Hearing ConservationHearing Conservation

29 CFR 1910.9529 CFR 1910.95

PurposePurpose

To help protect your hearing, the To help protect your hearing, the Company has established a Hearing Company has established a Hearing Conservation Program, Conservation Program,

The hearing conservation program The hearing conservation program contains five components: sound surveys, contains five components: sound surveys, noise controls, hearing evaluations, noise controls, hearing evaluations, hearing protection, and employee training. hearing protection, and employee training.

PurposePurpose

The purpose of the hearing conservation The purpose of the hearing conservation program is to reduce or limit noise program is to reduce or limit noise exposure, protect our employees from exposure, protect our employees from noise exposure, and provide early noise exposure, and provide early detection of hearing loss. detection of hearing loss.

All employees must participate in order for All employees must participate in order for the hearing conservation program to the hearing conservation program to succeed.succeed.

Sound SurveysSound Surveys

Sound surveys are used to identify work Sound surveys are used to identify work locations where hazardous noise levels locations where hazardous noise levels exist. exist.

Employee exposures to noise are Employee exposures to noise are monitored periodically with a sound level monitored periodically with a sound level meter. meter.

Sound SurveysSound Surveys

Work locations where hazardous noise Work locations where hazardous noise levels normally exist should be identified levels normally exist should be identified with signs that say: with signs that say:

““Caution Caution –– Ear Protection AreaEar Protection Area””

““Hearing Protection RequiredHearing Protection Required””

or some similar wording.or some similar wording.

Noise ControlsNoise Controls

Whenever possible, noise will be reduced Whenever possible, noise will be reduced or eliminated by modifying existing or eliminated by modifying existing equipment and by considering noise equipment and by considering noise characteristics when purchasing new characteristics when purchasing new equipment.equipment.

It will not be possible to eliminate all loud It will not be possible to eliminate all loud noises in the work place, but efforts should noises in the work place, but efforts should be made to minimize noise exposure be made to minimize noise exposure where possible.where possible.

Hearing Evaluations Hearing Evaluations

Audiometric testing will be made available Audiometric testing will be made available to all employees working in the plant at no to all employees working in the plant at no cost to the employee. cost to the employee.

Testing labs will be used to conduct the Testing labs will be used to conduct the annual audiometric testing at the plant. annual audiometric testing at the plant.

All employees are encouraged to take All employees are encouraged to take advantage of this service, but they will not advantage of this service, but they will not be required to have their hearing tested.be required to have their hearing tested.

Hearing EvaluationsHearing Evaluations

Hearing is measured with an audiometer Hearing is measured with an audiometer that sends tones to each ear through that sends tones to each ear through headphones. headphones.

You listen carefully and respond each time You listen carefully and respond each time you hear a tone. you hear a tone.

The levels at which you can barely hear The levels at which you can barely hear the tones are your hearing threshold the tones are your hearing threshold levels.levels.

Hearing EvaluationsHearing Evaluations

Audiograms are charts that are used to record Audiograms are charts that are used to record your thresholds, measured in decibels, for tones your thresholds, measured in decibels, for tones at different pitches or frequencies, measured in at different pitches or frequencies, measured in Hertz. Hertz.

A baseline audiogram shows your initial hearing A baseline audiogram shows your initial hearing status and is used for comparison to future status and is used for comparison to future audiograms. audiograms.

The baseline audiogram will be established The baseline audiogram will be established within 6 months of the employeewithin 6 months of the employee’’s first exposure s first exposure to the noisy work environment. to the noisy work environment.

Hearing EvaluationsHearing Evaluations

Normal thresholds fall Normal thresholds fall within the unshaded within the unshaded area on the chart. area on the chart. When hearing loss When hearing loss occurs the thresholds occurs the thresholds fall into the shaded fall into the shaded areas, meaning areas, meaning sounds must be sounds must be increased in level for increased in level for you to hear them.you to hear them.

Hearing ProtectionHearing Protection

Personal hearing protection can be very Personal hearing protection can be very effective at protecting your hearing, but effective at protecting your hearing, but only if the devices fit properly and are only if the devices fit properly and are worn correctly. worn correctly.

The more carefully you select and wear The more carefully you select and wear hearing protectors, the higher your hearing protectors, the higher your protection will be. protection will be.

Hearing ProtectionHearing Protection

Hearing protection is labeled with a Noise Hearing protection is labeled with a Noise Reduction Rating (NNR) that is typically in Reduction Rating (NNR) that is typically in the range of 20 to 30 decibels. the range of 20 to 30 decibels.

In practice, the protection that normally In practice, the protection that normally can be achieved is about 10 to 20 can be achieved is about 10 to 20 decibels.decibels.

Hearing ProtectionHearing Protection

There are four types of hearing protectors: There are four types of hearing protectors: formable plugs, premolded plugs, semiformable plugs, premolded plugs, semi-- aural devices, and earmuffs. aural devices, and earmuffs.

Each type of protection has advantages Each type of protection has advantages and disadvantages. and disadvantages.

Individuals should select the type of Individuals should select the type of protection that works best for them. protection that works best for them.

Formable Plugs Formable Plugs

Formable PlugsFormable Plugs are compressed or are compressed or shaped prior to insertion into the ear. shaped prior to insertion into the ear.

The most popular type is made of The most popular type is made of expandable, slowexpandable, slow--recovery foam. recovery foam.

One size fits most everyone. One size fits most everyone.

Once in the ear, foam plugs gently Once in the ear, foam plugs gently expand to provide a snug and secure expand to provide a snug and secure custom fit. custom fit.

Most people find formable plugs to Most people find formable plugs to be the most effective and be the most effective and comfortable type of hearing comfortable type of hearing protectors. protectors.

Premolded PlugsPremolded Plugs

Premolded Plugs Premolded Plugs are made are made from flexible materials that are from flexible materials that are preformed to fit the ear. preformed to fit the ear.

Most premolded plugs are sold in Most premolded plugs are sold in different sizes and must be different sizes and must be individually sized for each ear. individually sized for each ear.

If you have difficulty getting used If you have difficulty getting used to your earplugs you should try a to your earplugs you should try a different size or type of hearing different size or type of hearing protector. protector.

Fitting Tips Fitting Tips

The check to see if your earplugs are The check to see if your earplugs are properly fitted is to press firmly cupped properly fitted is to press firmly cupped hands over your ears while listening to a hands over your ears while listening to a steady noise. steady noise.

If your earplugs are properly fitted, the If your earplugs are properly fitted, the noise levels should be about the same noise levels should be about the same whether or not the ears are covered.whether or not the ears are covered.

Fitting TipsFitting Tips

Formable plugs are fitted by slowly rolling Formable plugs are fitted by slowly rolling and compressing the foam plug into a very and compressing the foam plug into a very thin cylinder then, while compressed, thin cylinder then, while compressed, insert the plug well into the ear canal. insert the plug well into the ear canal.

Fitting TipsFitting Tips

To insert either formable To insert either formable plugs or premolded plugs, plugs or premolded plugs, reach around the back of reach around the back of your head and pull outward your head and pull outward and upward on the ear while and upward on the ear while inserting the plug until you inserting the plug until you feel it sealing.feel it sealing.

SemiSemi--aural Devices aural Devices

SemiSemi--aural Devicesaural Devices are are also called canal caps. also called canal caps.

SemiSemi--aurals consist of aurals consist of pods or flexible tips on a pods or flexible tips on a lightweight headband. lightweight headband.

Because they are quick to Because they are quick to put on and take off and put on and take off and easily stored around the easily stored around the neck, they are ideal for neck, they are ideal for intermittent use. intermittent use.

They provide less They provide less protection than either protection than either plugs or muffs and arenplugs or muffs and aren’’t t usually recommended for usually recommended for longlong--term wearing. term wearing.

Earmuffs Earmuffs

EarmuffsEarmuffs have rigid have rigid cups with soft plastic cups with soft plastic cushions that seal cushions that seal around the ears to around the ears to block noise. block noise.

For very loud noises, For very loud noises, wear muffs and plugs wear muffs and plugs together for an together for an additional 5additional 5--10 dB of 10 dB of protection.protection.

EarmuffsEarmuffs

Muffs must fully enclose the ears to seal Muffs must fully enclose the ears to seal against the head. against the head.

Adjust the headband so cushions exert Adjust the headband so cushions exert pressure around the ears to get the best pressure around the ears to get the best noise reduction. noise reduction.

Pull hair back and out from beneath the Pull hair back and out from beneath the cushions. cushions.

DonDon’’t store pencils or wear caps under the t store pencils or wear caps under the cushions.cushions.

Hearing ProtectionHearing Protection

When you first wear hearing protection you may When you first wear hearing protection you may be concerned that you wonbe concerned that you won’’t be able to hear t be able to hear conversation, machinery sounds, and warning conversation, machinery sounds, and warning signals. signals.

However, unless you already have a significant However, unless you already have a significant hearing loss, you will be surprised how well you hearing loss, you will be surprised how well you can hear in noise. can hear in noise.

When you properly wear hearing protection, you When you properly wear hearing protection, you will be able to hear as well at daywill be able to hear as well at day’’s end as when s end as when you started in the morning. you started in the morning.

Employee Training Employee Training

The most important thing to remember The most important thing to remember about hearing protection is that it is only about hearing protection is that it is only effective if it is worn properly.effective if it is worn properly.

PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURESDuration per day, hours Sound Level dBA slow response

8 90

6 92

4 95

3 97

2 100

1.5 102

1 105

0.5 110

0.25 or less 115

NoiseNoise

Whenever you are exposed to noise levels Whenever you are exposed to noise levels above 85 dBA, you should wear hearing above 85 dBA, you should wear hearing protection. protection.

A rule of thumb is when you feel the need A rule of thumb is when you feel the need to shout in order to be heard three feet to shout in order to be heard three feet away, the noise levels are probably 85 away, the noise levels are probably 85 dBA or more and hearing protectors are dBA or more and hearing protectors are recommended.recommended.

NoiseNoise

Another warning sign, if it is first apparent Another warning sign, if it is first apparent immediately after a period of high noise immediately after a period of high noise exposure, is tinnitus. exposure, is tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or whistling Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or whistling in your head caused by irritation of the hair in your head caused by irritation of the hair cells of your inner ear. cells of your inner ear.

Tinnitus is especially noticeable in a quite Tinnitus is especially noticeable in a quite place, such as when trying to go to sleep place, such as when trying to go to sleep at night. at night.

Protect Your HearingProtect Your Hearing

Hearing is a wonderful gift that needs to Hearing is a wonderful gift that needs to be preserved. be preserved.

Protect your hearing whenever you are Protect your hearing whenever you are exposed to loud noise, either at work or exposed to loud noise, either at work or away from work. away from work.

Once hearing is lost it is gone forever. Once hearing is lost it is gone forever.

Questions?Questions?