VeriPRO ® Ear Plug Fit Testing August 2010

1. VeriPRO® Ear Plug Fit TestingAugust 2010

2. Determining Attenuation | Loudness Balance Attenuation can be determined at threshold, or above threshold 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 “Real-Ear Attenuation Above Threshold” 30 dB “Real-Ear Attenuation at Threshold” 30 dB VeriPRO allows the user to measure attenuation without interference from background noise levels

3. VeriPRO Test Protocol Part 1: Both ears unoccluded This sets the baseline level for each ear, and measures any asymmetry. Part 2: Right ear occluded Attenuation for the right ear is measured. Part 3: Both ears occluded Attenuation for the left ear is measured. Test Sequence Result ~ Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR)

4. VeriPRO Functions Fit Training ● Videos Complete Check ● 5 freqs in each ear ● Includes reliability checks ● ↑ accuracy, ↑ test time Quick Check ● 1 critical freq in each ear ● ↓ accuracy, ↓ test time ● Can use with severe hrg loss Report Mode ● Individual ● Historical ● By freq.

7. User name VeriPRO Step Earplug inserted No earplug Adjust the left ear

12. VeriPRO Benefits • Measures real-world attenuation of ANY earplug • Fulfills requirement to ‘ensure proper fitting’ of earplugs and evaluate their attenuation • On-screen training videos • Administered anywhere, quiet room not required • Protected exposure level and safe exposure level calculated

16. VeriPRO® Q&A

17. VeriPRO Q&A “Do Howard Leight earplugs test better than others?” “Why is 500 Hz tested twice?” “Can custom-molded earplugs be used with VeriPRO?” “Can workers with a hearing loss use VeriPRO?” “Will calibration of VeriPRO be available?” “How reliable is VeriPRO?” “Why did I get a Low Attenuation warning?”

18. VeriPRO Internal Quality Checks ≤ 6 dB Reliability Report 500 Hz Retest (Complete Check Only) -10 dB Movement Attenuation Rove

21. Real-World Studies2007-2009

22. VeriPRO Real-World Studies • Field Testing with VeriPRO • 8 Locations (no pre-screenings) • 100 Workers Tested • Casual Test Setting • HPD selected by worker • “Insert as usual” • Training feedback disabled

23. VeriPRO Real-World Studies Published NRR

24. VeriPRO Real-World Studies Published NRR Many workers improve their protection simply by trying a different type of earplug

25. Pilot Study • “How well can users predict their attenuation after a short fit-testing training session?"

26. Pilot Study 20 18 16 14 12 Number of Ears (Each subject estimated atten. for each ear) 10 8 6 4 2 0 Within 5 dB category +/- 7.5 dB (one Category off) +/- 12.5 dB (2 categories off) • Ability to Predict Noise Reduction 56% 32% 12%

27. Solution | Fit Testing OSHA Alliance: Best Practice Bulletin www.hearingconservation.org Additional Information www.hearforever.org

28. VeriPRO Usage • VeriPRO Implementation • Annual employee training • New hires • Employees with shift in hearing • Extreme noise exposures (dual protection)

30. Ear Plug Fit Test Methods Real-Ear Attenuation at Threshold (R.E.A.T.) Loudness Balance (Real-Ear Attenuation Above Threshold) Microphone in Real-Ear (M.I.R.E.) In-Ear Dosimetry

31. Vs. Ear Plug Fit Test Protocols

32. Ear Plug Fit Test Methods

33. QuietDose • In-Ear Dosimetry As a Problem Solver • Continuously monitors in noise level at the workers ear • The only true measure of the hazard!

34. In-ear dosimetry measures/records worker’s actual noise dose, with and without protection Provides real-time monitoring and alerts when worker approaches/exceeds safe limits Only metric with direct potential to measure and prevent further progression of occupational hearing loss

35. QuietDose Research

36. Reducing Costs + Claims QuietDose Research • Mean Hearing Threshold (2k, 3k, 4kHz): 2000 – 2007 (N = 46) • Employees using continuous in-ear dosimetry starting in 2005

37. Preventive Action After NIHL QuietDose • Audiometric test •Retest •Notification 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Months In practice, an OSHA-recordable STS is not a preventive action It is documentation of a hearing loss after the fact. How soon will an employee suffering NIHL be re-fit / re-trained ? “Best case scenario” per Hearing Conservation Amendment In-ear dosimetry “worst case” scenario … 1 Day

38. QuietDose Off-job+ On-job = STS Off-job+ On-job = STS

39. In-ear dosimetry as a Problem Solver QuietDose • Employees with documented noise-induced hearing loss or Standard Threshold Shift [STS] • Employees at-risk for NIHL • Employee training + sampling • Dual-protection/Extreme noise exposure • Engineering controls • QuietDose Implementation

40. Measure actual noise dose • Continuous, real-time monitoring • Notification of pending over-dose of noise • Stops NIHL

41. Expert support • No on-going costs • True PAR • Test any earplug, anywhere • Worker involvement creates self-efficacy • Built-in reliability checks

42. Make Hearing Conservation Part of Your Everyday Life

43. Download today’s presentation at www.hearforever.org/dukeenergy

45. Solutions Lagging Indicators vs. Leading Indicators

46. Solutions • Indicators for Hearing Loss: • Standard Threshold Shift • Temporary Threshold Shift • Recordable Hearing Loss • Dosimetry • In-ear Dosimetry • Labeled NRR (derated?) • Personal Attenuation Level (PAR)