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Hearing Conservation

Hearing Conservation. Saving your hearing for the good things in life. . The Basics. Excessive sound can damage your hearing, leading to tinnitus and hearing loss Hearing loss is often permanent Hearing loss is one of the most common occupational injuries in Manitoba. Inside the Ear.

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Hearing Conservation

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  1. Hearing Conservation Saving your hearing for the good things in life.

  2. The Basics • Excessive sound can damage your hearing, leading to tinnitus and hearing loss • Hearing loss is often permanent • Hearing loss is one of the most common occupational injuries in Manitoba.

  3. Inside the Ear

  4. Tinnitus • Is a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound in the ear • Can be temporary or permanent • Usually accompanies hearing loss

  5. Types of Hearing Loss • There are three main types of hearing loss: • Presbycusis • Temporary Hearing Loss • Permanent Hearing Loss

  6. Presbycusis • Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs naturally as people age • As people age, hair cells in the cochlea slowly die off, resulting in permanent hearing loss

  7. Temporary Hearing Loss • Occurs when a person loses some or all of their ability to hear for a short time • Usually occurs when a person is exposed to loud noise for a short period of time, such as a rock concert • Is usually accompanied by tinnitus

  8. Permanent Hearing Loss • Occurs when a person is exposed to loud noise over a longer period of time • Hearing never returns • Usually accompanied by tinnitus

  9. Other things that cause hearing loss • Head injuries • Infections • Drugs, including some prescription drugs

  10. How Much Noise is Too Much? • The American Environmental Protection Agency recommends that people not be exposed to more than 75dBa of noise for more than 8 hours per day • Manitoba WSH Act says you should not be exposed to more than 90dBafor more than 8 hours per day

  11. Rule of Thumb • A general rule of thumb is that if you can’t carry on a normal conversation with someone who’s about 3’ or 1m from you, you need to be wearing hearing protection

  12. Other Effects of Too Much Noise • High Blood Pressure • Stress Headaches • Sleep Disorders • Anger – Flight or Fight Response

  13. Noise in Construction • Most power tools produce over 90dBa of noise when being used • Powder-actuated tools can produce over 140dBa

  14. How Long Can I Be Exposed? • Manitoba considers it safe for workers to be exposed to 90dBa for 8 hours • Every 3dBa increase in noise means twice the amount of sound and half the safe exposure time • So, at 93dBa, the maximum “safe” exposure time is 4 hours, and at 96dBa, it’s 2 hours

  15. Types of Hearing Protection • Two basic types of hearing protection are available for workers at BUILD: • Ear plugs • Ear muffs

  16. Ear Plugs • Are the most common form of hearing protector in the construction industry • Provide the best noise reduction rating • Are sometimes uncomfortable • Are sometimes annoying if you have to put them in and take them out a lot

  17. How to Fit Ear Plugs

  18. Ear Muffs • Provide very good hearing protection, but not quite as good as ear plugs • Can be worn by themselves or attached to your hard hat • Are more convenient if you only use them occasionally

  19. Ear Muffs

  20. Noise Reduction Rating • All hearing protectors are labelled with a Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR • The NRR is the amount of sound the hearing protector blocks • For example, 112dBa (noise) – 32dBa (NRR) = 80dBa (what you hear)

  21. NRR Label

  22. Audiometric Testing • All construction workers in Manitoba have to have their hearing tested • Within 70 days of being hired, and • Once a year afterwards

  23. Workers Compensation • Yes, you can receive Workers’ Compensation benefits for hearing loss • Benefits are usually capped at the cost of 1 or 2 hearing aids

  24. So? • You get to choose whether you wear hearing protectors now, or hearing aids later in life. • Choose wisely

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