Occupational Health

Hearing Conservation

Our Hearing Conservation Program focuses on identifying noise hazards and implementing effective hearing protection strategies. We conduct noise surveys and provide training and annual audiograms for program participants.

Workplace Noise Surveys

EHS safety professionals conduct noise surveys to identify areas where sound levels may exceed 85 decibels (dBA) as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

If a noise hazard is found, EHS partners with departments to identify and implement solutions and determine who should be enrolled in the Hearing Conservation Program.

Audiograms

If your job may expose you to hazardous noise, EHS provides annual hearing tests to establish a baseline and monitor for early signs of hearing loss.

Training Opportunities

Education is key to protecting hearing and preventing hearing loss. EHS offers specialized training for all employees, helping you understand how noise affects your hearing both at work and at home.

Online Hearing Conservation Training

This course is available in TrainTraq and is intended to provide employees with a general awareness of noise, what work areas may present noise hazards, and how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. This course may also be used as a refresher.

In-Person Hearing Conservation Training

This training for groups can be held at the EHS office or on-site at your workplace and includes:

An explanation of the physiological effects of noise on the ear.
Hands-on demonstrations of various hearing protection devices (HPDs).
Instructions on the proper care, fitting, and limitations of protective equipment.
Open discussions regarding specific workplace concerns.

Protective Equipment & Resources

Choosing the right hearing protection is crucial—no single device fits every person or situation. EHS can help you select the best protection for your tasks, ensuring safety while maintaining comfort.

A variety of technical and educational documents are available:

Noise Thermometer (English/Spanish): A visual guide to understanding decibel levels of common sounds.
NHCA HPD Selection Guide: A comprehensive guide from the National Hearing Conservation Association on choosing the right earplugs or earmuffs.
"Noise is All Around Us": An educational brochure highlighting the cumulative impact of noise in daily life.

For questions or to schedule individual or group training about any hearing conservation topic, please click below.

Email Us

Hearing Conservation Training

Learn how to protect your hearing from excessive noise.

Ergonomics: Evaluation, Assessment and Resources

Ergonomics is the science of designing workspaces and tasks to fit you, minimizing strain and preventing long-term health issues across every work environment—from offices and labs to field and operational sites. EHS can provide expert assessments and practical guidance on desk setup, equipment use, and safe lifting techniques to help you prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and workplace injury.

Request an Evaluation

If you experience discomfort or would like to optimize your workspace, please request a personalized evaluation. Our safety professionals will evaluate your setup and provide recommendations for improvement.
Additionally, we offer informative presentations for teams and departments on best practices and recognizing ergonomic hazards.
To request an evaluation, please email the Ergonomics team, including your name, office location, and preferred availability.

Email Ergonomics

Self-Assessment

Elevate your comfort and productivity with our EHS self-assessment tools. Take the initiative to evaluate your workspace and pinpoint areas for improvement before scheduling a professional evaluation.

Office Self-Assessment: This checklist is tailored for computer-based workstations, concentrating on key elements such as seating ergonomics, lighting quality, and the strategic placement of peripherals.
Laboratory Self-Assessment: Designed for researchers who spend extended hours at benches, using microscopes, or performing repetitive tasks such as pipetting, this guide provides targeted recommendations to optimize your workspace.
Industrial/Operations Self-Assessment: This assessment focuses on fundamental aspects of manual material handling, tool use, and standing workstations to ensure your operational environment is as safe and efficient as possible.
Pre-Evaluation Questionnaire: A comprehensive preliminary form that gathers essential information regarding your specific discomforts and concerns before an official EHS visit.

Understanding Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Musculoskeletal Disorders are injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, and cartilage. By understanding what MSDs are and how they develop, employees can better appreciate the importance of ergonomic interventions. The program provides resources to help you:

Identify the symptoms of MSDs.
Understand the risk factors (repetitive motion, forceful exertion, and awkward postures).
Implement practical, low-cost solutions to prevent these injuries.

Respiratory Protection

The Respiratory Protection Program combines exposure assessment, risk mitigation, and ongoing medical surveillance for employees who must wear respirators to protect against airborne contaminants such as particles, dust, mists, fumes, or gases, or in oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

Respirators should not be the first choice for protection and should be worn only if an exposure assessment indicates that an inhalation hazard exceeds the occupational exposure limit, or if a job description, standard operating procedure, or emergency operating procedure requires a respirator and administrative or engineering controls are insufficient.

We ensure employees use appropriate respirators and provide medical clearance and annual fit testing as required.

Need a Respirator?

Not every mask is a respirator, and not every job requires one. Respiratory protection is mandatory when:

SDS Requirements: A chemical’s Safety Data Sheet specifically mandates respiratory protection for the task.
Inadequate Ventilation: Work is performed in areas where engineering controls (such as fume hoods) are not available or cannot adequately reduce contaminants to safe levels.
Hazardous Atmospheres: You are working with particulates or chemicals that pose an inhalation risk or in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.
Unknown: Unsure if your role requires a respirator? Contact our team to assess your work environment and advise you on appropriate respiratory protection.

The 2-Step Compliance Process

All employees required to wear a respirator for non-biological respiratory hazards must complete these steps before starting work:

Step 1 - Medical Clearance: You must complete a confidential Medical Evaluation Questionnaire. An Occupational Health Physician reviews your responses and may require an additional physical assessment, such as a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), to ensure you are physically able to wear a respirator. Contact ehsd.occ.health@tamu.edu to initiate this process.

Step 2 - Training and Fit Testing: After receiving medical clearance, we perform annual Quantitative Fit Testing to confirm that your respirator fits your face properly and provides adequate protection. We also ensure you know how to properly don and doff, perform a user seal check, and adequately maintain your respirator.

Contact the Biosafety Occupational Health Program at bohp@tamu.edu for more information about mitigating risk(s) of exposure to infectious biohazards or to animal allergens.

PAPR Annual Training Course

After completing this course, employees will know when respirators are required, how to ensure proper fit, and the basics of using and maintaining a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR).

Quantitative Fit Testing Respiratory Protection Training

Basic instruction course on the use of respirators and hazard recognition. NOTE: This course is offered on an individual basis and only by appointment.