older	11	13	23	33	38

TABLE F-2 - AGE CORRECTION VALUES IN DECIBELS FOR FEMALES