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    July 2023 Ohshearingwebinar 1685105255153

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    July 2023 Ohshearingwebinar 1685105255153

    Uploaded by

    stanbra
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    4 views27 pages

    July 2023 Ohshearingwebinar 1685105255153

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    of 27

    Hearing Conservation and Noise

    Lev Pobirsky
    Is this really an issue?

     NIOSH 2015:
     Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common and most
    preventable work-related illnesses

     30M workers are exposed to hazardous sound levels

     9M workers exposed to ototoxic substances- those that can have a


    toxic effect on the ear or its nerve supply (toluene, TCE, styrene,
    xylene, carbon disulfide)
    Who cares?

     “Nobody dies because of hearing loss”

     But…for every 1dB of hearing loss, hospitalization risk increases by 1%

     Hearing impairment increases risk of minor injuries


    • Increases blood pressure

    • Increases breathing rate

    • Disturbs digestion

    • Can cause an upset stomach or ulcers

    • Sleep difficulties, even after noise stops

    • Intensifies the effects of drugs and alcohol

    • Loss of hearing!
    Sound
     Vibration that results in an acoustic wave: physics

     Reception & perception of this vibration by the brain:


    psychology/physiology

     A slight, rapid variation in atmospheric pressure caused


    by some disturbance or agitation of the air
    What is sound/noise?
    • 0 dB is typically the softest volume that can
    be heard, but sound energy is also present
    below 0 dB
    • Human intensity range is 0-140
    • 140 dB is the threshold of pain
    • 170-180 dB causes tissue damage
    Our hearing covers a
    surprisingly wide
    range of sound
    pressures. The
    decibel (dB) scale
    makes the numbers
    manageable.
    Each dB counts!

     3 dB increase is a doubling of sound energy


     10 dB increase represents a 10-fold increase
     20 dB increase represents a 100-fold increase
    Divided into 4 parts (by function):
    • Outer Ear
    • Middle Ear
    • Inner Ear
    • Central Auditory Nervous System
    Phases of Hearing

     Stage 1: Modification of the acoustic wave by the outer ear, which receives
    the wave and directs it to the eardrum

     Stage 2: Conversion and amplification of the modified acoustic wave to a


    vibration of the eardrum

     Stage 3: Transformation of the mechanical movement of the wave into


    nerve impulses that will travel to the brain, which perceives and interprets
    the impulse as sound
    How Does Excessive Noise Damage Your Ears?

     Microscopic hair cells of the cochlea are exposed to intense noise over
    time.

     Hair cells become fatigued and less responsive, losing their ability to
    recover.

     Damage becomes permanent resulting in noise-induced permanent


    threshold shift.
    Cochlea

    17-year old 76-year old 59-year old

    • High noise exposure


    • Low noise • Low noise exposure
    exposure • Damaged cochlea
    • Fewer receptors but
    • Normal cochlea still intact • Receptors destroyed
    • Receptors intact

    Missing hair-like nerve cells


    Risk of Hearing Loss

     Estimated Risk of Incurring Material Hearing


    Impairment as a Function of Average Daily
    Noise Exposure Over a 40-year Working
    Lifetime (source: NIOSH)

     Average Exposure 90 dBA 29%


     Average Exposure 85 dBA 15%
     Average Exposure 80 dBA 3%
    How Do You Know It’s Too Loud?

    At work you have to:


     Shout to be heard an arm’s length away (2-3 feet)
     Turn equipment off to talk
     Move to a quieter area to talk

    After work you:


     Hear ringing or humming in your ears
     Experience temporary hearing loss
    Noise Measurement Devices

    PERSONAL
    SOUND LEVEL IN-EAR
    DOSIMETER
    METER DOSIMETER
    Now what?

    If the screening detects noise levels above 84 dB, then a


    dosimeter is used to determine the individual time weighted
    average (TWA) projected over an 8-hour work day
    Noise Dosimeters

    A dosimeter is like a sound level meter


    except that it stores sound level
    measurements and integrates the
    measurements over time, providing an
    average noise exposure reading for a
    given period of time, such as an 8-hour
    workday.
    Industrial Hygienists

     Experts who can help you ensure you’re measuring the


    right things in the right way
    Control Methods
     Substitution
     Substitute quieter process
     Substitute quieter equipment
     Engineering Controls
     Retrofit old equipment
     Maintain equipment properly
     Isolate the process or the operator
     Administrative Controls
     Limit time exposed/Job rotation
     Restricted areas
     Rest breaks
     Hearing Conservation Programs
    Training
    What to do now?

     Do a walk-around inspection – identify noisy equipment


    and jobs
     Monitor noise levels- get help if unsure
     Develop a plan for noisy tasks
     Schedule noisy work off hours
     Buy or rent quieter equipment
     Provide different types of HPDs - one size or style may
    not fit all workers
     Provide training on each type of HPDs provided
     Begin a Hearing Conservation Program
    27

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