HEARING CONSERVATION

1. HEARING CONSERVATION

2. Hearing Loss • Can you imagine not being able to: • Hear music? • Listen to the sounds of nature? • Socialize with your family? • Can you imagine being afflicted with uncomfortable ringing or abnormal sounds that interfere with sleep?

3. The Impact Of Noise • Interferes with communication • Causes fatigue • Distracting or irritating • Reduces morale or efficiency

4. Anatomy Of The Ear

5. The Outer Ear

6. The Middle Ear

7. The Inner Ear

8. Sounds • Several animals can hear sounds of much higher frequency, which is why humans do not hear special whistles that may be heard by dogs. • Sounds vary not only in frequency, but also in intensity.

9. Decibel • The measure of sound pressure • The decibel is a relative measure • 5 dBA exchange rate

10. Permissible Noise Exposure

11. 90 dB Whisper 30

12. 90 dB Talking 60

13. 90 dB Traffic 80

14. 90 dB Haul Truck 85

15. 90 dB Loader 86

16. 90 dB Lawn Mower 91

17. 90 dB Impact Wrench 103

18. 90 dB Dozer 105

19. 90 dB Screens 109

20. 90 dB Chain Saw 110

21. 90 dB Rock Concert 120

22. 90 dB Metal Banging 125

23. 90 dB Jet Airplane 140 Threshold of pain

24. 90 dB 12-Gauge Shotgun 165

25. Hearing Exposure • NIOSH estimates that 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels • At present exposure limits, one in four workers will develop permanent hearing loss

26. Hearing Exposure Two Categories of hearing Loss: • Temporary • Permanent

28. Hearing Loss Causes • Wax build up • Measles / Otosclerosis • Aging • Head injury • Drugs / Medicine • Chemicals • Heredity

29. Signs of Hearing Loss • Fail to catch words • Ears ringing • Shouting without realizing • Trouble understanding high frequency sounds in speech

30. Demonstration of Hearing Loss Sound tracks of a male voice, with no background noise • Normal • Loss of 25 dB • Loss of 40 dB • Loss of 60 dB • Normal

31. Action Level 85 dB - Must inform employees & enroll them in a hearing conservation program Permissible Exposure Level 90 dB - Must enroll employee in a hearing conservation program, use all controls to reduce exposure, must wear hearing protection Dual Protection Level 105 dB - Must wear both plugs and earmuffs Noise Standard

32. Eliminating Noise • Engineering Controls • Eliminate or reduce the noise at the source • Interrupting the noise path • Reducing reverberation • Administrative Controls • Change in work schedule • Quiet areas for breaks • Job rotation

33. Hearing Conservation Program • Monitoring system • Hearing protection • Audiometric testing • Training • Recordkeeping

34. Audiograms • Audiometric testing offered • Qualified medical provider • Baseline tests • Annual testing

35. Standard Threshold Shift • Hearing changed by 10 db average • Employee notification within 21 days • Revised hearing protection required • Further medical evaluation

36. Monitoring Dosimeter Sound Level Meter

37. Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) • Listed on the package • How many decibels are blocked • OSHA subtracts the NRR by 50% • NIOSH subtracts the NRR by 25% for earmuffs, 50% for formable plugs, and 70% for all other plugs

38. Hearing Protection Reusable and Headband Plugs • 25 to 35 dB NRR • Preformed to fit ear • Flexible rubber • Inspect and clean • Replace when hard or damaged

39. Hearing Protection Disposable Plugs • 25 to 35 dB NRR • Expandable foam • One size fits all • Insert with clean hands • If damaged or dirty throw them away

40. Inserting Plugs

41. Hearing Protection Earmuffs • 22 to 29 dB NRR • Foam filled cushions • Hard to get good seal • Works well with plugs • Replace when stiff or worn

42. Plugs vs. Earmuffs

43. Conclusion • Prolonged noise exposure causes permanent hearing loss • Hearing loss is preventable, so wear your hearing protection!

44. Wear this now... Or wear this later! It’s Really Pretty Simple…..