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A Refresher… HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM

A Refresher… HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM. Presented By Roger Pigeon Safety and Occupational Health Manager. Objectives…. Explain how sound is created. Describe how the human ear receives and interprets sound. Name 2 ways sound is measured.

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A Refresher… HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM

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  1. A Refresher…HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM Presented By Roger Pigeon Safety and Occupational Health Manager WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  2. Objectives… Explain how sound is created. Describe how the human ear receives and interprets sound. Name 2 ways sound is measured. Describe at least 2 indicators of excessive noise in the workplace. Identify the part of the human ear damaged by excessive noise exposure. Identify medical test used to document damage. Identify 5 key elements of the hearing conservation program. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  3. Six Main Causes Of Hearing Loss Heredity Infections Acoustic Trauma Prescription Drugs Presbycusis Hazardous Noise WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  4. So What’s The Problem? Noise…too much of it ! Noise and sound terms are used interchangeably. Noise, in terms of occupational health is any sound intense enough to damage hearing. “One person’s music can be another’s racket”. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  5. Noise is a BIG problem One of the most pervasive occupational health exposures. #1 cause of nonfatal health problems in the USA. Over 30 million affected with partial or total hearing loss. 10 million have suffered irreversible noise induced hearing loss. Rate of hearing loss in increasing in US. “Sneaky villain”…each repeated over-exposure to hazardous noise sources such as heavy construction equipment, air compressors, chainsaws, skid-steer loaders, water pumps, and the like add to the damage. Nerve cells in your ears attempt to repair however repeated exposures will create permanent hearing loss. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  6. What Is Noise? WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  7. Two Components Of Noise WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  8. The Human Ear Is A Delicate Tool WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  9. The Inner Ear WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  10. Tinnitus WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  11. In Addition To Hearing Loss Hazardous Noise Exposure Can… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  12. Noise Induced Hearing Loss… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  13. Noisy Hobbies… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  14. A Few Noisy FS Activities… Heavy construction equipment…such as dozers, graders, backhoes, excavators, skid-steer loaders. Continuous use of chainsaws. Wood shop power tools…such as table saw, hand held power saw, pay loaders, band saw, planer, air compressor, routers, large sanders, hand held and pedestal grinders, air-operated impact wrenches and tools. Weed eaters, large lawn mowers, hedge trimmers. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  15. Typical Noise Levels… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  16. Communications In Noisy Environments WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  17. How Do You Know You Are Exposed To Hazardous Noise? WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  18. How Much Hazardous Noise Can You Be Exposed To? Forest Service FSH 6709.11 Health & Safety Code Handbook Incorporates OSHA Standard by Reference. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  19. What Is A TWA ? (TWA = time weighted average) WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  20. Fundamental Characteristics of Sound Sound has two fundamental characteristics. Loudness or Intensity– measured in “decibels”. Frequency – measured in “Hertz” or cycles per second. Sound Is Measured In Three Different Ways: Frequency (cycles per second or hertz) Intensity (dbA or dbC) Duration (hours and minutes) WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  21. How Is Noise Measured? WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  22. Determining Noise Exposures… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  23. Determining Noise Exposures… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  24. How Much Is Too Much? WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  25. Taking Action For Hearing Health WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  26. Controlling Workplace Noise Five components of a hearing conservation program. Exposure monitoring. Audiometric testing. Using engineering controls. Using administrative controls. Using hearing protection devices (HPD). Education and training. Recordkeeping. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  27. Hearing Conservation Program- Five Components - Monitor noise levels. Perform audiometric testing. Apply engineering and administrative controls. Utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) as last option. Educate and train affected employees. Develop and perform recordkeeping. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  28. Requirement for Establishing a Hearing Conservation Program- Monitoring Noise Levels - WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  29. Requirement for Establishing a Hearing Conservation Program- Test Employee Hearing - Audiometric testing can be performed by Audiologist or technician certified by Council on Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation. May vary by State. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  30. How Do You Know How Well You Hear – Hearing Testing(Audiometry) WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  31. Audiograms WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  32. Degrees Of Hearing Loss WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  33. Example Of Hearing Loss STS = Significant Threshold Shift WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  34. Bad Hearing Test? WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  35. Requirement for Establishing a Hearing Conservation Program- Managing Noise Exposure - WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  36. Requirement for Establishing a Hearing Conservation Program- Managing Noise Exposure - WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  37. Requirement for Establishing a Hearing Conservation Program- Education & Training - • A training program is mandatory for all employees exposed at or above the 85 dbA level. • Training must be provided at least once each year and must be updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes. • Training topics must included: • Effects of noise on hearing. • Purpose of hearing protection devices. • Advantages and disadvantages of noise reduction ratings (NRR) of various types of hearing protection. • Instructions on selecting, fitting and use and care of devices. • Purpose of audiometric testing and explanation of test procedures and results. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  38. Requirement for Establishing a Hearing Conservation Program- Recordkeeping (OSHA 300 Log)- WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  39. How To Prevent Further Hearing Loss… WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

  40. Questions? Thanks for your attention….. WO/ Office of Safety and Occupational Health

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