Listen Up! From the NHCA Experts…

What Industrial Hygienists Should Know About CAOHC

By: Andy Merkley, Audiologist and NHCA Expert

If you’ve ever worked with a CAOHC-certified hearing technician, course director or professional supervisor, you’ve already seen the impact of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC)—but did you know industrial hygienists play a major role in their work?

What is CAOHC?

CAOHC is a multidisciplinary council that oversees the certification and training of professionals involved in occupational hearing conservation. Formed in the 1960s as the Intersociety Committee on Guidelines for Noise Exposure Control, and officially named in 1973, CAOHC developed the original curriculum for industrial audiometric technicians and trained the trainers.

Who’s on the Council?

CAOHC is made up of representatives from nine professional organizations, including:

• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)
• American Association of Occupational Health Nursing (AAOHN)
• American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
• American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
• Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE)
• Military Audiology Association (MAA)

Dr. Benjamin Roberts (Benchmark Risk Group, Current CAOHC Chair and AIAH representative) investigates firefighter noise exposures associated with emergency response training. (photo courtesy CAOHC)

Each organization appoints two members to the council. Currently, 22% of the council (four of 18 representatives) are industrial hygienists, including the current Chair, Dr. Benjamin Roberts (see above photo).

CAOHC Certifications

CAOHC credentials include:

• COHC (Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist) – typically hearing technicians
• CD (Course Director) – trains COHCs
• CPS/A (Certified Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Testing Program) –audiologists or physicians overseeing programs
• HPM (Hearing Program Manager) – any professional responsible for program management

For more information on CAOHC certifications, visit their website at: CAOHC.org.

Why It Matters to IHs

Industrial hygienists have long been involved in CAOHC’s work—from developing the original curriculum to leading modern initiatives like hearing protector fit testing. The field’s voice is well represented, and your peers are shaping national training standards.

Mr. David Roskelley, AIHA representative (second from the left), conducts industrial hygiene field work (noise doimetry control study subjects) in Kathamandu, Nepal. (photo courtesy CAOHC)

Takeaway

Whether you’re running a hearing conservation program or collaborating with certified personnel, know that CAOHC is an organization where industrial hygiene expertise is valued and influential. IHW

[Visit NHCA at: https://www.hearingconservation.org/]