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Readiness Through Hearing Conservation A Commander’s Guide

Readiness Through Hearing Conservation A Commander’s Guide. BOOM!!. OUCH!!!. Outline. Hearing and combat readiness Your hearing conservation program Hearing Profiles Summary Questions Conclusion.

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Readiness Through Hearing Conservation A Commander’s Guide

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  1. Readiness Through Hearing ConservationA Commander’s Guide BOOM!! OUCH!!!

  2. Outline • Hearing and combat readiness • Your hearing conservation program • Hearing Profiles • Summary • Questions • Conclusion

  3. “Shortly after moonrise, Howe was startled by loud voices… over where Stebbins and Heard had been hit… He popped an earplug and listened harder. The voices were speaking Somali. They must have been half deaf like everyone else from all the explosions, and didn’t realize how loud they were talking. Sometimes it took soldiers two or three days to regain full hearing after a fight.” COMBAT READINESS Battle of the Black Sea Mogadishu, Somalia Delta Force, SFC Paul Howe

  4. DETECTION OF SOUND BY HEARING ABILITY 46m Rifle BoltClosing 210m 1000m 32m NormalVoice 100m 180m 0.6m Footsteps inLeaves 5.5m 100m 0 200 400 600 800 1000 Acceptable Hearing(H-1) Poor Hearing(H-2) Poor Hearingw/ TTS (H-3) Detection Decreases Rapidly as Hearing Loss Increases

  5. The Hearing Conservation ProgramIt’s the Commander’s Program • AR 40-5 Preventive Medicine • DA PAM 40-501 Hearing Conservation • Insert USAEUR’s Policy • Part of Command Inspection Program

  6. HC Program Elements • Noise hazard identification • Engineering controls • Hearing protectors • Health Education • Monitoring Audiometry • Enforcement • Program evaluation

  7. What is required of you? • IMPLEMENT A UNIT LEVEL PROGRAM • Assign a unit level hearing conservation officer/NCO • Command emphasis letter (sample provided) • SOP (sample provided) • ENFORCE THE PROGRAM • Soldiers use hearing protection in noise • Noise-hazardous areas and equipment identified • Soldier’s report for annual education • Soldier’s report for annual hearing testing

  8. Annual Hearing Testing / Training • Annual testing • A deployment requirement • Available at all military treatment facilities • Hours (consult local facility for hours) • Annual training • Can be completed by unit training NCO • Videos/presentations available for check-out • Document training • Must cover all areas outlined in DA-PAM 40-501

  9. Annual Hearing Testing / Training (Cont.) • Standard Threshold Shift (STS) • A significant change in hearing from baseline • Commander must be notified of all STS • What caused this? (Lack of Education? New Noise Hazard? Non-compliance with program?) • OSHA Reportable STS • A significant change in hearing resulting in material hearing impairment. • CA-1, CA-2, DA-285 must be completed by Commander • Notify Command Safety • Name of soldier goes on OSHA 300 Log

  10. Hearing Profiles • Issued by Audiologist or Physician • H1 = Good to go • H2 = Some hearing loss (one ear may be deaf). Know your soldiers and don’t put them in positions which may compromise the mission or safety of the troops. • H3 = Significant hearing loss that may affect communication ability. NON-DEPLOYABLE without MMRB/MEB. • H4 = Significant hearing loss and significant communication deficit even with amplification. NON-DEPLOYABLE without MMRB/MEB

  11. COMBAT ARMS EARPLUG • Insert YELLOW plugs for weapons fire in dismounted mode. • Insert OLIVE DRAB plugs for steady state noise in and around aircraft, noisy vehicles and watercraft, etc. • Keep filter holes free of earwax and other debris. • Check proper insertion for slight tension by gently tugging on plugs. • Ensure that plugs are cleaned with soap and water and dry when returned to case. NSN 6515-01-466-2710

  12. SUMMARY • Hearing and combat readiness • Your hearing conservation program • Hearing Profiles

  13. QUESTIONS???????

  14. Conclusion “If I could change one thing from the past 20 years, it would be the constant ringing in my ears I live with now - all because I didn’t wear hearing protection when I should have… The only thing I can change now are the batteries in my hearing aids.” After 20 Years of Service…Only One Regret SGM Kevin M. Skelly NCO Journal, Fall 95

  15. Contacts • USAREUR HCPM-CPT Kel Kratzer CHPPMEUR DSN: 486-6034 kel.kratzer@us.army.mil • Wuerzburg HCPM-CPT Andy Merkley DSN: 350-3201 john.merkley@us.army.mil • Landstuhl HCPM-LTC Angela Williamson DSN: 486-8188 angela.williamson@amedd.army.mil • Heidelberg HCPM-Hal McPherson DSN: 371-3224 hal.mcpherson@us.army.mil

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