Innovations & Trends in Hearing conservation

Your Partners in Safety
Innovation and Trends in
Hearing Conservation

Alex Berti
National Product Sales Manager – Hearing
Howard Leight® / Honeywell Safety Products
Innovations and Trends in Hearing Conservation

Noise-induced hearing loss is
the most common permanent
and preventable occupational
injury in the world.
– World Health Organization
In many countries, excessive noise is the
biggest compensable occupational hazard.
Cost of NIHL to developed countries
ranges from 0.2 to 2% of its GDP.
– World Health Organization
Global Prevalence of NIHL
Innovation and Trends in Hearing Conservation
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

• Noise-induced hearing loss is the
most common occupational injury in
the United States.
• 22 million workers are exposed to
hazardous noise at work on a daily
basis.
• 8 million Americans suffer from NIHL.
• Noise-induced hearing loss is #1
disability amongst US military
personnel returning from active
combat.
• 90% of coal miners above the age of
50 have a hearing impairment. By the
time coal miners retire, they are
nearly guaranteed a moderate
hearing loss.

•Miscommunication in workplace
•Poor Productivity
•Social Implications
•Overall Worker’s Health
•OSHA Citations
•Retesting Costs
•Hearing Loss Claims
•Legal Costs
•Liability Insurance
•Workman’s Comp
Implications – What Hearing Loss Can Cost

Main Components of OSHA Occupational Noise Standard
29 CFR 1910.95
OSHA Action Level - 85 dBA
• Monitor all noise levels
• Annual audiometric testing for exposed workers
• Annual training for exposed workers
• Variety of suitable hearing protectors must be made available at no
cost to the employee
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit - 90 dBA
• Hearing protectors required for noise-exposed workers OSHA
Permissible
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit – 90 dBA TWA
Industry Standards

• Hearing Conservation Program implemented
– Hearing protectors made available
– Annual audiometric testing & training
• Hearing protectors required
“Action Level”
“Permissible Exposure Limit”
Noise and Acoustics

OSHA
29 CFR 1910.95
Industry
OSHA
29 CFR 1926.52
Construction
MSHA
30 CFR Part 62
Mining
FRA
49 CFR 227/229
Railroads
Permissible
Exposure Limits 90 dB 90 dB 90 dB 90 dB
Action Level 85 dB 85 dB 80 dB 85 dB
Noise Monitoring Required Not Required Required Required
Audiometric
Testing Annual Not Required Annual Every 3 Years
Training Required
New Hires/Annual
Not Required Required
New Hires/Annual
Required
New Hires/Annual
HPDs
Hearing
Protection
Devices
Required @ PEL Required @ PEL
Required @ PEL
Dual Protection @
105 dB TWA
Required @ PEL
Recordkeeping Required
OSHA 300 Log
Not Required Required Required
OSHA 300 Log
Sources: OSHA, MSHA, FRA
STS = Standard Threshold Shift
Standards and Regulations

2000
100
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Hearing PPL Recordables
2008
2008
+/- 5%
P&P Company Hearing Data

State
Max. Compensation
(2 Ears)
Alabama $35,860
Florida $51,870
Illinois $87,978
Indiana $39,500
New York $60,000
Worker Compensation Claims (examples)

Earplugs

Earmuffs

Are these workers protected?
0 dB
0 dB
+ 33 dB
Fitting Tips

• Use Earplug Fit Testing
- Train how to properly fit HPDs
- Select appropriate HPDs
- Document adequate protection
- Get your documented PAR
• Use In-Ear Dosimetry
• Measures and documents the
noise dose employee is exposed to
during their work shift
What Can I Do Now?

Results
Results
Your Exposure 100
dB
Lowest PAR - 25
dB

Results

5) www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/hcp/audiometric_testing.html
Training + Motivation
Checking Off the Training
Requirements
Health effects of noise
Purpose of hearing
protection
Advantages/ disadvantages
of various HPDs
Selection, fit, use and care
of HPDs
 Purpose and procedures of
audiometric testing 





Case Study #1: Shaw Industries
Noise Levels
105-112 dBA
HPD Requirements
Dual Protection
Key Challenges
•Reducing noise levels, especially in high
noise areas, via engineering controls
•Ensuring workers wearing hearing
protection properly, especially in extreme
heat/humidity
•Validate amount of attenuation each
worker achieves

Location Pre-Enclosure dBA Post-Enclosure dBA Hood Insulation dBA Total Reduction dB
F/16 #2 111.4 104.9 103.9 7.5
F/16 #6 110.8 102.7 101.8 9.0
F/16 #11 107.3 100.2 99.7 7.6
Packout Table 106.4 98.6 96.8 9.6
Tactic #1: Engineering Controls

Tactic #2: Earplug Fit Testing
Site Procedure
•All workers showing a shift (decrease)
in hearing now receive a fit-test as
part of “retraining.”
•All new (or re-hire) employees receive
a fit-test prior to beginning work to
•Departments prioritized and tested per
protocol
•Find the appropriate earplug
•Ensure they know how to fit it properly.

Goal of > 25 dB of protection achieved by most workers
The Results: Distribution of PAR Shifted

Year Confirmed STS Comment
2006 5 Prior to noise control
2007 0
2008 0
2009 1 Non-production associate
2010 0
Best practices at this plant have been adopted
at other Shaw locations
The Results: Reduction in Recordables

The Results: Hearing Conservation Program Changes
HC Program Improvements
•Expanded HPD offerings from 3 to 6 choices
•Workers are “certified” to a particular earplug
•Mandated job rotation in departments
•Emphasis on equipment maintenance
www.hearforever.org/shaw

Case Study #2: Gulfstream Aerospace
Noise Levels
87-90 dBA TWA
HPD Requirements
100% wear when on plant floor
(even walking through)
Key Challenges
•Intermittent noise exposures
•Moderately low TWAs
•Possible overprotection

Tactic #1: Engineering Controls
Quieter Equipment
•Purchase new equipment that
does not exceed 82 dB during
normal operation
•Implement engineering controls
around test generator
www.buyquietroadmap.com

Tactic #2: Earplug Fit Testing
Next
Fit Training with
Same Earplug
Try a Different
Earplug
Test Worker with Usual Earplug
“Fit the way you normally wear it.”
Pass > 15 dB
Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Aerospace

The Results: OSHA Recordable Drop
Dramatic Drop in Recordable Hearing Loss Cases

Training &
Motivating
Workers

Show, Don’t Tell
• Provide copy of annual
audiogram to worker
• Use personal examples to
demonstrate consequences
of hearing loss
• Ask questions:
• What is your favorite sound?
• What sound would you miss
the most if you couldn’t hear?
• What sounds connect you to
people and your environment?
Personalize Hearing Loss

Training Materials
• www.hearforever.org
• www.hearingconservation.org
• www.grc.nasa.gov/www/acoustics
• www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise
• www.dangerousdecibels.org
Demonstrate Future Risk

www.hearforever.org

Hearing Loss Due to Noise
Exposure Is…
PREVENTABLE!
• Painless
• Permanent
• Progressive

Your Turn: Ask the Expert
TheBestValueIn SafetySolutionsSince1946
Alex Berti
National Product Sales Manager - Hearing
Howard Leight® / Honeywell Safety Products
(954) 435-6162
alex.berti@honeywell.com
www.howardleight.com • www.honeywell.com
Magid Contact
Contact your local Magid sales rep at: 1-800-444-8030
marketing@magidglove.com • www.magidglove.com

Thank You!

Innovations & Trends in Hearing conservation

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