1. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Blue Ridge Safety Associations Safety Presentations Hearing Conservation

2. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Protect Your Hearing Imagine your life without sound Hearing problems affect every aspect of life 15 million Americans have hearing loss Once you lose your hearing, you will never get it back Most people are unaware of the damage until it is too late

3. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Damage From Hearing Loss First signs of hearing loss are: –Trouble understanding telephone calls –Missing words in general conversation Hearing loss causes: –Other people’s speech to sound distorted –Constant ringing or roaring in your head –Friends and family to become frustrated having conversations with you

4. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications How Your Ears Work Tiny hair-like cells in your ear help the brain interpret sound Loud noises damage these cells Damaged cells can not send massages to the brain, causing hearing loss

5. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications When Is Noise Harmful? Loudness is measured in decibels –Normal conversation - 60 decibels –Busy traffic - 75 decibels –Woodshop noise - 100 decibels –Chainsaw - 110 decibels Hearing can be damaged if exposed to: –85 decibels for an average of 8 hours –140 decibels for any period of time

6. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Personal Hearing Protection Devices Earmuffs, canal caps and ear plugs help prevent hearing loss Personal hearing protection devices: –Are required if exposed to 85 decibels for more for 8 hours –Will not impact ability to hear warning signs in workplace –Are required, even if you already have hearing loss

7. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Disposable Earplugs Expand and conform to the shape of your ear canal Clean hands before handling After insertion, test effectiveness Your eardrum is safe

8. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Reusable Earplugs Premolded to the shape of the ear canal Reusable, washable and come in many sizes Must fit snugly to work correctly Clean before every shift If they become hard or discolored, replace them

9. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Canal Caps Look like ear plugs on a metal or plastic band Convenient when exposed to loud noises for short periods of time Be careful not to forget about the dangerous noise in your workplace

10. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Earmuffs Covers your whole ear with cushions Fits most ears Effectiveness depends on air tight seal Not good protection if you have a beard or glasses

11. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Know the Early Signs of Hearing Damage You should be able to talk to someone standing in front of you without shouting Inform your supervisor if: –There is a steady ringing in your ear –Your ears constantly feel plugged –You hear a whooshing sound Be aware of loud noises, even when wearing hearing protection

12. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Noise Measuring Equipment Sound level meters provide you with a quick reading to determine if your hearing is at risk Noise dosimeters provide you with an average of the noise level during your shift

13. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Ear Evaluations Audiograms required within 6 months of exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels Hearing monitored with yearly audiograms If hearing deteriorates, you will be fitted with new hearing protection

14. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Summary Hearing loss never comes back Caused by exposure to: –85 decibels averaged over 8 hours –140 decibels for any period of time Use earmuffs, earplugs or canal caps Look for early signs Audiograms identify early hearing loss

15. Copyright  Progressive Business Publications Thank you for supporting BRSA We appreciate your comments about the effectiveness of this training method and the delivery system E-mail your comments to comments@blueridgesafety.org