Periodic hearing tests for employees exposed to noise are mandatory under Turkey’s Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 and related Ministry of Labour regulations. But performing a valid audiometry test takes more than the right device — the test environment must also meet specific acoustic standards.
Legal Framework: Which Employees Need Testing?
Under the Noise Regulation (Ministry of Labour):
- Employees with a daily noise exposure of 85 dB(A) or higher must undergo audiometry at hire and then once a year
- Exposure between 80-85 dB(A) requires testing once every 3 years
- All sectors with a high noise risk score (metal, textile, construction, mining) fall under this scope
For OSGBs, performing these tests on time and under valid conditions is critical, both as a legal responsibility and a contractual obligation.
How Is an Audiometry Test Performed?
Pure tone audiometry determines the lowest sound level a person can hear across different frequencies (125 Hz – 8000 Hz). During the test:
- The person wears headphones or insert earphones
- The audiometrist presents sounds at different frequencies and intensities
- The person signals when they hear the sound
- Results are recorded on an audiogram
If the reference ambient noise is high — an office, factory corridor, or a clinic’s general room — test results become unreliable. This is why a standard audiometry booth is mandatory.
Audiometry Booth Standards
ISO 8253-1 and ANSI S3.1 standards define the maximum ambient noise levels permitted for audiometry testing. In short:
- Booth interior noise must be < 40 dB SPL at 500 Hz when using a TDH-39 headphone
- This threshold is more relaxed with an INSERT earphone — which is why INSERT is preferred in field OSGB applications
Dentem Health’s audiometry booth solution is designed for modular installation: it can be mounted in a fixed clinic or inside a mobile health vehicle. Its double-wall structure and demountable acoustic system meet ISO 8253-1 requirements.
How to Choose the Right Audiometer
When selecting an audiometer for OSGB and occupational health applications, consider:
- IEC 60645-1 compliance: Turkish regulations reference this standard
- Calibration ease: The device must support and document annual calibration
- PC integration: Results should transfer directly to your OSGB management system
- Portability: Compact, battery-powered models are an advantage for mobile vehicle use
Meeting all of these criteria, the Maico MA 25 — at just 980 grams, with 11 frequencies from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz and battery/USB/adapter power options — is one of the most preferred screening audiometers in the OSGB field. Maico is the world-leading audiometer brand for which Dentem Health holds sales and service authorization in Turkey.
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