TOP 20 SAFETY HAZARDS #18 HEARING PROTECTION

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TOP 20 SAFETY HAZARDS 18 HEARING PROTECTION
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OSHA STANDARDS

• 1926.101(a) Wherever it is not feasible to reduce
  the noise levels or duration of exposures to
  those specified in Table D-2, Permissible Noise
  Exposures, in 1926.52, ear protective devices
  shall be provided and used.1926.101(b) Ear
  protective devices inserted in the ear shall be
  fitted or determined individually by competent
  persons.1926.101(c) Plain cotton is not an
  acceptable protective device.

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PROTECTION

• With over 200 models to choose from you can find
  a protector you like.
• They cover a wide variety of needs from shooting
  to sleeping. When you find that ordinary ear
  plugs just do not work because they fall out,
  hurt, or simply don't block enough noise, then
  consider full custom earplugs

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When is it required???

• There are regulations that state when hearing
  protection is mandatory however, a good rule of
  thumb is that hearing protection should be used
  if you have to shout at someone standing 3 feet
  away from you to be heard over the noise.
• The two most frequent problems encountered are
  people not wearing the hearing protection when it
  is required or not wearing it correctly.

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Learn More About Hearing Loss Prevention

• http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/abouthlp/noi
  semeter_flash/soundMeter_flash.html
• Play around with the NIOSHs Noise Meter and hear
  the different sounds and sound intensities of
  everyday objects. The red bar on the next slide
  shows how long it takes before a particular sound
  level becomes dangerous to the human ear. For
  example, a chain saw has a sound intensity of
  about 110 dB. Without proper hearing protection,
  running a chain saw for only 2 minutes can become
  dangerous to the human ear!

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NIOSHs NOISE METER.
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Do You Know?

• Ten million Americans have already suffered
  irreversible damage from noise, and thirty
  million more are exposed to dangerous levels of
  noise each day.
• The good news? Noise-induced hearing loss is 100
  percent preventable.

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Protect Your Ears

• Know which noises can cause damage. Wear ear
  plugs when you are involved in a loud activity.
• 110 Decibels
• Regular exposure of more than 1 minute risks
  permanent hearing loss.
• 100 Decibels
• No more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure
  recommended.
• 85 Decibels
• Prolonged exposure to any noise at or above 85
  decibels can cause gradual hearing loss.

• 150 Firecracker
• 120 Ambulance siren
• 110 Chain saw, Rock concert
• 105 Personal stereo system at maximum level
• 100 Wood shop, Snowmobile
• 95 Motorcycle
• 90 Power mower
• 85 Heavy city traffic
• 60 Normal conversation
• 40 Refrigerator humming
• 30 Whispered voice

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THE EAR

• The shape of the ear canal can affect how well
  earplugs fit.
• The damage from exposure occurs in the inner ear
• When all the hair cells are damaged, complete
  deafness occurs
• People who say they are used to the noise often
  have already lost some of their hearing.

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THE EAR. I

• Tiny hair cells inside the ear are moved by sound
  waves
• Loud noise knocks the hair cells over
• Eventually they never recover, resulting in
  hearing loss
• If exposure is short, the hair cells raise back
  up
• As you get older you suffer some natural hearing
  loss

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EFFECTS OF NOISE EXPOSURE

• Often the first noticeable effect is difficulty
  in hearing speech.
• Our ears can recover from short exposure to loud
  noise.
• Theres no such thing as tough ears or getting
  used to it

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HEARING PROTECTION

• THERE ARE 3 TYPES- EAR MUFFS, EARPLUGS EAR
  CAPS.
• EAR MUFFS EAR PLUGS PROVIDE ABOUT EQUAL
  PROTECTION, EAR CAPS SOMEWHAT LESS.

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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.

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HEARING PROTECTION

• Plugs are made of foam, rubber or plastic are
  either one-size-fits-all or in sizes small,
  medium large.
• Some are disposable, some are reusable.
• Theyre lightweight require no maintenance
  rarely cause infection or irritation
• Custom-molded earplugs provide maximum comfort.
• Some people find plugs uncomfortable to wear for
  long periods at first.

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HEARING PROTECTION

• 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.

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HEARING PROTECTION

• Muffs can be uncomfortable in hot weather.
• Muffs dont seal well for someone w/glasses or
  heavy sideburns.
• Position of the head band will also
• affect how well the muff is sealed.
• The highest protection is on top
• of the head.
• Some earmuffs are made w/bands
• that can fit behind the neck or under the
  chin.

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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.

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HEARING PROTECTION

• The noise reduction rating or NRR of hearing
  protection is
• measured in decibels.
• The NRR is found on the
• earmuff/earplug package.
• The higher the number,
• the greater the protection.
• The actual effective protection is 7 decibels
  less than rating on package.

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NOISE PROTECTION

• PORTABLE RADIOS/CD PLAYERS
• Walkmans do not provide
• protection from noise.
• The earphones are not
• earmuffs the music only
• adds to other background
• noise.
• Walkmans can exceed
• 85 decibels by themselves.

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THE 6 MOST COMMON BAD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HEARING
PROTECTION..

1. Hearing protection is self-explanatory Little to
   no training is provided on most sites. The most
   effective training is one on one training.
2. Just put it in in regards to earplugs. Its a
   simple 3 step process roll, pull, hold.
3. 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).

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THE 6 MOST COMMON BAD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HEARING
PROTECTION..

• An earplug halfway in the ear blocks half the
  noise. Unfortunately it doesnt work that way. A
  half fit earplug is often providing 0 dBs 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. How do you protect the worker who may
  not need 30dBs of protection? Use hearing
  protectors w/lower NRRs. When used properly,
  lower dBs earplugs will provide protection w/out
  sacrificing communication ability.

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THE 6 MOST COMMON BAD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HEARING
PROTECTION..

• 6. 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.

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2 TIPS IN CLOSING

1. A VISUAL CUE TO PROPERLY FIT AN EARPLUG When
   viewing yourself in the mirror straight ahead (or
   when looking at a co-worker face-to-face) a
   poorly fit earplug is clearly visible protruding
   from the ear canal, while a properly fit earplug
   is hardly visible.

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2 TIPS IN CLOSING

• 2. EASILY PERFORMED SELF-TEST
• Prior to inserting your earplugs, press the
  palms of your hands lightly against your ears,
  and say some words out loud. Your own voice
  sounds louder deeper when your ears are
  covered. Now insert your earplugs, repeat that
  voice check. If the earplugs are properly fit,
  there will be very little difference in the sound
  of your voice.

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EXERCISE TO DO TODAY.

• SET YOUR CAR RADIO TO A COMFORTABLE LEVEL (OR
  YOUR NORMAL LEVEL) WHEN YOUR DRIVING HOME
  TONIGHT..
• SEE IF YOU STILL CONSIDER THAT
• COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR IN THE
  MORNING.