O Rikhotso; Dr JL Harmse; Prof JC Engelbrecht Are industry implemented hearing conservation programmes effective? Industry evaluation

CONTENT Background Research question Study design Results and discussion Implications of results for stakeholders Conclusion Recommendations Acknowledgements

BACKGROUND: US

BACKGROUND: UK

Background: South Africa

Research Question Ethical approval (FCRE 2016/03/012(SCI)) Based on presented NIHL statistics – are industry HCPs achieving stated goals/purpose i.e. NIHL mitigation & prevention of hearing threshold deterioration HCP: Elements Government policy and company policy Noise exposure monitoring Noise control Provision of HPDs – selection and use Audiometric testing programme Training programme Record keeping Ethical approval (FCRE 2016/03/012(SCI))

Study design 1. HPD collection 19 different HPDs found North America brands : ANSI S3.19-1974 tested (EPA labelled) European Union brands: ISO 4869 tested (EN 352 labelled) Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS 1270 tested 2. Noise measurements A-weighted, C-weighted noise levels Band pressure levels Plant selection criteria: 3 defined noise environments Noise zone demarcation Steady continuous noise

Results: HPD rating labels - Single number methods   Rating labels (in dB) and HPD classes HPD manufacturer, name and type NRR SNR CSA SLC80 H M L 3M 1426 economy earmuff (Over the head) 21 - 3M EARClassic foam earplug 29 3M EARClassic yellow neon foam earplug 33 3M Optime 95 earmuff (Hard hat attached) B 3M Optime 98 earmuff (Hard hat attached) 23 A Dromex EG-3201 corded reusable earplug 25 22 Dromex J earmuff (Over the head) 24 28 12 Elvex HB-25 earmuff (Hard hat attached) 35 19 Elvex HM-20 earmuff (Hard hat attached) 36 30 Elvex Quattro corded reusable earplug 26 Howard Leight Bilsom 304L foam reusable earplug A(L) 4 32 Howard Leight fusion detectable, corded reusable earplug Howard Leight fusion, corded regular reusable earplug MSA V earmuff (Hard hat attached) Perfect fit earplug Profit earplug Uvex 3000H earmuff (Hard hat attached) 31 Uvex whisper corded reusable earplug 20 17 Uvex whisper+ reusable earplug 27 1 HPD labelled with “NNR”

Results: Rating labels: Assumed protection values HPD name Testing standard Labelled assumed protection values in dB per frequency band 63Hz 125Hz 250Hz 500Hz 1kHz 2kHz 3.15kHz 4kHz 6.3kHz 8kHz 3M 1426 economy earmuff ANSI S3.19 – 1974 - 10.5 15.8 24.2 32 31.7 33.1 32.2 29.8 28.1 3M EARClassic foam earplug 16.9 18.1 20.9 21.5 22.6 30.9 38.1 34 3M EARClassic yellow neon foam earplug 33.6 35.5 38.2 37.8 36 41.7 42.4 45.6 43.8 3M Optime 95 earmuff 9.6 14.2 25.3 30 31 32.4 33 3M Optime 98 earmuff 10.8 17.1 28.2 33.7 33.8 37.6 34.8 35.8 35.4 Dromex EG-3201 corded reusable earplug EN 352-2 23.3 26.9 25.5 26.2 24.7 29.5 29.3 37.2 Dromex J earmuff 8.1 7.4 10.4 19.9 27.5 27.8 28 24.9 Elvex HB-25 earmuff 11.1 34.7 31.1 33.4 32.6 33.5 EN 352 - 1 10 15.9 24 32.1 30.2 Elvex HM-20 earmuff 16 19.3 31.8 34.4 34.3 35.1 36.3 36.6 Elvex Quattro corded reusable earplug EN 352 – 2 19.4 22.1 20 20.8 21 -- 28.7 32.7 25.1 26.8 27.1 29.7 30.5 34.2 35 36.7 AS/NZS 1270 15 16.1 17.5 22.5 23.6 Howard Leight Bilsom 304L foam reusable earplug 30.8 32.9 35.9 38.4 38.9 16.8 15.6 18.5 19.5 36.8 Howard Leight fusion detectable, corded reusable earplug 18.6 23.2 23 22.9 23.8 27.3 Howard Leight fusion, corded regular reusable earplug 15.2 13.8 17 18.3 MSA V earmuff 7.7 29.6 29 31.6 Perfect fit earplug 22.3 25.7 29.1   Uvex whisper corded earplug 17.4 14.3 19.1 23.9 31.2 Uvex whisper+ reusable earplug EN352 – 2 20.5 20.2 23.7 26.1 32.8 2 HPDs without APVs (UVEX3000H & Profit earplug)

Earmuffs (banded) (in dB) Earmuffs attached to safety helmet(in dB) Pass/Fail criteria for HPDs HPDs used in RSA: SANS 1451-1, 1451-2, 1451-3 (EN 352 equivalent) Earmuffs (banded) (in dB) Earplugs (in dB) Earmuffs attached to safety helmet(in dB) Test frequency 125 Hz 10 18 250 Hz 15 16 500 Hz 21 19 1000 Hz 29 23 2000 Hz 31 26 4000 Hz 32 30 8000 Hz

Results NOISE LEVELS 95* 85* 109.4* 94* 83.3 107.6* Plant A Plant B Octave band pressure levels (dBL) – average logarithmic values for all total measurement points Instrument readings (log average) Calculated values LAeq LCeq LAeq,8h (dBA) LCeq,8h (dBC) 63Hz 125Hz 250Hz 500Hz 1kHz 2kHz 4kHz 8kHz Plant A 89 88.5 84.2 85 85.7 83.9 86.6 90.7 94* 97 95* 99 Plant B 80.5 85.6 83.4 80.8 78.2 74.5 71.1 70.1 83.3 90.8 85* 92.5 Plant C 107.7 107.3 105.4 103.1 101.6 96.1 100.4 95.2 107.6* 114.7 109.4* 116.5 * Above noise rating limit

Calculation procedures & HPD adequacy rating scale HSE (HML method, SNR method) NIOSH (NIOSH method 2 & 3) OSHA (Appendix V – OSHA adjusted method) OBM (HSE, OSHA & NIOSH) – similar across Safety factors Calculated protection effective to the ear (in dBA) Protection rating outcome >85 dBA Insufficient () Between 85 – 80 dBA (85 & 85 – 5) Acceptable () Between 80 – 75 dBA ( 85 – 5 & 85 – 10) Good () Between 75 – 70 dBA (85 – 10 & 85 – 15) <70 dBA Overprotection ()

Results: Adequacy rating outcomes Table 1: : NIOSH & OSHA NRR methods HPD name Noise variable Plant A Plant B Plant C NIOSH (8-hour rating levels) OSHA (8-hour rating levels) 3M 1426 economy earmuff NRR (dBC) 83dB () 77dB () 101dB () 89dB () 82dB () 106dB () NRR (dBA) 74dB () 71dB () 95dB () 78dB () 102dB () 3M EARClassic foam earplug 85dB () 76dB () 100dB () 98dB () 3M EARClassic yellow neon foam earplug 81dB () 72dB () 96dB () 3M Optime 95 earmuff 87dB () 80dB () 105dB () 3M Optime 98 earmuff 99dB () 88dB () 79dB () 61dB () 93dB () Howard Leight Bilsom 304L foam reusable earplug MSA V earmuff 75dB () 65dB () 67dB () Perfect fit earplug 91dB () 84dB () 108dB () 103dB () 64dB () 86dB () Profit earplug 109dB () 104dB () 52dB () 90dB ()

Results: Adequacy rating outcomes Table 2: SNR and HML methods HPD name Rating label Plant A Plant B Plant C Adequacy rating (average noise levels) Adequacy rating (8-hour rating level) Dromex EG-3201 corded reusable earplug SNR 76dB () 70dB () 94dB () 78dB () 72dB () 96dB () HML 66dB () 91dB () 68dB () 92dB () Dromex J muff ear muff 77dB () 71dB () 95dB () 79dB () 73dB () 97dB () 80dB () 74dB () 98dB () Elvex HB-25 earmuff 67dB () 93dB () Elvex HM-20 earmuff 69dB () 62dB () 88dB () 64dB () Elvex Quattro corded reusable earplug 75dB () Howard Leight Bilsom 304L foam reusable earplug 86dB () 58dB () 83dB () 60dB () 84dB () Howard Leight fusion detectable, corded reusable earplug 63dB () 87dB () 65dB () Howard Leight fusion, corded reusable earplug Uvex 3000H earmuff 90dB () 89dB () Uvex whisper corded reusable earplug Uvex whisper+ reusable earplug 70dB ()

Results: Adequacy rating outcomes Table 3: Octave band method HPD name Testing method Plant A Plant B Plant C Adequacy rating (band pressure levels) 3M 1426 economy earmuff OBL (S3.19 – 1974) 66dB () 60dB () 83dB () 3M EARClassic foam earplug 3M EARClassic yellow neon foam earplug 54dB () 46dB () 69dB () 3M Optime 95 earmuff 65dB () 62dB () 84dB () 3M Optime 98 earmuff 59dB () 81dB () Dromex EG-3201 corded reusable earplug OBL (EN 352-2) 61dB () Dromex J muff ear muff 74dB () 70dB () 92dB () Elvex HB-25 earmuff 58dB () 80dB () OBL (EN 352-1) 73dB () 93dB () Elvex HM-20 earmuff 56dB () 79dB () Elvex Quattro corded reusable earplug S3.19 – 1974 85dB () 76dB () 98dB () EN 352 - 2 89dB () 102dB () Howard Leight Bilsom 304L foam reusable earplug 51dB () AS/NZS 1270:2002 64dB () 87dB () Howard Leight fusion detectable, corded reusable earplug EN 352-2 & 82dB () Howard Leight fusion, corded reusable earplug 72dB () MSA V earmuff Perfect fit earplug Uvex whisper corded reusable earplug 75dB () Uvex whisper+ reusable earplug

Discussion: Implications of results for stakeholders Employers Incorrect HPD selection and use Weak supervision in HCP Casts doubt on employer’s stated goal of “zero harm” Administrative compliance with non-compliant outcome Unable to demonstrate legal compliance Legislator Regulatory uncertainty relating to HPD selection Response plan to NIHL cases adequate or not? Unable to measure compliance

CONCLUSION Compensation statistics indicate gaps in industry implemented HCPs HPD selection and use not always correct Multiple adopted ratings contributes to incorrect selection and use Regulatory uncertainty contribution – AS/NZS case country statement Employers (embraced self-regulation) partly bear responsibility for uncertainty Study demonstrated that HCP effectiveness only possible if all elements are in place

RECOMMENDATIONS Regulatory Regulator to propose a common rating scheme: Basis for legal compliance. HPD policy informed by regulator guidance Regulatory system: goal setting or a combination. Voluntary protection propramme, Cooperative compliance programme Noise regulation should require formal HCP evaluation. Advocate for progress reports on noise reduction initiatives Adopt the AS/NZS approach. Merge SANS 10083 with SANS 11688 parts 1, 2 and 3/ SANS 11690 parts 1 & 2 mandatory. Employers forced to consider noise engineering controls Introduce intra-company NIHL incidence rate as measure for HCP effectiveness. NIHL incidence rate proposal: <3dB PLH shift 2%; 3- <9db PLH shift 1%; 10dB PLH shift 3% Country compendium of HPDs approved for use in SA industry.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr JL Harmse and Prof JC Engelbrecht for their academic supervision. Prof Karabo Shale (now with MUT): Academic guidance and encouragement during initial stage of project. THANK YOU!