Hearing Protection Safety Meeting Series

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Hearing ProtectionSafety Meeting Series
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Noise
Nobody should lose their hearing because of their
work.
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What is Noise?

• Noise is
• unwanted sound.
• It has two basic
• properties
• Frequency or pitch
• Sound pressure or loudness

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Frequency

• Number of cycles of vibration a noise source
  completes in one second
• Measured in Hertz (Hz)
• Kilohertz (kHz) 1 kHz 1000 Hz
• Megahertz (MHz) 1MHz 1000 kHz
• A healthy young person can hear sounds in the
  frequency rage of 20 to 20,000 Hz
• Human speech is mainly in the frequency range of
  500 to 5,000 Hz

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The Decibel Scale
The decibel scale compresses a sound pressure
range of 0.00002 Pa - 200 Pa into a manageable
range of decibels (0 - 140 dBA).
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Types of Noise
Continuous
N O I S E L E V E L
Intermittent
Impact
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Hazards of Noise

• Temporary hearing loss
• Permanent hearing loss
• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing)
• Raised blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate
• Stress
• Inability to sleep, fatigue
• Anxiety and depression
• Digestive problems
• Disrupted communications

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Symptoms of Hearing Damage

• Earache
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Ringing/buzzing sensation in the ears
• Ear discharge
• Swelling or reddening around the ears
• Hearing loss

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What Noise Damage Sounds Like
Life is worth hearing!

• Unable to hear consonants
• Difficulty hearing a conversation in a crowded
  room
• Difficulty hearing childrens voices, then
  womens
  voices, and finally mens voices

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Assessing Noise Exposure
Rule of thumb If you have to shout to be heard
within three feet of someone because of noise,
hearing protection is necessary!
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Tools

• Noise Surveys
• Engineering Surveys
• Noise Dosimeters
• Sound Level Meters
• Audiograms
• Noise Maps

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Noise Control - Engineering

• Relocation
• Isolation
• Damping
• Enclosure
• Muffling
• Substitution/quieter machines
• Install noise-reducing attachments
• Reduce noise with adequate maintenance
  (lubrication, replacement of worn out, noisy
  parts)

Noise should be controlled at the source if
possible
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Noise Control - Administrative
Administrative controls enforce protection,
reducing exposure or duration along the path

• Use sound absorptive materials
• Install enclosures, screens and shields
• Operate a noisy machine when employees are not in
  the area
• Work procedures
• Signage

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Noise Control - PPE
Controlling a hazard at the worker is always the
last line of defence

• Ear plugs
• Ear muffs
• Education training

See CSA Standard Z94.2 for guidelines for the
selection of hearing protectors to suit the level
of noise in the workplace
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Earplugs Use Proper Technique
Follow manufacturers instructions Pull the ear
outward and upward using the opposite hand to
enlarge and straighten the ear canal Insert plug
with clean hands Ensure the hearing protector is
tightly sealed within the ear canal or against
the side of the head. Hair and clothing should
not interfere