Testing Services

Drug and Alcohol Testing

We are pleased to offer drug and alcohol testing to our clients. A company must have a registered account with one of our affiliate partners listed below prior to booking. Once your account has been created, our affiliates will schedule your drug and alcohol test directly with us.

Audiology (Hearing) Testing

Tests are performed by appointment-only at our facility in a sound-proof booth by a Certified Audiometric Technican. 

What are the benefits of audiometric testing?

  • It protects employers by defining a hiring benchmark
  • It enables early identification of hearing loss
  • It protects employers by providing evidence if a WCB hearing loss claim is filed
  • It ensures adherence to OH&S regulations Sec. 16-2 220(1) & (2)
  • It provides workers quicker access to hearing professionals

Fit Testing

A fit test is a process where a respirator is tested to ensure a proper seal for the user, which maximizes one’s protection. It is an important process and is recommended for anyone who wears a respirator in their work day. 

Our technicians will provide a one-on-one consultation to ensure you are wearing the proper size, make and model of respirator. We currently offer fit testing for the following brands: Scott, MSA, North, 3M, Survivair and Drager.

While we can potentially accept walk-ins for fit testing, we highly recommend booking an appointment to ensure availability of a technician.

Attenuation Service

Did you know?.........

According to AB OHS Code, Part 16, Noise: Part 222 – Hearing Protection

An employer must ensure that hearing protection devices used and worn by workers at a work site or work area

(a) meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z94.2-14 (R2019), Hearing protection devices — Performance, selection, care, and use, and

(b) are fit tested in accordance with CSA Standard Z94.2-14 (R2019), Hearing protection devices — Performance, selection, care, and use.

Why?

It is a well-known fact that extended exposures to high noise levels, both occupational and recreational, create a hazard to hearing. The best way to reduce or eliminate this hazard is by using engineering noise controls, which reduce the noise either at the source or along the path. However, engineering noise controls are not always feasible, and in many situations, they are difficult or even impossible to implement. In other cases, engineering and administrative controls, when used, do not reduce noise exposures to acceptable levels. Under these circumstances, the proper use of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) constitutes the only way to fully protect the hearing of the noise-exposed population. Knowing how to select, maintain, and use HPDs is, therefore, of high importance and should be part of any hearing loss prevention program.

Attenuation is the reduction in sound pressure level incident upon the ear due to the application of a hearing protector or, specifically, the change in hearing threshold level that results when a hearing protector is worn.

Fit testing your employees hearing protection devices enables you to know if your employees are receiving optimal protection by measuring their Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) – the real-ear attenuation being received from their HPD.

What does the CSA Standard Z94.2-14(R2019) say in relation to fit testing, also known as attenuation testing?

The above mentioned standard states that the employer is required to train workers how to fit the hearing protection device (HDP) into or on/around the ear as per the manufacture specification AND the CSA Standards. In addition to training on how to use and wear and correctly fit the HDP, all workers are now required to be Fit Tested.

At Vital Safety Training Ltd. we now offer Quantitative Attenuation / Fit Testing to keep your company inline with the most up to date OHS requirements.

Quantitative attenuation testing is preferred and is the gold standard, that requires specialized testing equipment known as field attenuation estimation systems (FAES). The most common quantitative methods are real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) or the field -microphone-in real-ear (F-MIRE).  Vital Safety Training Ltd. uses the REAT method.

Call our office today to book attenuation testing for your workers.