Connecticut Hearing Conservation Team Deborah Pease, MPH CONN-OSHA Breakfast Roundtable Discussion Tuesday, April 16, 2019 Connecticut Occupational Hearing Conservation Team Connecticut hearing loss prevention campaign Our goal is to protect Connecticut’s workers by preventing work-related hearing loss, especially in high-noise industries. We plan to develop educational materials for businesses, workers, educators and students about the importance of controlling noise and wearing hearing protection. We’re available and want to help promote hearing conservation programs throughout Connecticut. Connecticut Department of Public Health Keeping Connecticut Healthy

Who we are? Local and diverse group of individuals who have come together with one common purpose; to provide educational information and support to local businesses, educators, students, and all workers in Connecticut. Together we represent a wide variety of employers and agencies. CONN OSHA and US OSHA US Department of Labor/OSHA US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Department of Public Health Occupational Health Clinics CT Employers and Labor Unions (AFLCIO/CCIA and IUOE Local 478 Operating Engineers) ConnectiCOSH

What we do? Our mission is to protect, reduce and control hearing loss among Connecticut workers, especially those employed in high-risk and noisy industries such as construction, mining, and manufacturing to ensure CT workplaces are safe and prosperous. Local Industries and Safety Events Logo and tagline “the world is loud protect your hearing now” Website: www.theworldisloud.org Created a public service announcement Trainings on proper hearing safety and certifications Facebook/Calendar of events that are up to date Survey’s to collect faster more accurate data

Activities March 2nd: IUOE Local 478 Safety Symposium,Hamden 75+HS members April 18th and 19th: Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 777 JATC, CT Construction Days 500+ from seventeen Vocational High Schools April 27th: Middlesex Chamber of Commerce Career Fair, Wesleyan Campus 1,200+students from 12 Middlesex county High Schools May 3rd and 4th: ABC Construction Career Fair 1200+ students from CT Vocational Technical High Schools. CONNOSHA Roundtable Discussion

Why it’s Important? Noise induced hearing loss is a permanent public health problem that has devastating consequences facing all ages of the population. Hearing loss is irreversible! Hearing loss is chronic (over a long period of time). Hearing loss is usually not perceived until too late. Hearing loss is absolutely preventable!

Scope of the Problem 1 out of every 8 people in the United States aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in BOTH ears. Hearing loss by age: 1 out of every 7 Americans aged 20 to 69 years have hearing loss due to noise exposure at work or during leisure activities. 1 in 5 Americans report some degree of hearing loss. 1 in 7 children aged 6 to 19 years have some degree of hearing loss. Noise is a leading cause of hearing loss!

What causes hearing loss? Exposure to loud noise Certain drugs and chemicals Aging Heredity Head injury Headphone use Childhood illness

Statistics and Your Hearing Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work, and an additional 9 million are exposed to chemicals associated to hearing loss. $242 million is spent annually on Worker’s Compensation for hearing loss disability.

Have you experienced the following… Trouble hearing people talk when there is background noise? People sound like they are mumbling Often have to ask people to repeat what they say Turn up the radio or TV a lot Have difficulty hearing people on the phone Have constant ringing in your ears

NOISE Levels, Sound and Hearing

Hearing Protection Activity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5l4Rt4Ol7M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHWY1KBHwc

Connecticut Department of Public Health Open Discussion Connecticut Department of Public Health Keeping Connecticut Healthy