Effective date: February 1, 2013
Application: All new hearing loss claims on and after 01 February 2013.
Policy subject: Decision making - Injuries
Purpose:
To provide guidelines for the adjudication of traumatic and occupational noise induced hearing loss claims, as well as Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI) awards.
Decibel means a unit of measurement expressing the relative intensity (loudness) of sound.
Hertz means a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second and is related to the pitch of the sound.
Decibel sum of the hearing threshold levels (DSHL) means the sum of the minimum volumes detected during hearing tests, measured in decibels using a pure tone audiometer. For the purpose of assessing PFI awards, hearing tests are done at four frequency levels (500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Hertz).
Exchange rate means the maximum amount sound levels may increase above the specified criterion level if exposure time is cut in half.
Presbycusis means sensorineural hearing loss as a result of aging.
Sensorineural means hearing impairment due to damage to the cochlea (hair cells) or the cochlear (auditory) nerve.
Conductive means hearing loss due to a physical dysfunction of the sound collecting apparatus, either the bones or eardrum, but the auditory nerve is not affected.
Tinnitus means a subjective whistling, ringing, roaring or buzzing sound in the ear for which there is no objective measurement.
Allowable Level Decibels (Three Decibel Exchange Rate) |
Max Permitted Daily Duration (Hours) |
85 |
8 |
88 |
4 |
91 |
2 |
94 |
1 |
97 |
0.5 |
100 |
0.25 |
The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013
Sections 20
(1) January 1, 2014. References updated in accordance with The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013.
(2) POL and PRO 01/2010, Injuries – Hearing Loss (effective April 1, 2010 to January 31, 2013).
(3) POL and PRO 01/2004, PFI – Hearing Loss (effective April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2010).
(4) POL 35/91, Establishing Date of Injury in Occupational Noise Induced Hearing Loss Claims (effective December 9, 1991 to March 31, 2004).
(5) Board Order 40/78, Noise Induced Hearing Loss (effective November 27, 1978).
(6) Board Order 30/73, Noise Induced Hearing Loss (effective September 11, 1973).
PRO 11/2012 Injuries – Hearing Loss
POL 23/2010 Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI) – General
PRO 23/2010 Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI) – General
POL 04/2017 Injuries – Occupational Disease
PRO 04/2017 Injuries – Occupational Disease
PRO 57/2017 Hearing Services
POL 05/2014 Occupational Disease Reserve
POL 31/2016 Allowance – Independence
POL 04/2013 Date of Injury