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Hearing Safety

Hearing Safety. Protect Your Hearing. Imagine your life without sound Hearing problems affect every aspect of life 15 million Americans have hearing loss Once you lose your hearing, you will never get it back Most people are unaware of the damage until it is too late.

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Hearing Safety

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  1. Hearing Safety

  2. Protect Your Hearing • Imagine your life without sound • Hearing problems affect every aspect of life • 15 million Americans have hearing loss • Once you lose your hearing, you will never get it back • Most people are unaware of the damage until it is too late

  3. Damage From Hearing Loss • First signs of hearing loss are: • Trouble understanding telephone calls • Missing words in general conversation • Hearing loss causes: • Other people’s speech to sound distorted • Constant ringing or roaring in your head • Friends and family to become frustrated having conversations with you

  4. How Your Ears Work • Tiny hair-like cells in your ear help the brain interpret sound • Loud noises damage these cells • Damaged cells can not send massages to the brain, causing hearing loss

  5. When Is Noise Harmful? • Loudness is measured in decibels • Normal conversation - 60 decibels • Busy traffic - 75 decibels • Woodshop noise - 100 decibels • Chainsaw - 110 decibels • Hearing can be damaged if exposed to: • 85 decibels for an average of 8 hours • 140 decibels for any period of time

  6. Personal Hearing Protection Devices • Earmuffs, canal caps and ear plugs help prevent hearing loss • Personal hearing protection devices: • Are required if exposed to 85 decibels for more for 8 hours • Will not impact ability to hear warning signs in workplace • Are required, even if you already have hearing loss

  7. Disposable Earplugs • Expand and conform to the shape of your ear canal • Clean hands before handling • After insertion, test effectiveness • Your eardrum is safe

  8. Reusable Earplugs • Premolded to the shape of the ear canal • Reusable, washable and come in many sizes • Must fit snugly to work correctly • Clean before every shift • If they become hard or discolored, replace them

  9. Canal Caps • Look like ear plugs on a metal or plastic band • Convenient when exposed to loud noises for short periods of time • Be careful not to forget about the dangerous noise in your workplace

  10. Earmuffs • Covers your whole ear with cushions • Fits most ears • Effectiveness depends on air tight seal • Not good protection if you have a beard or glasses

  11. Know the Early Signs of Hearing Damage • You should be able to talk to someone standing in front of you without shouting • Inform your supervisor if: • There is a steady ringing in your ear • Your ears constantly feel plugged • You hear a whooshing sound • Be aware of loud noises, even when wearing hearing protection

  12. Noise Measuring Equipment • Sound level meters provide you with a quick reading to determine if your hearing is at risk • Noise dosimeters provide you with an average of the noise level during your shift

  13. Ear Evaluations • Audiograms required within 6 months of exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels • Hearing monitored with yearly audiograms • If hearing deteriorates, you will be fitted with new hearing protection

  14. Summary • Hearing loss never comes back • Caused by exposure to: • 85 decibels averaged over 8 hours • 140 decibels for any period of time • Use earmuffs, earplugs or canal caps • Look for early signs • Audiograms identify early hearing loss

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