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DOEHRS-HC — the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System, Hearing Conservation module — is DoD's centralized platform for managing audiometric data across the military enterprise. For safety managers, industrial hygienists, and occupational health personnel at DoD installations, understanding exactly what DOEHRS-HC is, where it's required, what it stores, and where alternative platforms are permitted is essential to building a compliant program.
Soundtrace supports DoD civilian organizations at non-MTF sites with automated in-house audiometric testing and licensed audiologist review that satisfies both 29 CFR 1910.95 and DoDI 6055.12 — operating independently of DOEHRS-HC where that system is not required.
DOEHRS-HC is mandatory at Military Treatment Facility testing sites. At non-MTF sites — depots, arsenals, laboratories, maintenance facilities — external commercial platforms are permitted, provided they satisfy the substantive requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95 and DoDI 6055.12, plus federal records security obligations.
DOEHRS-HC is the DoD's enterprise information system for managing hearing conservation program data. Developed and maintained by the Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen (DCPH-A), it serves as the authoritative longitudinal record for audiometric testing across all DoD components. The system exists because military hearing conservation requires a continuous, transferable record spanning a service member's entire career.
| Testing Site Type | DOEHRS-HC Required? | Alternative Permitted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Military Treatment Facility (MTF) audiometric clinic | Yes — mandatory | No | All audiometric testing at MTF medical facilities must use DOEHRS-HC with current software |
| Industrial facility / depot on military installation (non-MTF) | No | Yes | Civilian employees at production floors, maintenance shops may use external platforms meeting 1910.95 and DoDI 6055.12 |
| Arsenal, shipyard, or defense laboratory (non-MTF) | No | Yes | Same as above; platform must meet substantive requirements and federal records security |
| DoD administrative facility with no noise hazard | Not applicable | Not applicable | No HCP enrollment required if exposures don't reach the 85 dBA TWA action level |
Installations using DOEHRS-HC must download monthly software maintenance updates from DCPH-A. Outdated software versions may produce data that doesn't meet current format requirements. The MHS helpdesk (1-800-600-9332) provides DOEHRS-HC support. Software updates are a compliance obligation, not just a technical maintenance item.
| Data Category | What Is Stored | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Audiometric baseline | Frequency-specific thresholds at 500–8000 Hz; test date; technician; equipment calibration record | Military and civilian enrolled personnel |
| Annual audiograms | Annual threshold results at each frequency; comparison to baseline; STS flag if triggered | Military and civilian enrolled personnel |
| STS determinations | STS trigger date; affected frequencies; work-relatedness determination; notification date; follow-up actions | Military and civilian enrolled personnel |
| Noise exposure records | Noise survey results; area monitoring; personal dosimetry; linked to individual enrollment records | Military and civilian enrolled personnel |
| Hearing protector records | Device type; NRR; attenuation adequacy; PAR score where fit testing conducted | Military and civilian enrolled personnel |
| Training records | Annual hearing conservation training completion date and method | Military and civilian enrolled personnel |
| Hearing readiness profiles | H1, H2, or H3 profile assignment; basis for profile; review dates | Military personnel only |
| Deployment audiograms | Pre- and post-deployment audiometric assessments per DoDI 6490.03 | Military personnel only |
Follow the member through entire career regardless of reassignments. Support H1/H2/H3 hearing readiness profile assignments affecting deployment eligibility. Pre- and post-deployment audiograms stored per DoDI 6490.03. At separation, records remain in Military Health System for VA claims — noise-induced hearing loss is among the most frequently claimed service-connected disabilities.
Stored per OSHA 1910.95(m) retention requirements (duration of employment). No hearing readiness profile assigned. STS determinations drive OSHA 300 Log recordability assessment — a requirement that doesn't apply to military. At separation, records transfer to Federal Records Center per OPM guidance.
When a DoD civilian employee's DOEHRS-HC record shows a work-related STS meeting OSHA 1904.10 recordability criteria (25 dB+ average at 2000/3000/4000 Hz), the installation must record it on its OSHA 300 Log. Military STS determinations are never recorded on the 300 Log — military personnel are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping. Installation safety offices must handle these two populations separately.
Military audiometric records remain in the Military Health System following separation. DOEHRS-HC records are accessible through VA records request processes for veterans pursuing disability claims. Noise-induced hearing loss is consistently among the top five claimed service-connected disabilities. Installations have an obligation to ensure records are complete before separation processing.
Civilian employee audiometric records transfer to the Federal Records Center at separation per OPM guidance. The records must be maintained for at least the duration of employment per 29 CFR 1910.95(m). After transfer, records remain accessible for potential federal workers' compensation claims through OWCP.
DoD organizations using commercial audiometric platforms for civilian employees at non-MTF sites must confirm those platforms meet FISMA requirements. A platform meeting HIPAA commercial standards but lacking a federal ATO or equivalent security posture may not satisfy DoD's federal records security obligations. This is a procurement and contracting question, not just an IT question.
DOEHRS-HC is the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System – Hearing Conservation, DoD's centralized audiometric information system. Required at all Military Treatment Facility testing sites, it tracks hearing conservation data longitudinally throughout a military member's or DoD civilian employee's career at MTF sites.
DOEHRS-HC is required at all Military Treatment Facility audiometric testing sites. DoD civilian employees tested at non-MTF sites may use external commercial platforms that meet the substantive requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95, Privacy Act, HIPAA, and FISMA.
Yes, at non-MTF sites. DoD civilians at industrial facilities, depots, and arsenals may use external platforms that satisfy the substantive requirements of 1910.95 and DoDI 6055.12, meet Privacy Act and HIPAA protections for federal health records, and comply with FISMA security requirements.
DOEHRS-HC stores baseline and annual audiograms, STS determinations and follow-up records, noise exposure data, hearing protector assignments and attenuation records, training completion records, and H1/H2/H3 hearing readiness profiles for military personnel. Records are tracked longitudinally.
DOEHRS-HC data is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, HIPAA (via DoD 6025.18-R), and FISMA. Access is role-based and audited. The system must maintain an Authorization to Operate (ATO). Data constitutes PHI and PII under applicable federal law.
Records remain in the Military Health System and are accessible for VA disability claims. Noise-induced hearing loss is among the most frequently claimed service-connected disabilities, and the DOEHRS-HC longitudinal record provides the baseline and annual data essential to establishing service connection.
Soundtrace supports DoD civilian organizations with automated in-house audiometric testing, licensed audiologist review, and federal-records-compliant documentation — operating where DOEHRS-HC is not required and external platforms are appropriate.
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