veripro ® ear plug fit testing august 2010. 2 how much protection? 0 db 33 db ear #1 ear #2 ear #3

VeriPRO® Ear Plug Fit

Testing

August 2010

Attenuation can be determined at threshold, or above threshold

“Real-Ear Attenuation

at Threshold”

30 dB

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

“Real-Ear Attenuation

Above Threshold”

30 dB

VeriPRO allows the user to measure attenuation without interference from background noise levels

Determining Attenuation | Loudness Balance

Test Sequence

Part 1:Both ears

unoccludedThis sets the baseline level for each ear, and measures any asymmetry.

Part 2:Right ear occluded

Attenuation for the right ear is measured.

Part 3:Both ears occluded

Attenuation for the left ear is measured.

Result ~ Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR)

VeriPRO Test Protocol

Complete Check

● 5 freqs in each ear

● Includes reliability checks

● ↑ accuracy, ↑ test time

Quick Check

● 1 critical freq in each ear

● ↓ accuracy, ↓ test time

● Can use with severe hrg loss

ReportMode

● Individual

● Historical

● By freq.

Fit Training

● Videos

VeriPRO Functions

16

17

18

No earplugEarplug inserted

Adjust the left ear

User name

VeriPRO Step

19

20

21

22

23

1. Measures real-world attenuation of ANY earplug

2. Fulfills requirement to ‘ensure proper fitting’ of earplugs and evaluate their attenuation

3. On-screen training videos

4. Administered anywhere, quiet room not required

5. Protected exposure level and safe exposure level calculated

VeriPRO Benefits

24

25

VeriPRO® Q&A

28

“Will calibration of VeriPRO be available?”

“Can custom-molded earplugs

be used with VeriPRO?”

“Do Howard Leight earplugs test better

than others?”

“How reliable is VeriPRO?”

“Can workers with a hearing loss use

VeriPRO?”

“Why did I get a Low Attenuation

warning?”

“Why is 500 Hz tested twice?”

VeriPRO Q&A

29Rove Movement

500 Hz Retest(Complete Check Only)

≤ 6 dB

Attenuation

-10 dB

Reliability Report

VeriPRO Internal Quality Checks

30

31

Real-World Studies2007-2009

VeriPRO Real-World Studies

8 Locations (no pre-screenings)

100 Workers Tested

Casual Test Setting• HPD selected by worker• “Insert as usual”• Training feedback

disabled

Field Testing with VeriPRO

Variation from Published NRR

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Workers

Dif

fere

nce

in d

B

Distribution

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Variation from Published NRR

Wo

rker

s

Published NRR

VeriPRO Real-World Studies

Difference on 2nd / 3rd Test

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

Subjects

Var

iati

on f

rom

NR

R Published NRR

Many workers improve their protection simply by trying a different type of earplug

VeriPRO Real-World Studies

36

“How well can users predict their attenuation after a short fit-testing

training session?"

Pilot Study

37

Ability to Predict Noise Reduction

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Within 5 dB category

+/- 7.5 dB

(one Category off)

+/- 12.5 dB

(2 categories off)

Nu

mb

er

of

Ea

rs

(Eac

h s

ub

ject

est

imat

ed a

tten

. fo

r ea

ch e

ar)

56%

32%

12%

Pilot Study

38

OSHA Alliance: Best Practice Bulletin www.hearingconservation.org

Additional Information www.hearforever.org

Solution | Fit Testing

39

1. Annual employee training

2. New hires

3. Employees with shift in hearing

4. Extreme noise exposures (dual protection)

VeriPRO Usage

VeriPRO Implementation

40

41

Real-Ear

Attenuation at Threshold

(R.E.A.T.)

Loudness Balance

(Real-Ear Attenuation Above

Threshold)

Microphone in Real-Ear

(M.I.R.E.)

In-Ear Dosimetry

Ear Plug Fit Test Methods

42

Vs.Ear Plug Fit Test Protocols

Loudness Balance F-Mire

• NRR• Hearing Tests• No corrections required• Worker engaged• PAR• Like REAT

• NRR - EPA prohibits objective tests

• Corrections required• Worker as test fixture• Predicted PAR

43

FitCheck EARfit VeriPRO

REAT MIRE REAAT

Very Quiet Room Quiet Room Anywhere

PAR Predicted PAR PAR

Any earplugSelected modified

earplugs – ongoing costs

Any earplug

User generated training

Worker is test fixtureBuilt in training for

worker

Special training required

Special training required

Anyone can perform

Ear Plug Fit Test Methods

44

QuietDose

In-Ear Dosimetry As a Problem Solver• Continuously monitors in

noise level at the workers ear

• The only true measure of the hazard!

45

In-ear dosimetry measures/records worker’s actual noise dose, with and without protection

Provides real-time monitoring and alerts when worker approaches/exceeds safe limits

Only metric with direct potential to measure and prevent further progression of occupational hearing loss

46

QuietDose Research

47

• Mean Hearing Threshold (2k, 3k, 4kHz): 2000 – 2007 (N = 46)

• Employees using continuous in-ear dosimetry starting in 2005

Mean hearing threshold (2,3, and 4 kHz) Employees using continuous ESP starting in 2005

2000 - 2007 (N=46)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year of test

Mean

HTL

3,4,6

kHz

ESP Introduced trend line

Reducing Costs + ClaimsQuietDose Research

48

Preventive Action After NIHLIn practice, an OSHA-recordable STS is not a preventive action

It is documentation of a hearing loss after the fact.

How soon will an employee suffering NIHL be re-fit / re-trained ?

“Best case scenario” per Hearing Conservation Amendment

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Months

• Audiometric test • Retest • Notification

In-ear dosimetry “worst case” scenario …

1 Day

QuietDose

49

Off-job + On-job = STSOff-job + On-job = STS

QuietDose

50

In-ear dosimetry as a Problem Solver

• Employees with documented noise-induced hearing loss or Standard Threshold Shift [STS]

• Employees at-risk for NIHL

• Employee training + sampling

• Dual-protection/Extreme noise exposure

• Engineering controls

QuietDose

QuietDose Implementation

51

• Measure actual noise dose

• Continuous, real-time monitoring

• Notification of pending over-dose of noise

• Stops NIHL

52

• Expert support• No on-going costs• True PAR• Test any earplug,

anywhere• Worker involvement

creates self-efficacy• Built-in reliability checks

53

Make Hearing Conservation Part of Your

Everyday Life

54

Download today’s presentation at www.hearforever.org/dukeenergy

55

57

Lagging Indicators vs. Leading Indicators

Solutions

58

Indicators for Hearing Loss:• Standard Threshold Shift• Temporary Threshold Shift• Recordable Hearing Loss• Dosimetry• In-ear Dosimetry• Labeled NRR (derated?)• Personal Attenuation Level (PAR)

Solutions