1. Noise and Hearing Care
Hearing Conservation Month

2. OCCUPATIONAL NOISE HAZARDS
Workers are faced with occupational noise hazards every day.
Not only differences in exposure conditions affects risk. Certain factors – such as gender, age, ethnicity, genetics, and general health issues – can influence a worker’s susceptibility to the effects of noise.
Since it is not possible to measure the exact susceptibility of any individual worker, all workers must be well-protected.
Noise induced hearing loss is 100% preventable
Healthcare Department

3. DID YOU KNOW?
Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational hazard for workers
About 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise on the job in US.
Hearing loss from noise is slow and painless; you can have a disability before you notice it
penalties for not protecting workers from noise.
An estimated $242 million is spent annually on workers' compensation for hearing loss disability in the US.
Healthcare Department

4. WHEN IS NOISE TOO LOUD?
Noise is measured in units called “decibels” or “dB”
If two people 3 feet apart must shout to be heard, the background noise is too loud (above 85 decibels).
Noise above 140 decibels causes pain and immediate hearing loss.
Healthcare Department

5. TYPS OF HEARING PROTECTION
there are 3 types- ear muffs, earplugs & ear caps.
ear muffs & ear plugs provide about equal protection, ear caps somewhat less.
Healthcare Department

6. TYPS OF HEARING PROTECTION
All are designed to reduce the intensity (loudness) of noise.
All 3 types have advantages & disadvantages & people vary on which they prefer to use.
Wads of cotton or cloth are not acceptable as hearing protectors.
Healthcare Department

7. FORMABLE EARPLUGS
The plug is best rolled between the fingertips

8. SELECTION OF HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES
Hearing protection devices are selected according to:
Employee comfort
Level of noise exposure
NRR of device
Type of work being performed
Environmental conditions
Employee may select hearing protection from a variety of
Suitable hearing protectors provided by employer.
NRR – Noise Reduction Rating
The purpose of the NRR is to give an indication of the amount of noise reduction that may be expected with a specific hearing protection device.
This number is to be used as a general guide only! The true amount of noise reduction depends on how the employee inserts the hearing protector into the ear.
Healthcare Department

9. HEARING AIDS ARE NOT HEARING PROTECTION
Hearing aids do not block out enough sound for
most workplace noise
Some hearing aids can increase the noise level
at the ear.
Just turning off the hearing aids will not prevent
further hearing loss from noise exposure.
Healthcare Department

10. HEARING PROTECTION - MUFFS
Muffs can be uncomfortable in hot weather.
Muffs don’t seal well for someone with glasses or heavy sideboards
Position of the head band will also affect how well the muff is sealed.
The highest protection is on top of the head.
Healthcare Department

11. HEARING PROTECTION
It takes just a few minutes of unprotected exposure at noise above 115 decibels to risk hearing damage.
Earplugs not well inserted into the canal will not provide complete protection.
Likewise, earmuffs not snug & covering the ear completely will “leak” noise into the ear.
Healthcare Department

12. THE 6 MOST COMMON BAD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HEARING PROTECTION…..
Hearing protection is self-explanatory Little to no training is provided on most sites. The most effective training is one on one training.
“Just put it in” in regards to earplugs. It’s a simple 3 step process: roll, pull, hold.
Any earplug in the ear is blocking some noise. An earplug just sitting in the bowl of the ear, without sealing the ear canal, is simply nice ear décor. Poorly fit earplugs actually increase the noise level by a few decibels (similar to cupping your hand around your ear to hear better).
Healthcare Department

13. THE 6 MOST COMMON BAD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HEARING PROTECTION…..
An earplug halfway in the ear blocks half the noise. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. A half fit earplug is often providing 0 dB’s of attenuation.
To hear critical sounds, remove earplugs halfway. Any small channel or leak allows noise to enter & the protection quickly deteriorates from “all” to “none”.
There is no way to let good sound in and keep bad sound out. There are hearing protectors on the market that are more speech-friendly than others.
Healthcare Department

14. Hearing Conservation Month