Sound Level Meter (SLM) Press Release

Now You Can Get Automatic, Ongoing OSHA Compliance Documentation—Even With “Quiet Room” Testing! 

Noise Is Always Present!

Minneapolis, MN, August 31, 2004—Benson Medical Instruments’ BAS-200slm Bio-Acoustic Simulator/Sound Level Meter was developed specifically with nurses in mind because ambient noise can be an issue within both test booths and “quiet rooms.” 

On-again, off-again ambient noise can be just enough to throw off the audiogram you’re conducting. What can you do to guarantee a “quiet room” test when it isn’t cost-effective or physically feasible to bring in a 600-lb. sound room? And if you do have an on-site test booth, how do you guarantee that it remains quiet—even when subjects cough, sneeze, or talk?

Automatic, Ongoing Compliance Documentation

The BAS-200slm Bio-Acoustic Simulator/Sound Level Meter solves the ambient noise problem with automatic, ongoing compliance. With the BAS-200slm, the test booth or “quiet room” is continuously monitored and the BAS-200slm accepts user responses to test signals only when the ambient noise is in the acceptable range. Each test record shows the ambient noise for each octave band at test time, and documents that the test was performed within acceptable noise levels.

The Only Seamlessly Integrated Sound Level Meter

The easy-to-read screen, shown in real time, displays ambient noise levels that automatically turn red when they are too high. If the ambient noise is not in compliance, the audiometer automatically adapts, re-presenting test tones until the noise returns to an acceptable level. This seamless integration works only with Benson Medical Instruments audiometers because there has to be an already existing functionality that allows for: 

1. an interactive database storing values and allowing these to be seamlessly accessed, 
2. a testing process that can be completely organized around established criteria (e.g., stopping the test if the ambient noise exceeds a given level),
3. the ability to do real-time, ongoing monitoring of data (e.g., ambient noise levels, the actual hearing test). 
   

Complete & Total Integration

An octave band monitor is designed with a series of red lights that turn on when the ambient noise exceeds an acceptable level. This approach demands that the test operator be consciously aware (at all times) of this bank of lights and when one comes on s/he must manually stop the test and then resume when the ambient noise no longer triggers the light. A sound level monitor goes one step further and automatically stops the test when the ambient noise is excessive. However, the test operator must again manually resume testing. Neither the octave band monitor nor the sound level monitor is designed to automatically stop and restart the hearing test based on OSHA-mandated ambient noise levels.

The sound level and octave band monitors don’t even meet ANSI sound level meter standards!

Does It ALL!

The BAS-200slm Bio-Acoustic Simulator/Sound Level Meter is a dual-function instrument that creates a legal record of the daily calibration check along with automatically monitoring and documenting ambient noise throughout each test by:

• Meeting ANSI standards for both sound level meters and octave band filters;
• Documenting compliance with OSHA ambient noise regulation 29 CFR 1910.95;
• Demonstrating in each report that ambient noise levels were within range;
• Storing ambient noise levels with audiogram data; and
• Supporting OSHA*, ANSI, or user-defined maximum permissible ambient noise levels (*Benson Medical Instruments’ CCA-100mini Audiometer supports OSHA regulations only).

Seamless Sound Solutions

Benson Medical Instruments (BMI) offers a seamlessly integrated Hearing Conservation Testing system. This means each BMI industrial audiometer is designed to fully integrate the ability to test, store all data, and output all reports from one easy-to-use piece of equipment. BMI’s status as an ongoing industry innovator is reflected in its continued role as the sole developer and maintainer of audiometric equipment for the U.S. Military’s Hearing Conservation program since 1997.

Benson Medical Instruments
“Seamless Sound Solutions”

Call 612/827-2222, or e-mail sales@bensonmedical.com for the BMI dealer nearest you.

Benson Medical Instruments Co.
3001 Hennepin Ave. S., Suite D204
(612) 827-2222 voice
(612) 827-2277 fax
sales@bensonmedical.com
www.bensonmedical.com