Course Objectives

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.

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

15. Potential High Hazard Areas • Print Shops • Boiler Rooms • Motor Pools • Laundry Areas • Kitchen areas • Exposure To High Speed Hand Tools • Aircraft’s • 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 employer’s 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 < a TWA of 90dB may discontinue wearing hearing 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 employee’s 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 examiner’s name.

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

34. Don’t End up Like This.