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Preserving the Precious Sense of Hearing

Preserving the Precious Sense of Hearing. AASHTO 2014 Seattle, WA. Corey Lane Industrial Hygiene Program Manager WSDOT 360-705-7793 lanec@wsdot.wa.gov. Noise Hazards. Sound is measured in units called decibels. The higher the number, the noisier it is.

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Preserving the Precious Sense of Hearing

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  1. Preserving the Precious Sense of Hearing AASHTO 2014 Seattle, WA Corey Lane Industrial Hygiene Program ManagerWSDOT 360-705-7793 lanec@wsdot.wa.gov

  2. Noise Hazards • Sound is measured in units called decibels. The higher the number, the noisier it is. • If exposed above 85 decibels for long periods of time for many years, you can loose hearing. • The louder and/or longer the noise exposure, the higher the risk of hearing loss.

  3. How Does Noise Cause Hearing Loss? • Very loud sound (>140 - 160 dB) creates immediate physical damage, tearing of delicate tissues. Acute trauma – happens immediately. • Chronic exposure to moderately loud noise creates metabolic exhaustion – typically takes years or decades. • Reduction in blood flow • Neurotransmitter (glutamate) accumulates to toxic concentrations • Calcium balances change

  4. Economic Burden of Hearing Loss • Occupational hearing loss costs a estimated $242.4 million per year in disability alone in the U.S. • This figure does not include medical costs or personal costs which can include approximately $1,500 for a hearing aid and around $300 per year for batteries. • Through their hearing conservation program, the U.S. Army saved $504.3 million by reducing hearing loss among combat arms personnel between 1974 and 1994. The Department of Veterans Affairs saved $220.8 million and the Army an additional $149 million by reducing civilian hearing loss between 1987 and 1997.

  5. Washington State Compensation

  6. The Ear Hair Cells Normal hair cells Damaged hair cells This is your inner ear This is your inner ear on noise Any questions?

  7. Words • Fill • Catch • Thumb • Knee • Wise • Bath • Fish • Shows • Bed • Juice

  8. Costs of Hearing Loss for the Employee • Helen Keller Quote: “Blindness separates you from things; deafness separates you from people.”

  9. Do Employees Get the Protection They Need?

  10. Does Each Employee Get Stated Protection on Box? • It is an average • Ideal laboratory conditions • Small test population • Proposal for new/better rating system (“in committee”)

  11. Lab determined vs. the amount of protection obtained in “real-world”

  12. Ensuring Employees Get the Protection They Need

  13. Range of Individual Protection

  14. Range of Individual Protection Where are your employees on the chart?

  15. Contact Information Corey Lane WSDOT Industrial Hygiene Program Manager 360-705-7793 lanec@wsdot.wa.gov

  16. Free Earplug FitCheck • I look forward to meeting you and checking the amount of protection you obtain • In the lobby (unless it’s somewhere else)

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