Regulatory control over hearing conservation programs—The British Columbia experience

Abstract

Regulations requiring hearing conservation measures have been in effect in British Columbia, Canada, for 10 years. All programs are under the supervision of the Workers' Compensation Board staff who ensure that technician training, equipment standards, and follow-up procedures are consistent throughout the province. All data are submitted to the Workers' Compensation Board main computer system. Reports for scheduling and summarizing program results by occupation, firm, and industry are returned to each company. Experience over the past 10 years has shown that cooperation between workers and management, plus coordination and control by a central regulatory body, have provided an atmosphere for the development of a stable and accepted hearing conservation program for British Columbia's industrial workers.