Abstract:
Since the publication of Draft ANSI S12.13-1991, evaluating the effectiveness of hearing conservation programs, additional data have been collected from audiometric monitoring programs and subjected to analysis. Of the three methods proposed in the draft standard, the two simpler procedures (the percent worse and the percent better or worse) have proved more robust in differentiating program effectiveness than the more complex third method (standard deviation of differences). The S12 Working Group 12 is preparing a revised draft for ballot, and its features will be presented in this paper together with new analyses. Results of other commonly employed methods, such as the percentage of OSHA standard threshold shifts and comparison of group mean thresholds to expected age-effect hearing levels, will be shown for comparison.