Six Components of Hearing Conservation Program Helene R. Freed, Ed.M Public Relations Specialist Industrial Hearing Testing Who are you? Are you a student? Do you work in industry in H&S? Do you work in a clinic/hospital? Do you know what an OSHA log is? Do you have to complete the OSHA log? Blindness separates you from things, deafness separates you from people. --Helen Keller Hearing is Precious! Affects quality of life Directly related to our ability to communicate with loved ones Allows us to interact with society and nature. To work and to play safely
Did you know that? As many as 30,000,000 people in USA exposed to high levels of noise 5.2 million manufacturing jobs are > 85dB 1 million workers already have hearing losses 0.5 million have a moderate to severe loss THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, IN FEBRUARY 2015, REPORTED THAT 1.1 BILLION TEENAGERS & YOUNG ADULTS ARE AT RISK OF NIHL CDC ESTIMATES THAT 12.5% (5.2 MILLION) of people ages 6 19 HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THEIR HEARING FROM NOISE EXPOSURE! AND 50% of people ages 12-35 ARE EXPOSED TO UNSAFE NOISE LEVELS
Decibel Level Exposures 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Mitre Saw Hand Drill Chop Saw Hammer Drill Chain Saw Impact Wrench Belt Sander Hearing Loss Due To Noise Exposure Is Painless Permanent Progressive Occupational Noise isn t our only concern. NOISE LEVELS UP TO 900 TIMES HIGHER and very PREVENTABLE!
VUVUZELAS Components of A Hearing Conservation Program 113 dba at 2 meters! Noise Level Evaluation Audiometric Testing Hearing Protection Record Keeping Training Written Program FEDERAL AGENCIES Mine Safety and Health Agency (MSHA) 30 CFR Part 62 Applies to all mining operations to include underground, open pit, metal, non-metal, and coal Follow essentially same guidelines except for: Recordable Rules for STS Requires CAOHC certification for technicians conducting hearing testing
FEDERAL AGENCIES Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 49 CFR Parts 227 and 229 Effective February 26, 2007 Regulates employee noise exposures in locomotive cab Some differences with OSHA Noise Amendment include: Hearing testing/education required every 3 years but offered every year Code Of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 29 CFR Part 1910.95; Occupational Noise Exposure/Hearing Conservation Amendment (OSHA -1983) Amended Walsh-Healy Act of 1969 Provided detailed instructions for developing a hearing conservation program Purpose (of the Rule) HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM? To require employers to record and report workrelated fatalities, injuries and illnesses Note: Recording or reporting a work-related injury, illness, or fatality does not mean the the employer or employee was at fault, an OSHA rule has been violated, or that the employee is eligible for workers compensation or other benefits. OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and Workers Compensation are independent of each other Hearing loss from noise is the most common occupational illness (NIDCD), and the 2nd-most self-reported occupational illness for American workers. NIHL accounts for about 1 in 5 losses severe enough for a person to report trouble hearing (AAA)
29 CFR 1910.95 Every year, approximately 30 million people in the United States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise. Fortunately, the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss can be reduced or eliminated through the successful application of engineering controls and hearing conservation programs. Sampling Strategies Area Monitoring Representative Sampling Individual Monitoring Noise Monitoring Dosimeters utilized to render an extensive survey Personal monitoring to establish TWA exposures To determine what employees must and/ or should be in a hearing Conservation Program To determine proper hearing protection attenuation levels and engineering requirements Noise Monitoring Cont.. Area Sampling to identify additional hazardous noise Documentation provided within 10 working days Recommendations on program development and OSHA/MSHA compliance
Dosimeter Extremely useful for determining Time Weighted Average exposure levels. Continuously samples and averages noise levels. Portable Provides the ability to export stored data to a computer program for analysis Weighting Scale: Definitions / Metrics Action Level Permissible Exposure Level 85 dba 90 dba Audiometric Testing Annual At No Cost to the Employee CAOHC Certification Audiologist / Otolaryngologist Baseline Audiogram When? Mobile Test Van Exception
Types of Audiometric Testing Types of Audiometric Testing Clinical Diagnostic Air Conduction Bone Conduction.250K,.5K, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 6K and 8K Speech Reception Threshold Speech Discrimination Occupational Change in Hearing level caused by noise exposure Air Conduction.5K, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 6K and 8K Audiometric Testing A hearing test measures the lowest level of sound that a person can detect 50% of the time. This is called a hearing THRESHOLD. Thresholds are measured in units of loudness called DECIBELS over a range of different pitches or tones called FREQUENCIES. A summary of hearing thresholds is called an AUDIOGRAM. The first hearing test on record is referred to as the BASELINE AUDIOGRAM. How we hear Acoustic energy to mechanical energy to hydraulic energy to electrical impulse
This is your ear. This is your ear on noise. Any questions? Recordability Requirement Normal Audiogram An employee s hearing test must meet these 2 criteria. Standard Threshold Shift as compared to original or most recently revised baseline Average hearing LEVEL (computed over the frequencies of 2k, 3K, 4K) is 25dB or greater MAY NOT ADJUST FOR AGING to determine whether or not hearing level is 25 db or more above audiometric zero
Flat Audiogram Sloping Audiogram How to calculate Standard Threshold Shift Start with original baseline Add thresholds of 2k, 3k, 4k and divide by 3 Next current test - do the same Compare the current test average to the original baseline average. If this number differs by 10 or more, this is a STS
STS, PTS, TTS What Does This Mean? STS, PTS, TTS What Does This Mean? STS Standard Threshold Shift PTS Persistent Threshold Shift A change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of an average of 10 db or more at 2K, 3K, 4K Hz. An STS which has been confirmed to be persistent. The baseline audiogram gets REVISED. STS, PTS, TTS What Does This Mean? TTS Temporary Threshold Shift An STS where subsequent tests prove the change to be temporary.
1904.29 - Forms OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work- Related Injuries and Illnesses OSHA Form 301, Injury and Illness Incident Report
Example of STS.5k 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K STSAvg. Baseline 0 0 5 5 5 0 5 Annual 0 5 10 15 20 5 15 10 db STS Follow-Up Option #1 Employee MAY obtain a retest within 30 days. If shift is found to be temporary, no further follow-up is necessary. STS Follow-Up Cont.. If shift is found to be PERSISTENT, or a retest is NOT performed you must: a. Notify In Writing Option #2 b. Retrain on proper fitting of hearing protection Example of TTS.5k 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K STS Avg. Baseline 0 0 5 5 5 0 5 Previous 0 5 10 20 20 5 16.6 (STS) Annual 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 (TTS) c. Mandatory hearing protection > 85 dba
Example of Non-OSHA Recordable PTS Example of OSHA Recordable STS.5k 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K STS Avg. Baseline 0 0 5 5 5 0 5 Annual 0 5 10 15 20 5 15 (STS) BL Rev 5 5 10 15 25 5 16.6 (PTS) 11.6, but Hearing Level <25dB.5k 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K STSAvg. Baseline 0 0 5 5 5 0 5 Annual 0 5 25 25 30 5 26.6 21.6 db & Avg hearing level is 25+ Example of OSHA Recordable PTS.5k 1K 2K 3K 4K 6K STS Avg. Baseline 0 0 5 5 5 0 5 Annual 0 5 10 15 20 5 15 (STS) BL Rev 5 5 20 25 35 5 26.7 (PTS) Engage All Stakeholders Engage persons having an investment in what will be learned... and what will be done with the knowledge 21.7 but Hearing Level >25dB
Training 6% Tinnitus Non-Exposed Workers No Tinnitus 94% Annual Effects of Noise on Hearing Purposes of HPD s Selection & Fitting Post a copy of CFR 1910.95 79% Tinnitus No Tinnitus 21% Noise Exposed Workers We can lead them to the information, but will they really absorb it?
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) Labeled vs. actual Field Attenuation 29 dba Attenuation 7 = 22 Subtract 7 to calculate switching from the C weighted scale to A weighted scale.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) Now divide adjusted NRR # by 50% 22 / 2 = 11 (Actual Attenuation) Employee Exposure = 95 dba 95 11=84 dba Field Attenuation CFR1910.95 Appendix B (there are 4 methods listed) Summarize Results Look for trends in certain areas, depts. STS should not exceed >10%population Upon retest, show more TTS <5% pop Make HPD use and compliance part of the contract of employment In writing With disciplinary action NOISE LEVEL EVALUATION AUDIOMETRIC TESTING TRAINING HEARING PROTECTION RECORD KEEPING ***WRITTEN PROGRAM*** AUDIOMETRIC TESTING 1. All employees assigned to AREA A will receive baseline audiogram within six months of first high noise exposure and mandatory hearing protection. 2. Audiograms will be given annually and compared to baseline to determine if a STS has occurred. 3. Mandatory Hearing Protection is required in the following areas (name the required areas)
It s Really Pretty Simple Wear this now Or wear this later!
Industrial Hearing Testing 19 Midstate Drive Suite 220 Auburn, MA. 01501 Telephone - 508-832-8484 Fax - 508-832-3199 service@industrialhearing.com