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WorkSafeBC

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Certification

 Industrial Audiometric Technician
 

Hearing protectionBC is the only jurisdiction in Canada that requires certification for hearing testers - specifically, for industrial audiometric technicians.

Although training is delivered by the British Columbia Institute of Technology, certificates are issued by WorkSafeBC upon fulfillment of training and other requirements.

Noise Control and Hearing Loss Prevention

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (Part 7, Division 1, "Noise"), annual hearing tests are an element of the noise control and hearing conservation programs provided by employers in British Columbia.

Section 7.8 stipulates that persons who conduct these hearing tests must be "authorized". OHS Guideline G7.8-2 provides further detail about authorized hearing testers, and specifies that authorization is provided by the Hearing Loss Prevention Section (HLPS) of the Worker and Employer Services Division of WorkSafeBC.

Prerequisites to authorization
  1. Individuals must successfully complete the 4-day Industrial Audiometric Technician Training Course delivered by the British Columbia Institute of Technology. More information about the training course, a course schedule, and a link to BCIT's website is available on WorkSafeBC's Hearing Loss Prevention web site. Periodic 1-day refresher courses, to maintain authorization, are required at 2-year intervals.
  2. Hearing test facilities must meet the requirements outlined in the Administration Procedures document (PDF 228 KB) published by the HLPS. The facility must have had an inspection by an officer of WorkSafeBC (occupational audiologist or occupational hygiene officer) within the previous 12 months.
  3. Sponsorship: both individuals and facilities must be sponsored by either a currently authorized audiometric contracting business, or by an employer of noise-exposed workers who fall under the jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC.

To apply for authorization, submit an application form to the HLPS. The application will be reviewed. If accepted, wall size and wallet size certificates will be issued to the applicant, usually within 3 weeks of application. If denied, the applicant will be contacted directly for further discussion.

More information about becoming an authorized audiometric contracting business is available on WorkSafeBC's Hearing Loss Prevention web site.

 
 

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