A Personal Approach to Hearing Conservation

1. A Personal Approach to Hearing Conservation

2. What is VeriPRO? VeriPRO is a simple and effective way to implement better Hearing Conservation practices in any workplace.

3. Why VeriPRO?

4. Why VeriPRO? EVALUATING NOISE REDUCTIONThe Single Number Rating (SNR) • 16 subjects • A laboratory estimate of the amount of attenuation achievable by 84% of users when properly fit • A population-based rating … some users will get more, some will get less attenuation SNR = theoretical number

5. Single Number Rating SNR is an estimate of protection based upon population averages, not measurement of actual protection. How much protection will an individual worker achieve with a particular earplug used in the field? We don’t know!

6. Why VeriPRO? EPA – NORTH AMERICAN MARKET Current NRR Label Mock-Up of New Label SNR = theoretical number

7. NRR = 27 dB Multiple-Use Earplug 40- 30- 20- 10- 0- “Something’s wrong with the users” Attenuation in dB Why VeriPRO? Why VeriPRO? “Something’s wrong with the earplugs”

8. 0 dB 0 dB 33 dB Which ear is protected?

9. The Solution

10. At a Glance VeriPRO offers an accurate, real-world picture of your employees’ hearing protection effectiveness • Identify if your employees: • Are receiving optimal protection • Require additional training • Need to try a different earplug style

11. Components *Laptop not included

12. Test Modes Complete Check 5 freqs in each ear Required of new users, reliability check ↑accuracy ↑test time Quick Check 1 critical freq in each ear ↓ accuracy ↓ test time Can use with severe hearing loss Fit Training 1-minute training video Report Mode Individual reports Historical reports

13. How It Works Loudness Balance • Loudness of tone in one ear is balanced to a tone in opposite ear • Easy task • No sound booth required

14. Part 3 Both Ears with eaplugs • Left ear attenuation measured Test Sequence Part 1 Both Ears without earplugs Part 2 Right Ear with earplug • Sets baseline level for each ear • Measures any asymmetry between ears • Right ear attenuation measured

15. Safe Noise 85 dB Lowest PAR + 19 dB Your Exposure 90 dB Lowest PAR - 19 dB Results

16. Results

17. Real user attenuation 0 – 38 dB Results 50 192 users of reusable earplug ~ 27 dB 40 Published Rating 30 20 Attenuation in dB Retraining and refitting resulted in an average of 14 dB improvement for this group 10 0

18. “Do Howard Leight earplugs test better than others?” “Can custom-molded earplugs be used with VeriPRO?” “Can workers with a hearing loss use VeriPRO?” “Does PAR need to be de-rated like the SNR?” QUESTIONS

19. Benefits • Measures real-world attenuation of any earplug • Fulfills requirement to ‘ensure proper fitting’ of earplugs and evaluate their attenuation • On-screen training videos • Administered anywhere, quiet room not required • Protected exposure level and safe exposure level calculated

20. De-Rating Schemes • One-on-One Training • HPD Selection • Measurement of custom moulded VeriPRO as a Problem Solver

21. Key messages for using VeriPRO • SNR = theoretical number • Hearing is all about • Right Fit • Right Protection • Selection • Motivation • VeriPRO is the only device on the market that measures PAR for all earplugs • VeriPRO is the only device that can assist with a successful Hearing Conservation Program • Check (fit & protection) • Education • Motivation

22. The right fit for every user, every environment. Fit Protection Selection Motivation