The SHOEBOX Solution: Hardware, Software, Services, and Support

SHOEBOX PureTest supports three testing modes. Automated mode runs the Modified Hughson-Westlake protocol without examiner intervention — the employee responds to tones by dragging an on-screen disc to the heard or not-heard position. This is the standard mode for efficient throughput in occupational programs where many employees are tested on the same day. Assisted mode allows the test examiner to guide a respondent who has difficulty with the automated interface — the examiner controls tone presentation while the employee responds. Manual mode gives a CAOHC-certified conservationist full examiner control over tone presentation and threshold determination, consistent with traditional audiometric technique. The appropriate mode depends on the employee population and the examiner’s qualifications.

SHOEBOX PureTest continuously monitors ambient noise throughout the testing session via the external Class 2 microphone. Three noise alert modes are configurable: Notify Immediately (default) pauses the test and alerts the examiner if MPANLs are exceeded, with a notation added to the audiogram; Delay Notification notifies the examiner at the end of the test rather than interrupting mid-session, with the same notation; and Don’t Notify records ambient data without stopping the test or flagging the result. The appropriate alert mode depends on program requirements and testing environment predictability. REACT™ Safeguards — PureTest’s integrated system of ambient noise monitoring and response validity checks — operates throughout the session to protect result integrity regardless of alert mode configuration.

SHOEBOX PureTest automatically calculates standard threshold shifts against established baseline audiograms using OSHA and MSHA methodologies immediately upon test completion. The calculation compares the average of current thresholds at 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Hz to baseline thresholds in each ear. Age correction using Appendix F tables can be configured by the administrator and applied automatically. STS detection operates offline — the current audiogram is compared against the downloaded baseline without requiring an internet connection. The STS result syncs to the Data Management Portal when connectivity is restored, where it triggers the portal’s triage and routing workflow.

OSHA requires a functional operation check of the audiometer before each day’s use (29 CFR 1910.95(h)(5)(i)). PureTest’s daily calibration routine covers three activities. The Headphones Check confirms that each transducer produces a clear tone without crackling or distortion — the examiner listens through the headphones at each channel and marks pass or fail. The Room Scan measures ambient noise in the test environment against OSHA MPANLs using the external microphone; the result is stored with that day’s audiogram records. The Biological Verification runs a brief audiogram on the examiner using their own known stable hearing thresholds to confirm that the audiometer’s output is within calibration tolerance. A deviation of 10 dB or more at any frequency requires acoustic calibration before testing proceeds (29 CFR 1910.95(h)(5)(i)). All three steps must be completed before employee testing begins.

PureTest is designed for offline operation. Before going offline, the test examiner downloads the relevant project’s employee data and current device settings via Settings > Testing Offline > Download. During offline testing, all functionality operates normally: automated testing, STS calculation against stored baselines, REACT™ Safeguards monitoring, and audiogram storage. Completed audiograms queue for sync and upload automatically when the device reconnects to the network. No data entry or repeat testing is required upon return to connectivity.

The base Data Management tier provides cloud-based storage, automatic backup from iPads, centralized employee and audiogram search and filtering, electronic data export, employee data import, and project-based organization. It also performs automatic threshold shift identification and consolidates data from all devices in the program. Data Management PLUS adds: multi-level organizational grouping (company, region, site, project), historical audiogram import including baselines, administrator-controlled access permissions, baseline management tools, threshold shift monitoring against OSHA and MSHA standards, individual patient summary reports, OSHA compliance reporting, and the Due-for-Testing scheduling report. Programs with complex organizational structures, multi-site operations, or data migration from legacy systems typically require PLUS. SHOEBOX: Both tiers are part of the SHOEBOX Data Management Portal. SHOEBOX Customer Success helps determine which tier fits the program’s operational requirements during onboarding.

The portal stores the complete record set required by 29 CFR 1910.95(m)(2)(ii) and (m)(3)(ii): employee name and job classification, audiogram date, examiner identity, date of most recent calibration, employee’s most recent noise exposure assessment, and ambient room noise measurements from each test session. Records are retained for the duration of employment and remain accessible regardless of changes to the organization’s equipment or service provider — the data is in the portal, not on the device. Access is available on demand without submitting a records request to an external vendor. SHOEBOX: The SHOEBOX Data Management Portal provides this record access directly to program administrators, replacing the vendor-mediated records request process that outsourced models typically require.

Yes. The Data Management Portal supports import of historical audiometric data from legacy audiometric systems — not limited to SHOEBOX-generated data. DMP PLUS includes historical audiogram import including baselines. SHOEBOX Customer Success provides data import professional services to facilitate migration, including baseline verification and data mapping from common legacy formats. The fidelity of imported data depends on the format and completeness of records from the originating system.

The portal’s automatic triage system evaluates each completed audiogram against configurable rules and routes it to an appropriate action state without manual review. Configurable triage rules include: voiding significantly incomplete audiograms (less than 50% of configured frequencies recorded); flagging audiograms with an identified STS for audiology review; routing problem audiograms for clinical evaluation; and marking audiograms that require retesting based on validity or shift criteria. The triage system replaces the manual step of reviewing each audiogram result individually to determine what action is needed — the portal sorts, flags, and routes, and the EHS manager sees a prioritized action list rather than a raw result pile. SHOEBOX: The triage system is part of the SHOEBOX Data Management Portal and is available to all portal users. Triage rules are configured by the program administrator, allowing each organization to match routing logic to its internal workflow.

SHOEBOX Audiological Services are optional — not bundled with every SHOEBOX subscription. They are structured across two service categories. Audiology Review Services include: shift determination and confirmation; identification and review of problem audiograms; baseline audiogram revision recommendations; follow-up action recommendations; and work-relatedness determinations. Audiological Consulting Services include: program design consultation, training support, and Professional Supervisor services for organizations that need that role covered externally. Organizations with qualified on-site or contracted audiology or occupational medicine resources may not require these services. Organizations transitioning from outsourced programs typically benefit from at least the review services during initial setup.

These are two distinct mandated roles under OSHA. The Professional Supervisor has program-level responsibility: ensuring the adequacy of the testing environment, procedures, and recordkeeping; overseeing technician training; coordinating audiometric services; reviewing annual training content; and maintaining program compliance overall. The Audiology Reviewer has patient-level responsibility: evaluating individual audiograms for clinical significance, confirming or ruling out STSs, identifying problem audiograms, and determining work-relatedness of hearing changes. The operational distinction matters because the Professional Supervisor role can often be fulfilled quarterly or annually (oversight visits, protocol reviews, program audits), while Audiology Review is triggered by each audiogram result that requires clinical judgment. Some organizations source both roles from the same individual; others separate them. SHOEBOX: SHOEBOX provides both roles: CAOHC-certified Professional Supervisors for the program oversight function and a multi-state network of licensed Audiology Reviewers for per-patient clinical review.

All audiometers must be acoustically calibrated at a minimum every 12 months per ANSI S3.6 (and per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95(h)(5)(ii)). SHOEBOX’s calibration service is structured to eliminate downtime: when a transducer’s annual calibration is approaching, SHOEBOX ships a newly calibrated replacement transducer to the customer. The customer installs the new transducer, returns the old one, and testing continues without interruption. All calibration records are stored and accessible in the portal to support the audiometric recordkeeping requirement.

SHOEBOX manages iPad compatibility through its Mobile Device Management (MDM) administration service. SHOEBOX administers customer tablets to ensure current iOS and PureTest software versions are maintained. If an iPad becomes incompatible with a required software update, SHOEBOX replaces it with a compatible device as part of the service. This eliminates the need for customers to manage device lifecycle independently or carry spare tablets as backup hardware.