MAJ Marjorie Grantham
In addition to the Occupational Hearing Conservationist, the Army's DA PAM 40-501 describes the role of the "Hearing Conservation Officer" (HCO): inspecting unit HPD's, ensuring all sizes and types of approved HPD's are available/used, advising re:/monitoring the use of engineering controls, ensuring the monitoring audiometry algorithm is followed, and ensuring all unit personnel "attend hearing health education briefings." HCO courses are offered at Ft. Lewis, WA, where we train them to do all of the above, as well as medical record surveillance (DD2215/2216 review), in a four hour course. This gives us a "manager'-level POC at the battalion-sized unit who can serve as a liaison among the HC Program Manager (Audiologist), the unit's certified OHC's and the unit chain of command. HCO's are usually between the ranks of Sergeant (E-5) and Captain and can be 91W (formerly Medical Specialists), Safety NCOs, Medical Platoon Leaders or even Physician's Assistants. This talk will demonstrate one more tool in the HCPM's toolbox.