Page 8 - OHS, March 2022

PPE: HEARING PROTECTION
How Smart PPE
Improves Hearing Conservation
Program Performance
Noise-induced hearing loss results in irreversible and serious impact to a person’s quality of life and overall health.
BY ROB BRAUCH
Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (ONIHL) continues to be a problem despite nearly four decades of regulation per
the Hearing Conservation Amendment to OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.95.
We already know that noise-induced hearing loss results in irreversible and serious impact to a person’s quality of life and overall health. From decreased hearing acuity, problems communicating with family, friends and coworkers, tinnitus and even a proven link between hearing loss and dementia—occupational hearing loss is a compensable injury with high costs to the employer as well as the affected worker.
With 14,500 cases of hearing loss documented in 2019 by private industry the U.S. alone, it’s fair to say there is still significant room for improvement in the performance of many Hearing Conservation Programs (HCPs).
Hearing loss from workplace exposure has decreased in the past ten years—by over a third—perhaps reflecting the shift from manufacturing jobs to other types of work, plus the diligent efforts of safety professionals to eliminate noise sources and better protect workers remaining in high noise environments. While it is trending in the right direction, the real costs to society and the economy remain substantial.
Let’s take a look at the reasons this preventable injury continues to plague workers in private industry, the public sector and military—despite the hard work
of so many dedicated safety professionals and others charged with managing an effective HCP. Then, we’ll examine how the introduction of smart PPE and new types of hearing protectors (HPDs) can totally change the game.
Components of an Effective
Hearing Conservation Program
From NIOSH Publication 96-100, “Pre- venting Occupational Hearing Loss—a Practical Guide,” key elements of any HCP should include:
■ Prevention Program Audit
■ Monitoring for Hearing Hazards
■ Engineering and Administrative
Controls
■ Audiometric Evaluation
■ Personal Hearing Protection Devices ■ Education and Motivation
■ Record Keeping
■ Program Evaluation
Got Noise? Starting with a simple
audit to determine if a program needs to be implemented, all noise sources are identified and evaluated for potential risk. Presence of any ototoxic substances on premises should be identified.
Okay, it’s noisy—now what? Hearing Conservation Programs are required by law for employers with workers exposed to 50 percent noise dose or more. This is required of all employers with even a single employee working in any role that exposes them to an average of more than 85 decibels of noise in an eight hour work shift—on
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any given day. And therein lies one of the many challenges of implementing and managing an effective HCP.
Measuring the Risk. Monitoring noise levels in the workplace has been ongoing from the 1970s yet nearly 15,000 workers per year are injured from noise exposure. This should seem strange, as once the noise has been identified as hazardous, an employer could use any of the thousands of noise control products, materials and PPE to protect workers from hearing loss. Yet the nature of noise exposure sampling has inherent limitations in determining the actual risk to each worker on any given day.
Engineering and Administrative Controls. As with any safety hazard, using the Hierarchy of Controls is the standard “go-to.” Eliminate the noisy machine and replace it with a quieter one or build an enclosure out of sound damping materials to contain the noise. If that’s not possible, then limiting the time-on-task for noisy operations is your Administrative Control alternative. Looking at the modest gains in preventing hearing loss over the years, it would seem these methods have had some impact—yet so many are still at risk.
Audiometric Evaluation. Audiometric exams are performed annually, per OSHA 1910.95, when a worker is included in any HCP. This determines if hearing loss is occurring and at what rate, if any. A well protected, noise-exposed worker would show only minimal effects from aging. Noise-induced hearing loss displays
8 Occupational Health & Safety | MARCH 2022
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