Hear Today

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Hear Today Hear Tomorrow Hearing Loss
Prevention for Supervisors

• Kelly Kasper
• BuildItSmart

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Does anyone here have a hearing loss or know
someone who does?
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SAY WHAT SAY WHAT SAY WHAT SAY WHAT
A B C
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What you will learn today

• The Washington State Hearing Conservation
  Standard Requirements
• How to recognize loud noise levels
• How to reduce noise levels through engineering
  and administrative controls
• The effects of noise on hearing and productivity
• Hearing Protector Selection and Fitting

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Hearing Loss Prevention Plan!

• Washington State requires a hearing conservation
  plan (WAC 296-62-Part K)
• -Noise Level Collection
• -Training
• -Testing
• -HPD Selection, Fit and Use
• -Record keeping

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Noise at work

• 30 million workers are exposed to harmful levels
• 2nd most reported occupational illness
• Noise-induced hearing loss is irreversible but
  100 preventable

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How to recognize when there is too much noise on
the job
Permissible Noise Exposure Limits (dBA) Permissible Noise Exposure Limits (dBA) Permissible Noise Exposure Limits (dBA)
Duration per day in hours DOE/NIOSH WISHA
10 8 4 2 1 ½ ¼ lt85 85 88 91 94 97 100 lt85 85 90 95 100 105 110
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Noise Sources

• Noise a worker creates
• Noise created from the workers trade
• Noise from other trades

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Plan for the noise

• Wrong Expectations
• Poor Planning
• Lack of coordination

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How to Prevent Noise

• Find quieter ways
• Move equipment away from the work zone when
  possible
• Shield loud power equipment in the work zone
• Buy Quiet
• Turn off equipment when not in use
• Block itMove it.Reduce it

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Find Quieter Ways

• Examples
• Maybe you can use a hydraulic cutter or
  Porta-band in place of an abrasive saw,
  especially when cutting metal
• Or, instead of punching holes in decking or sheet
  metal, use a drill.
• Consider alternative types of fasteners to powder
  actuated tools

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Move Noisy Equipment

• An air compressor does not have to be within arms
  length. It can be placed hundreds of feet away.
  All it takes is one extra length of air hose.

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What could be done here?
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Shield Loud Equipment

• Examples
• Scrap plywood and duct tape can make an effective
  shield to reduce noise around a power pack. Make
  sure it does not become a fire hazard.
• Build a temporary wall between the concrete
  pumper and the work zone.

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Buy Quiet

• Example
• When it is time to buy new equipment or tools,
  ask the employer to think about what is least
  noisy. Develop a noise limit policy.
• Find ways to retrofit existing equipment to make
  it less noisy, such as installing mufflers.
• Maintain equipment

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Turn it Off

• Turn off power equipment when it is not in use

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Reducing Noise from Other Trades

• Job site meetings (Risk Chart Weekly Action
  Plan Sheets)
• Know the noisy tasks
• Schedule noisy tasks for off hours
• Ask the employer to check noise levels of
  different tasks

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How to Protect Your Workers When Noise Cant Be
Prevented
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It is too Loud When

• 2-3 foot rule

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Hearing Protection Types Demonstration of
Fitting

• Foam plugs
• Pre-molded plugs
• Custom molded plugs
• Banded or semi-aural
• Earmuffs

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Noise Reduction Breakdown
High NRR 24 Mid NRR 17-24 Low NRR lt17
Foam Plugs Pre-molded plugs Custom molded plugs
Earmuffs Earmuffs Banded or semi-aural
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Real World Reduction

• Earmuffs Subtract 25 from the manufacturer's
  labeled NRR
• Formable earplugs Subtract 50 from the
  manufacturer's labeled NRR
• All other earplugs Subtract 70 from the
  manufacturers labeled NRR

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Hearing Protection Selection

• Convenience
• Comfort
• Communication needs
• Hygiene
• Noise Reduction
• Hearing ability
• Noise Level

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Care and Maintenance

• Foam plugs Use them when they look like they
  are new, or get new ones
• Earmuffs Wipe down with a damp cloth, or remove
  the cushions and wash in soapy water. Cushions
  should be replaced if torn or cracked. Replace
  entire muff if headband is sprung.
• Custom Replace every 3-5 years. Wash in mild
  soapy water.
• Pre-molded Replace the earbuds if they are
  dirty or damaged.

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Problems in getting hearing conservation into
construction

• Mobile work force
• Companies mandate hard hats safety glasses, not
  as consistent about ear plugs muffs
• The ears do not bleed, can not see the injury

Lusk et al., University of Michigan Melamed et
al, Israeli study NIOSH
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Reasons workers do not use hearing protectors

• Fear of not hearing warning signals voices
  (especially if hearing protection is more than
  needed)
• Uncomfortable to wear all day
• Benefit not readily apparent (hearing loss is
  gradual)
• More immediate hazards on job site

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Noise Reduction Exercise
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NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS

• Caused by exposure to harmful noise levels
• Damages hair cells in your inner ear
• Temporary vs. Permanent
• Permanent damage is irreversible
• Poor hearing is a major handicap
• Prevention is key

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Your Ear
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Effects of Noise

• Noise affects almost all types of work
• Workplace noise effects ALL construction workers
• Up to 50 of construction workers may have some
  job-related hearing loss
• Once hearing is gone it is lost forever
• Disrupts your daily life

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Other Effects of Noise

• Tinnitus Ringing in the ears
• Non-Auditory problems
• - Constant State of Alert
• - Disturbed Sleeping Pattern
• - Increased blood pressure

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Hearing Conservation in Washington State

• WISHA requires that employers provide a hearing
  conservation program to employees if they are
  exposed to 85 dB or more for an average of
  8-hours
• Transient workforce makes it difficult
• Build It Smart proposes an industry-wide hearing
  testing program

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Hearing Testing

• Type of Tests
• Baseline
• Annual
• Retest

• Types of Loss
• Temporary
• Permanent

• Testing Facilities
• Clinical
• Mobile Unit

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Self Tests

• Radio Check same day
• Radio Check day after
• Tinnitus can be an early indicator of hearing
  loss

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Worker Rights

• Their Records
• Compensation if significant hearing loss occurs
• To an effective Hearing Conservation Program

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Need another reason

• A hearing impaired person had this to say
• I wish I had my hearing back, because I cant
  hear my grandkids. I am missing out on so much!
  If only I knew then, what I know now!

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For More Information

• Contact us at
• builditsmart_at_qwest.net
• www.builditsmart.org

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Checklist
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