HearingProtectionTraining

HearingProtectionTraining

PART 1 – THE PART 1 – THE PROBLEMPROBLEM

© Copyright SHS 2006

Who is UniSafe?Who is UniSafe?

UniSafeUniSafe®® is a brand manufactured and distributed by Scott Health and Safety. The company behind the brand, Scott Health & Safety, has been manufacturing high quality personal protection equipment in Australia for over 65 years.

UniSafe is striving to make the workplace safer for everyone with head, face, hearing and respiratory equipment that is effective and comfortable.

When it comes to personal safety, achieving and exceeding Australian and New Zealand standards is our aim, and compromise is not an option.compromise is not an option.

Training RequirementsTraining Requirements

To ensure AS/NZS 1269.3:2005 Hearing

Protection Program for Hearing

Conservation against noise exposure, are

achieved.

To protect your invaluable sense of hearing.

ObjectiveObjective

Why is hearing protection important?Why is hearing protection important?

It is a noisy planet, whether at work, home or leisure

Some of those noises (unwanted sound) may damage your ears and prevent you from hearing important sounds

Once damage has occurred it is irreversible

How does hearing work?How does hearing work?

Pinna

Outer Ear Canal

Eardrum

Cochlea

Auditory Nerves

Semicircular canals

Eustachian Tube

Hammer StirrupAnvi

l

Damage to the Cilia is IrreversibleDamage to the Cilia is Irreversible

BEFORE

AFTER

(Lim, D.J & Melnick.W, 1971, Archives of Otolaryngology, 94, 294-305)

Fig AScanning electron micrograph showing normal appearance of three rows outer hair cells and tectorial membrane (TM).

Fig BDegenerating outer hair cells resulting from a 6- hour exposure to a 1-2 KHz octave band noise of 117 dB SPL.

Types of InjuriesTypes of Injuries

Hit by movingobject

Hitting an object with

a part of the body

Falls/Trips/SlipsOthers

Heat / Radiation

Sound/Pressure

Source: New South Wales WorkCover 2001Source: New South Wales WorkCover 2001

Severity of Ear InjuriesSeverity of Ear Injuries

Less than 6 Months

6 months and over

Permanent Disability

Source: New South Wales WorkCover 2001Source: New South Wales WorkCover 2001

Effects of Noise ExposureEffects of Noise Exposure

What Exposure to Loud Noise Will DoWhat Exposure to Loud Noise Will Do

Exposure to loud noise will inevitably cause hearing loss over time.

Loud noise damages or destroys the nerves in the inner ear.

Another effect can be “tinnitus” or permanent ringing in the ear.

Effects of Noise ExposureEffects of Noise Exposure

Duration, Intensity and FrequencyDuration, Intensity and Frequency

Our ears can recover from short exposure to loud noise, but over time nerve damage will occur.

The longer and louder the noise, the greater chance permanent damage will occur.

High exposure to various pitches can interfere with our ear’s ability to pick up sounds at certain frequencies i.e. “m”, “i”, “e”

Effects of Noise ExposureEffects of Noise Exposure

Hearing Loss from Noise ExposureHearing Loss from Noise Exposure

Hearing loss from noise exposure is usually not noticed because it is so gradual.

Usually a person looses the ability to hear higher pitches first.

Often the first noticeable effect is difficulty in hearing speech.

Effects of Noise ExposureEffects of Noise Exposure

Tinnitus from Noise ExposureTinnitus from Noise Exposure

Exposure to high noise levels can also cause permanent ringing in the ear called “tinnitus”.

Tinnitus sufferers usually complain of constant whistling, squealing, roaring or buzzing in one or both ears.

Severe tinnitus may disrupt sleep, reduce concentration and cause irritability and depression.

Effects of Noise ExposureEffects of Noise Exposure

What is too much Noise Exposure?What is too much Noise Exposure?

Exposure to noise levels above 115 decibels for even 5 minutes is very risky.

Impact or banging noise above 140 decibels will cause immediate damage to nerves in the ear.

Studies indicate Noise is:- Anxiety, Lack of

concentration, Reduced productivity (Noise & its effects, Suter, 1991)

- Heart Disease (Federal environmental agency Germany, 2004)

- Elevated blood pressure (Univ. of Michigan, 2004)

Effects of Noise ExposureEffects of Noise Exposure

When is Noise too Loud?When is Noise too Loud?

Noise is measured in units called “decibels” or “dB”

If two people 3 feet apart must shout to be heard, the background noise is too loud (above 85 decibels).

Noise above 140 decibels causes pain and immediate hearing loss.

DurationDuration

Noise (dB)Noise (dB)

828588919497

100115

Permissible (Hrs)Permissible (Hrs)

168421000

Exposure (Mins)Exposure (Mins)

—— ———30150

DurationDuration

In Noisy areas removing hearing protection” just for a minute” is not recommended.

Sometimes people will remove hearing protection for “just a minute” in a noisy area.

If you wear a 30dB earmuff for 99% of the time its actual performance drops to 20dB

HPD’s won’t protect your ears around your neck or in your pocket!!!

Wear your hearing protector 100% of the time

Wear your hearing protector 100% of the time

IntensityIntensity

Decibels (dB)

Decibels (dB)

90+ d

B

90+ d

B

75-90 dB

75-90 dB

60-75 dB60-75 dB

45-60 45-60 dBdB

20-45 dB20-45 dB0-20 0-20 dBdB

Jet Aircraft Takeoff (25m away) Jet Aircraft Takeoff (25m away) Drilling Concrete Drilling Concrete Chainsaw Chainsaw

Truck Truck Rock Concert Rock Concert

Lawn Mower Lawn Mower Busy Busy RoadRoad

Telephone Telephone Power Power Mower Mower Loud Radio Loud Radio

Conversation Conversation Vacuum Cleaner Vacuum Cleaner Business OfficeBusiness Office

Living Room Living Room Library Library Quiet Quiet OfficeOffice

Bedroom Bedroom Leaves Leaves RustlingRustling

FrequencyFrequency

100 Hz

1000 Hz

10,000 Hz

15000 Hz

5000 Hz

20-50 KHz

Human

Hearing

Range

Noise LevelsNoise Levels

Lets discuss your noisy equipment and noise sources and their noise levels here.

Noisy areas and equipmentat our Company