Hearing Loss Salas
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Hearing Loss Prevention: Listen Now so You can Hear it Later! TRAM October 14-15, 2009 Presenters: Alex Salas and Jessie Mechling
description
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) has been a perennial occupational hazard in the workplace. This is truly evident in the mining professions. This presentation covers details about hearing loss, its causes and tools developed to educate the workforce regarding its existence.
Transcript of Hearing Loss Salas
Hearing Loss Prevention:
Listen Now so You can Hear it Later!
TRAM October 14-15, 2009
Presenters: Alex Salas and Jessie Mechling
Enabling Objectives
By the end of this presentationyou will know:
Our mission
The effects of sound on hearing
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and
how to prevent it
How to use our products for the
training and education of miners
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Hierarchy of Controls
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Protect the worker Change behavior
Administrative Controls
Remove the worker Change Schedule
Engineering Controls
Eliminate the noise Reduce it
The Issue with Hearing Loss
It’s the most prevalent
occupational illness
Yet it’s highly preventable
Over 30 million Americans are
exposed to hazardous noise
It could negatively affect the
body and mind
Over 75% of miners retire
with significant hearing loss
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Sound travels through thethree anatomical regions ofthe ear:
1) Outer Ear- Sound enters the ear canal
2) Middle Ear- Sound vibrates the ear drum and three small bones in the ear
3) Inner Ear- The oval window, a snail shell-like structure called the Cochlea and the auditory nerve
Anatomy of Hearing
1 2 3
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Types of Hearing Loss
1) Conductive Hearing Loss:
a. Obstruction of the ear canal
b. Ear infections
c. Ear wax impaction
2) Sensorineural Hearing Loss:
a. Noise exposure over 85dB(A) for an 8 hour shift
b. Chemically induced
c. Auditory nerve malfunction
d. Presbycusis
Sensorineural(PERMANENT)
Conductive
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This Is Your Ear…
Healthy
Damaged
This Is Your Ear on Noise…
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Sound Differences?
Criterion Action Level (AL)
Permissible Exposure Level (PEL)
MSHA5dB(A) Exchange
85dB(A) 90dB(A)
All criteria are set on an 8 hour Time weighted average (TWA8)
HOW LOUD IS LOUD?
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Training and Worker Empowerment Interventions
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Fact Sheets
Hearing Loss
Simulator
QuickFit Earplug Fit
Tester
DOSES Noise Exposure
Management Software
Roll-Pull-Hold
NIOSH Hearing Loss Simulator
Benefits:
Windows based
software
Positive changes
in beliefs
Increased intention
to conserve hearing
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Normal
Impaired25 years of 95 dB(A) exposure, 55-year old worker – noise “notch” at 4,000Hz
Click on picture for sound
Simulated effects of exposure, age, sex based on ANSI S3.44 method
Click to stop sound
Severely Impaired25 years of 105 dB(A) exposure, 55-year old worker – noise “notch” at 4,000Hz
Click to play sound
Click to play sound
Click to play sound
NIOSH Hearing Loss Simulator
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Inquiring Ears Want to Know
An educational fact sheet informing miners about: The purpose of audiograms Identification of hearing loss in an
audiogram Causes of hearing loss Value of retaining test records
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Simplified Roll-Pull-Hold Instructions
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None Roll Roll+Pull Roll+Pull+Hold
Original Simplified
Result: Better protection
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NIOSH Roll-Pull-Hold Earplug Technique
Just three easy-to-remember steps:
Roll Pull Hold
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NIOSH QuickFit Earplug Fit Tester
Inexpensive, reliable design uses off-the-shelf components
MP3 player housed in ear muff plays test sounds
Excellent training device for empirical exercises
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STEP 1: Turn it On. Press On/Off button for 2-3 seconds, then release
Green LED will start flashing and will start playing 1000Hz “whooshing” sound
NIOSH QuickFit is Quick and Easy
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STEP 2: Listen.
Place QuickFit snug on ear being tested and adjust volume knob for unprotected (no earplug!) threshold
NIOSH QuickFit is Quick and Easy
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STEP 3: Insert earplug.
Insert earplug on ear being tested following the Roll, Pull and Hold method
NIOSH QuickFit is Quick and Easy
Roll Pull Hold
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STEP 4:Boost and confirm.
Place the QuickFit snug on the ear being tested
Press the “TEST” button The original sound will be
boosted up by 15dB
NIOSH QuickFit is Quick and Easy
1915 dB increase!
NIOSH QuickFit is Quick and Easy
If the “TEST” sound signal was heard in Step 4;
then, the earplug was not properly fitted.
Remove the earplug and repeat steps 1-4
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Determination of Sound Exposures Software (DOSES)
So, you collected all that sound level data…
Now what?
DOSES analyzes your time motion study data for you
DOSES does it!
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Determination of Sound Exposures Software (DOSES)
Graphic Display
Comparison Analyses
Multiple Report Formats
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The Hearing Loss Prevention Unit
32 Foot Trailer
Mobile audiometric studio
Up to four test subjects
simultaneously
Deployed for mine site
and health promotion
visits
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Questions?
Presenters contact info:
Alexander Salas Jessie MechlingHealth Research Scientist Electronics TechnicianPh: (412) 386 5369 (412) 386 [email protected] [email protected]
CDC/NIOSH626 Cochrans Mill Rd. MS PO5PO Box 18070Pittsburgh, PA 15236http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining
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