Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC)

Adverse Action Policy

The Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) does not pass judgment on Course Directors' (CDs') moral and ethical issues because CAOHC:

  • Is not a membership organization. CAOHC disciplinary action is non-representative
  • Has limited resources
  • CDs are required to have licensure, registration, membership and/or certification in entities that do have ethics policies and the ability to revoke eligibility to be a CD

CAOHC, with due process, denies certification or recertification to applicants who do not meet requirements. CAOHC terminates certification for noncompliance of requirements for occupational hearing conservationist (OHC) training.

Policy:

CDs must continuously be current in at least one of the following:

  • Licensure by a U.S. state or territory for the practice of medicine or nursing
  • Licensure or registration by a U.S. state or territory for the practice of audiology
  • Certification of clinical competence in audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • Board certification in audiology by the American Board of Audiology
  • Board certification by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or the Board of Certified Safety Professionals
  • Membership in the American Industrial Hygiene Association or the American Society of Safety Professionals

Policy:

CAOHC may suspend a CD's certification for noncompliance of CAOHC requirements described in the CD information packet.

  • Procedure: After a first offense, the CAOHC Quality Assurance Committee Chair calls the CD. After a second offense, CAOHC sends a letter of warning specifying the noncompliance. After a third offense, CAOHC admonishes the CD that it will suspend certification after further violations. After a fourth offense, CAOHC suspends certification for 1 year, after which the CD may apply for reinstatement.
  • Warnings and admonishments require approval of the Quality Assurance Committee and the Executive Committee. Suspensions require approval of the entire Council. Each warning, admonition or suspension states the grounds for action in writing. The effective date is at least14 days after mailing. The notice of action and a copy of the Adverse Action Policy are mailed to the last known address of the CD.
  • The Quality Assurance Chair and the Council Chair sign letters of warning or admonishment. Notices of suspension are signed by hand by the Quality Assurance Chair and the Council Chair. All correspondence is sent via certified mail.

Policy:

If a CD goes 3 years without an offense, his or her record is considered clear. Any subsequent offense is again treated as a first offense.

  • The reinstatement after suspension is valid for three (3) years and requires attendance of a CD Workshop, after which certification returns to the usual 5-year cycle.
  • If a reinstated CD again does not comply with CAOHC requirements, certification is suspended for three (3) years. The suspension follows the first offense after reinstatement, without intervening letters of warning or admonition.
  • Appeals Procedure: If a CD objects in writing to a warning, admonition or suspension at least 1 week before the effective date of action, the Executive Committee considers the matter and hears the CD at its next regular meeting.
    Application Procedure: Applicants for CD certification or recertification must sign a waiver granting CAOHC the right to verify any information on the application and contact the CD's former OHC students to evaluate his or her educational performance and compliance with CAOHC requirements. 

Policy:

CD certification ends automatically when the 5-year term expires unless the CD applies for recertification or a 1-year extension, which must be approved by the Council or Executive Committee.

  • Procedure: CAOHC staff circulates a list of CDs in their fifth year of certification to the Council. Council members may help staff locate CDs whose addresses have changed.

Policy:

Temporary or permanent loss of qualifying licensure, registration, certification or membership automatically causes CAOHC to suspend the CD's certification for 1 year or until qualifying licensure, registration, membership or certification is reinstated, whichever is longer.

  • Procedure: Allegations of a CD’s unethical or immoral conduct in CAOHC-related activities is forwarded to the appropriate organization whose revocable licensure, registration, membership or certification make the CD eligible for certification.

Amended and Restated Effective Nov. 1, 1993 (revised May 2006).

 

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