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Hearing Conservation

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Title: Hearing Conservation


1
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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.

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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
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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
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