Hearing Conservation

1
(No Transcript)
2
Course Objectives

• Occupational Noise Exposure
• What is it?
• Monitoring Requirements
• Noise Levels
• Dosimeter Types
• Ear Anatomy
• Noise Makers
• Potential High Hazard Areas

3
Course Objectives

• Audiometric Testing
• Types of Audiograms
• Audio Evaluations
• Hearing Protectors
• Requirements Types
• Training
• Recordkeeping

4
Occupational Noise Exposure

• Noise, or unwanted sound, is one of the most
  pervasive occupational health problems.
• By-product of many industrial processes.
• Sound consists of pressure changes in a medium
  (usually air) caused by vibration or turbulence.
• Pressure changes produce waves emanating away
  from the turbulent or vibrating source.

5
Occupational Noise Exposure

• High level exposure causes hearing loss and may
  cause other harmful health effects.
• Extent of damage depends on intensity of noise
  and duration of exposure.
• Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent.

6
Monitoring

• Required program to monitor employees if exposure
  is at or above 85 decibels (dB) averaged over 8
  working hours or an 8-hour time weighted average
  (TWA).
• Repeat monitoring is required when changes in
  production, process or controls increase the
  noise exposure.

7
(No Transcript)
8
Monitoring

• Employees are entitled to observe monitoring
  procedures.
• Employees must be notified of the results of
  monitoring.
• Monitoring methods are left to the discretion of
  the employer.

9
Monitoring

• Instruments must be carefully checked or
  calibrated.
• Employers have the duty to ensure measuring
  instruments are properly calibrated.

10
Dosimeter Types
Analog Sound Level
Noise Dosimeter
11
Dosimeter Types
Digital Sound Level Meter
Digital Sound Level Meter
12
Dosimeter types
Integrating Sound Level Meter
Sound Level DataLogger
13
Ear Anatomy
14
(No Transcript)
15
Potential High Hazard Areas

• Print Shops
• Boiler Rooms
• Motor Pools
• Laundry Areas
• Kitchen areas
• Exposure To High Speed Hand Tools
• Aircrafts
• Maintenance Shops

16
Audiometric Testing

• The employer shall establish and maintain an
  Audiometric testing program.
• Elements include
• Baseline audiograms
• Annual audiograms
• Training
• Follow-up procedures

17
Audiometric Testing

• Testing is at no cost to all employees who are
  exposed to an action level of 85 dB or above,
  measured as an 8-hour TWA.
• Follow-up testing should indicate whether the
  employers hearing conservation program is
  preventing hearing loss.
• A licensed or certified audiologist, an
  otolaryngologist or a physician must be
  responsible for the program.

18
Audiometric Testing

• Professionals and trained technicians may conduct
  audiometric testing.
• The professional in charge does not have to be
  present when technicians conduct the test.
• Employee referrals
• Test results are questionable.
• Problems of a medical nature are suspected.

19
Types of Audiograms

• Baseline
• Reference audiogram against which future
  audiograms are compared.
• Provided within six months of employees first
  exposure.
• There are exceptions to the six month time
  frame...

20
Types of Audiograms

• Annual Testing
• Within one year of the baseline and annual to
  identify possible deterioration of hearing
  ability.
• To initiate protective follow-up measures if
  hearing loss is progressing.
• To determine if a Standard Threshold Shift (STS)
  has occurred .
• Tests must be conducted in rooms meeting ANSI
  specifications of SC-1969

21
Audiogram Evaluation

• If an STS is identified, employees must be fitted
  or refitted with adequate hearing protectors.
• Employees must be notified within 21 days from
  the time the determination is made.
• Some employees may need to be referred for
  further testing.
• If they have an ear problem of a medical nature.
• If problem is thought to be caused or aggravated
  by wearing hearing protectors

22
Audiogram Evaluation

• If STS identified on previous audiogram is not
  persistent, employees whose exposure to noise is
  protectors.
• An annual audiogram may be substituted for the
  original baseline audiogram, if...

23
Hearing Protectors

• Must be available to employees exposed to 8-hour
  TWA or 85dB or above.
• Hearing protectors must be worn by
• Employees exceeding 6 months from the first time
  they are exposed.
• Employees who have incurred standard threshold
  shifts, and
• A PEL of 90 dB over an 8-hour TWA.

24
Hearing Protectors

• Employees should decide which size and type
  protector is most suitable for their working
  environment.
• Hearing protectors must adequately reduce the
  severity of the noise level for each employees
  work environment.

25
Hearing Protectors

• If workplace noise levels increase, employees
  must be given more effective protectors.
• The protector must reduce the employee exposure
  to at least 90 dB and to 85 dB when an STS
  already has occurred.

26
Types of Hearing Protection

• Most Common Types
• Ear Muff
• Canal Cap
• Ear Plug

27
Ear Muff

• Excellent attenuation at low and high
  frequencies.
• Comfortable for continuous use.
• Designed for maximum attenuation in severe noise
  environment
• Simple height adjustment without projecting parts
• NRR around 27 dB

28
Canal Cap

• The SWIVEL insures alignment to your ear canal
  for maximum comfort.
• Blocks noise at outer ear passage.
• No plugs or foreign objects in ear canal
• Weighs only 1-1/2 oz
• NRR18 dB - overhead, NRR17 dB - behind head or
  under chin

29
Ear Plug

• Very lightweight and soft
• Very inexpensive
• Form fitting in the ear canal
• One size fits most ear canal sizes
• Disposable - one time use
• NRR of 21dB

30
Ultra-Fit Ear Plug

• Many of the same attributes as the disposable,
  except
• Made from a polymer material instead of foam
• Much more expensive
• Durable and long lasting
• NRR 21dB

31
Training

• Employees exposed to TWAs of 85 dB and above must
  be trained at least annually in
• The effects of noise.
• The purpose, advantages and disadvantages of
  various types of hearing protectors.
• The selection, fit and care of protectors, and,
• The purpose and procedures of audiometric testing.

32
Recordkeeping

• Noise exposure measurements must be kept for 2
  years.
• Record of audiometric test results must be
  maintained for the duration of employment.
• Audiometric test records must include
• Name and job of employee.
• The date.
• The examiners name.

33
Recordkeeping

• The date of the last acoustic or exhaustive
  calibration.
• Measurements of the background sound pressure
  levels in audiometric test rooms.
• The employees most recent noise exposure
  measurement.

34
Dont End up Like This.