Real-Life Decision Making
You're an audiometric technician who works as a consultant in large
manufacturing companies. This morning you're visiting a huge new manufacturing
plant where the workers are exposed to 80-decibel sounds over a prolonged
period of time.
Noise regulations insist that if a company has workers exposed to noises
85 decibels or higher, the company has to have a hearing conservation program
in place. That means annual hearing tests for each of the workers, mandatory
hearing protection, and instruction on how to use hearing protection.
However, in this case, because the noise being produced is below 85 decibels,
the use of hearing protection at the company is optional. The workers must
still be tested annually for hearing loss.
Before you begin your annual test of the workers' hearing, you meet
with the company manager. Because the noise level in the plant is still quite
high, you recommend that the company offer hearing protection and instruction
on how to use it to their employees.
The manager says he can't do that. The company has financial troubles.
He doesn't want to pay for the protection or for instruction courses
on the effects of hearing loss.
You aren't pleased with this answer. You are even further upset when
you leave the meeting to begin hearing tests on the workers and
the manager threatens you. "I own a lot of companies in the area and if you
go telling my workers they need hearing protection, I'll quit using your
consultation services altogether."
When you meet with the workers, you have a decision to make.