Hearing Conservation and Noise Control Bureau of Workers’ Comp PA Training for Health & Safety (PATHS) 1PPT CFR

Why?????? It’s the LAW Quality of Life Gradual/Painless Huh? What? 2PPT

Anatomy of the Ear 3PPT

Types of Hearing Loss Conductive – Occurs in ear canal, drum, ossicles Central – Damage to auditory nerve Sensorineural – Nerve damage in cochlea 4PPT

Health Effects Other Than Hearing Loss 5PPT

Degree of Risk Frequency – How often workers exposed Intensity – How loud Duration – How long Individual Variability – Person’s resistance 6PPT

How Loud is Loud? Jet engine 140 db Threshold of Pain 125 db Pneumatic hammer 110 db Compressed Air 105+ db Punch Press 95 db Lawn Mower 90 db Conversation 65 db 7PPT

Hearing Protective Equipment Advantages/Disadvantages Cotton Balls – Virtually no protection Canal Blockers/Ear Pods – Only cover opening of ear canal 8PPT

Hearing Protective Equipment Advantages/Disadvantages Ear Muffs – Good overall protection Ear Plugs – Can be difficult to insert & annoying to wear 9PPT

How to Insert Earplugs 1.Roll the earplug into a tight cylinder 2. Lift the top of your ear to open the canal 3. Insert earplug into the open canal 4. Hold earplug in place until the foam expands 5. Repeat Steps 1 – 4 to insert into other ear PPT

“Safety Factor” = Noise Reduction Rating OSHA protocol For “A” scale measurements, NRR minus 7 Example: Noise exposure = 92 dBA Manufacturer’s NRR = – 7 = 8 ( effective noise exposure reduction ) 92 – 8 = 84 dBA 11PPT

NRR Determination: more from OSHA If using dB(A) scale: Noise level minus [NRR minus 7 divided by 2] = Noise level at ear ex. Noise level = 98 dBA NRR = 25 dBA 98 - [25-7/2=9] = 98-9=89dB. If using dB(C) scale: Noise level minus [NRR divided by two] = Noise level at ear ex. Noise level = 98 dBA NRR = 25 dBA 98 – [25/2=12.5] = =85.5 dB. PPT

Exposure Limits – Time Weighted Average (TWA) Time Weighted Average Sound Level: “That sound level, which if constant over an 8 hour exposure, would result in the same dose as is measured.” To determine TWA if working in different areas with different noise level readings over 8 hour work shift : ▪ Use , Appendix A, Table G-16A ▪ Table A-1 13PPT

OSHA’s Permissible Noise Exposure* 90 dB = 8.0 hours 92 dB = 6.0 hours 95 dB = 4.0 hours 97 dB = 3.0 hours 100 dB = 2.0 hours 102 dB = 1.5 hours 105 dB = 1.0 hours 110 dB = 30 minutes 115 dB = 15 minutes PPT *At or above = controls: Engineering, Administrative, PPE

Exposure Limits If exposure to 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA): → ACGIH 85 dBA (action level) → NIOSH 85 dBA (action level) → OSHA  84 dBA: nothing required 85 – 89 dBA: - monitoring - testing - protection - training - recordkeeping 90 dBA (Permissible Noise Exposure Limit) 15PPT

Noise Monitoring Required by the OSHA standard to identify all noise at or above 85 dBA Monitoring must be performed whenever there is an increase in production or equipment is added that could increase the noise level 16PPT

Audiograms Audiograms are required every year to identify if there has been a loss of hearing. The solid line shows a normal result with no hearing loss. The dotted line represents a typical noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). 17PPT

Training Requirements Annual Training Hearing Conservation Elements Hearing Protectors Hearing Conservation Program 18PPT

Recordkeeping Monitoring records (Keep for 2 years) Audiometric testing records (Keep for period of employment) 19PPT

Noise Control Engineering (e.g. sound barriers) Administrative (e.g. worker rotation) Personal Protective Equipment (e.g. ear plugs, ear muffs) 20PPT

What is your Company doing to Control Exposure: → Monitoring? → Engineering? → Administrative? → PPE? If you’re not sure you should check with your Supervisor! 21PPT

Questions? 22PPT