Effective Date: January 1, 2000
Date Issued: December 1, 1999
Date Approved by Board of Directors: September 3, 1999
Topic: Occupational Hearing Loss - Injuries prior to January 1, 2000
Section: Entitlement
Subsection: Occupational Diseases

Policy Statement

1. Occupational hearing loss is recognized as an occupational disease and compensation for such hearing loss can be provided according to the criteria set out below.

2. The criteria for dealing with such claims arising from continued workplace noise exposure over a period of time shall be as set out in the following.

2.1 The acceptance of such claims where proven to be valid and where the hearing loss is deemed to arise from workplace noise exposure is now considered to be permissive.

2.2 Occupational loss of hearing in this regard must arise from an industrial process, trade or occupation wherein the noise exposure and hazard is characteristic of or peculiar thereto.

2.3 Where a claim is made in respect to occupational loss of hearing, it should be fully documented and referred to the Medical Officers to have the hearing loss evaluated and charted.

2.4 Earnings replacement payments can only be recognized where time loss is directly due to the hearing loss.

2.5 Permanent Medical Impairment can be established on the basis of an audiogram and other medical evaluations and may be evaluated, rated and assessed on this basis. Audiograms can be done and accepted for review after removal from the source of noise for at least 48 hours.

2.6 Permanent Medical Impairment evaluation and assessments shall be made in accordance with the report of the committee on Permanent Disability Evaluation to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada dated September 1, 1986; and which Report and the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule contained in that report were adopted effective January 1, 1965, by resolution of the corporate Board made December 4, 1964; and as amended by resolution made July 14, 1966, in respect to revisions in the Permanent Medical Impairment 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 FR levels will be used.

2.7 Where a claim for occupational loss of hearing is established, where accompanied by a loss of earnings capacity or not, a hearing aid may be authorized to be furnished as a Medical Aid provision if considered warranted by the Medical Officer of the Board.

2.8 To assist adjudicators in assessing hearing loss claims in cases where actual noise levels are unavailable, it has been determined that we accept the worker's history of employment including whether or not he/she was exposed to "loud" noises on a regular and/or continuous basis. An "estimate" is to be made of the actual level of noise he/she would have been exposed to based on the information obtained from similar industries or type of work.

Application

This Policy applies to all decisions made on or after January 1, 2000.

References

Workers' Compensation Act (Chapter 10, Acts of 1994 - 95), Section 2(v).
Policy 1.2.6