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Daily audiometer checks using a bioacoustic simulator

Summary An electronics company asked whether its bioacoustic simulator could perform the daily functional check required for audiometers under OSHA's occupational noise rule. OSHA said it did not approve products, but equipment with the described properties would meet the rule's intent and could be used for the check.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1984-08-30
Date issued
August 30, 1984
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Hearing Conservation Audiometric Testing Equipment Testing
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

August 30, 1984

Mr. Robert J. Wurm
Vice President and General Manager
Quest Electronics
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Wurm:

This is in response to your letter of August 3, inquiring about the acceptability of Quest Electronics' Model BA-201 Bio Acoustic Simulator for peforming the daily check of the functional operation of an audiometer, required at 29 CFR 1910.95(h)(5)(i) of the Occupational Noise Exposure standard.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not approve products, but we can state in general that a product that has the properties described in your Model BA-201 sales literature (carrying the identification numbers 98- 160/11-83) would meet the intent of the standard, and thus can be used to make the daily check.

Thank you for your inquiry. If we can serve you again in the future, we shall be glad to do so.

Sincerely,
John B. Miles, Jr.
Director
Directorate of Field Operations

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