North Slope Training Cooperative © North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Hearing Conservation Prevention of Occupationally Induced Hearing Loss NSTC-09

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 2 Introduction

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 3 Name Company and/or Position Experience related to working areas with high noise levels Introductions

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 4 Emergency Procedures Restrooms/Breaks/Smoking Safety Minute Administration and Safety

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 5 Goal To introduce employees to the potential hazards and the control measures for working safely in areas where noise levels can contribute to hearing loss.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 6 Explain the health effects of excessive noise in the workplace Explain the control measures that can be taken to reduce workplace noise and prevent noise- induced hearing loss Demonstrate the proper selection, fitting, use, and care of hearing protection devices Objectives

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 7 Identify and describe the components of a Hearing Conservation Program State the purpose of baseline audiometric evaluations Discuss personal compliance in hearing conservation and noise control practices Objectives

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 8 Why Noise is a Hazard

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC-09 9 The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates 26 million Americans between the ages of have high frequency hearing loss from excessive noise at work or in leisure activities. Noise is a common health hazard at industrial sites on the North Slope of Alaska (BP ASH, p. 22). Those Affected by Noise

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Noise is a physical energy that moves through air as sound waves. Its frequency (pitch) is measured in cycles/second or hertz (Hz). Its intensity (loudness or sound pressure) is measured in decibels (dBA). Its duration or the length of exposure is classified as continuous, intermittent, or impact noise. What is NOISE? Pressure Hazard, BP ASH, page 127

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Noise is measured as a time weighted average (TWA). It is a daily “dose” of noise during the period of time that an employee is working in an area. The TWA is determined by: how loud the equipment is (intensity). how close the employee is to the noise. how long the employee is exposed to the noise (duration). Noise TWA ASH, page 16; BP ASH, pages 22, 41

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Action Level: An 8 hr. TWA of 85 dBA requires employers to implement a Hearing Conservation Program. Ceiling or PEL: An 8 hr. TWA of 90 dBA requires employers to implement engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment to lower the noise exposure levels. OSHA Noise Standard 29 CFR (a) – (c )

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Action Level: A 12 hr. TWA of 82 dBA requires North Slope employers to implement a Hearing Conservation Program including the use of hearing protection. Noise levels of 100 dBA or more require the use of double hearing protection (earplugs and earmuffs) and limited exposure. Signs are posted in production facilities to warn against noise hazards and to indicate the level of hearing protection required. North Slope Noise Standard ASH,page 16; BP ASH, page 22

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Recreational Noise Levels Normal conversation60-65 dBA Riding a motorcycle90 dBA MP3 player with headphones90 dBA Riding a snowmachine123 dBA Shooting a gun dBA Rock concert or a gunshot140 dBA

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Workplace Noise Levels Orb sander91 dBA Table saw93 dBA Router95 dBA Hand drill98 dBA Circular saw101 dBA Impact wrench103 dBA Miter saw109 dBA Hammer drill115 dBA

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Anatomy of the Ear The ear has three (3) basic regions The Outer Ear The Middle Ear The Inner Ear

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC How We Hear Sound waves create pressure variations that cause the eardrum to vibrate. Bones in the middle ear transmit vibrations to the cochlea. Receptors (hair cells) in the cochlea convert vibrations to electrical energy.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC How We Hear The brain interprets electrical impulses as sound. Nerve cells in cochlea are tuned to specific frequencies. Base of cochlea: sensitive to high frequencies Tip of cochlea: sensitive to low frequencies

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC How NIHL Occurs NIHL is unnoticeable in its earliest stages. NIHL accumulates with each over-exposure because excessive noise damages the receptors (auditory hair cells). NIHL increases with the reduction in the number of functioning receptors. NIHL is permanent, but 100% preventable.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Normal Cochlea Auditory receptors line the inside of the cochlea

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Damaged Cochlea Damaged auditory receptors Normal auditory receptors

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Types of Hearing Loss Tinnitus: a permanent ringing in the ears Temporary Threshold Shifts (TTS): Hearing returns to normal after noise exposure Permanent Threshold Shifts (PTS): Repeated noise exposure without a return to normal Standard Threshold Shifts (STS): A change in hearing threshold of more than 10 dBA average loss in 2000, 3000, or 4000 Hz in either ear Presbycusis: hearing loss due to aging and repeated long-term environmental noise

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Increased fatigue Headaches Muscular tension Increased heart rate and blood pressure Impaired balance Decrease in work productivity Other Harmful Effects from Noise Exposure

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Noise Control Measures

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC NIHL is preventable if the proper control measures are implemented. Engineering Controls: Remove, reduce, mitigate or isolate the hazard Administrative Controls: Reduce the hazard while the worker is exposed Personal Protective Equipment: Wear hearing protection devices Noise Control Measures

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Erect acoustical enclosures and barriers around noisy equipment. Move noise sources away from reflective surfaces (concrete or brick walls, corners). Retrofit (install mufflers, silencers) and maintain (replace worn parts, lubricate, balance) older equipment which gets noisier over time. Install sound dampening material and/or devices on equipment and tools. Engineering Controls

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Put distance between the noise source and workers. Limit the amount of time workers are exposed to the noise (job rotation, frequent breaks, scheduling equipment operating times). Limit the number of workers allowed in an area with excessive noise. Provide worker training in hazard recognition and methods of protection. Provide warning signs. Administrative Controls BP ASH, page 141; ASH, page 16

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Hearing Protection Devices Earmuffs Foam (Disposable) Earplugs Molded (Reusable) Earplugs

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Hearing Conservation Program

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Action Levels OSHA requires employers to administer a hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposure levels equal or exceed the action level of an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA). The action level on the North Slope, as stated in the Alaska Safety Handbooks, is when noise exposures exceed a 12-hour TWA of 82 dBA. 29 CFR (c ); ASH, page 16; BP ASH, page 22

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Components of a Hearing Conservation Program 29 CFR (c ) – (o) Noise Monitoring at Worksite (Hazard Assessment) Controlling Excessive Noise Employee Notification and Training Audiometric Testing Hearing Protection Device Distribution Program Record Keeping

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Audiometric Testing Program An evaluation to measure an individual’s ability to hear Performed by a licensed or certified audiologist or other physician Establishes a baseline for the annual hearing profile that will indicate if there is a threshold shift in subsequent years 29 CRF (g)

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Training Requirements Effects of noise on hearing Purpose of hearing protection, types of devices and the advantages and disadvantages of each Proper selection, fitting, and use of hearing protection devices Purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of test procedures Refresher training required annually 29 CRF (k)

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Employer Responsibility Must protect workers exposed to hazardous noise levels that exceed the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) Must ensure that engineering and administrative controls are followed and hearing protection is provided and used with training Must have a Hearing Conservation Program whenever noise levels equal or exceed the action level of 85 dBA for an 8 hr. TWA 29 CFR (c ) – (o)

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Employee Responsibility Must follow administrative controls established to reduce or eliminate noise exposure Reduced work shifts or job rotations Avoidance of high noise areas Must wear hearing protection when exposed to high noise levels on the North Slope < 82dBA– no protection necessary * 82-99dBA– protection necessary * >100dBA– double protection necessary * * Time Weighted Average over a 12 hr. shift ASH, page 16; BP ASH, pages 22, 41

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Proper Fitting of Hearing Protection

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Fitting Guidelines Earplugs come in a variety of sizes because no one earplug fits all ear canals. Correct fit is essential, so find the right size. Employers may provide fit testing. Maximum protection occurs when the earplug provides an airtight seal in the ear canal or against the side of the head. User needs to check and adjust earplugs throughout the day.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Fitting Foam Earplugs (Disposable) Be sure your hands are clean. Roll the earplug into a crease-free cylinder. Pull back the ear by reaching over the head with your free hand and gently pull the top of the ear up and out. Insert earplug well into ear canal and hold until it fully expands. If properly fitted, the end of the earplug should not extend beyond the flap (tragus) of the ear canal.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Proper Fitting of Earplugs Reach over your head with the opposite hand and pull the top of the ear outward to open the ear canal.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Proper Fitting of Earplugs While holding the ear open, insert the earplug into the ear canal.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Visual Check for Properly Fitted Earplugs The earplug should fit inside the ear without protruding past the ear flap (tragus).

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Fitting Molded Earplugs (Reusable) Be sure your hands are clean before inserting the earplug. Reach over head with free hand, pull top of ear up and back. Insert earplug so all flanges are well inside the ear canal. If properly fitted, only the stem of the earplug should be visible to someone looking at you from the front.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Fitting Earmuffs Place ear cups over each ear and adjust the headband by sliding it up or down at the attachment buttons. The ear cushions should seal firmly against the head. For best results, remove all hair from underneath the ear cup. Make sure the ear cup creates a seal and completely covers the ear. Temple bars on safety glasses will break the protective seal.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Care and Maintenance

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Care and Maintenance of Earplugs Dispose of single use earplugs daily. Inspect reusable earplugs for dirt, cracks or hardness and replace if damaged. Clean reusable earplugs with mild soap and water, as appropriate, and dry thoroughly.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Care and Maintenance of Earmuffs Clean ear cushions and headband regularly with mild soap and water. Replace ear cushions and foam inserts every 6 months with normal wear and more often with heavy use or under humid/extreme conditions.

© North Slope Training Cooperative—revised All rights reserved. Course Number: NSTC Summary Noise is a common health hazard on the North Slope. The action level on the North Slope is 82 dBA for a TWA of 12 hours which requires participating in the Hearing Conservation Program and the wearing of hearing protection. Proper selection and fitting of hearing protection devices is the key to preventing NIHL. Hearing loss is preventable. ASH, page 16; BP ASH, pages 22, 41