July 7, 2020
NHCA initiated a Task Force for developing guidance to safely conduct hearing testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intent of this document is to provide a “Best Practices” guidance to Hearing Testing Professionals to help minimize their risk of SARS CoV-2 infection through person-to-person spread within occupational health clinics, company in-house testing and mobile test environments. Among other topics such as PPE and screening, the document addresses social distancing on mobile testing units. It states the following: - Mobile unit testing multiple employees within a single test booth: a. Social distancing may not be possible but reducing the number of individuals tested at one time should be practiced i. Consider testing ≤ 50% of test booth capacity ii. Consider spacing employees in an alternate or zig-zag layout and not physically opposite each other iii. Dividers, curtains or protective screens are recommended between employees next to and opposite each other iv. Require employees to wear face cloth covering v. Monitor employees for coughing or sneezing vi. If any employee starts coughing or sneezing, all employees must be immediately removed, and the test area disinfected THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH OCCUFIT BECAUSE WE USE INDIVIDUAL SOUND BOOTHS WHICH ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING THE ENTIRE TEST. This helpful document can be found here.