Tag Archives: Hearing Protection

Written by Precious Marho

A few months ago, I accompanied a friend for a purchase at a wood vendor. Startlingly, the employee who was delegated to sawing the wood to size neglected to wear an ear protection, despite the machine’s loud noise. Simply looking at him from afar, working handily with the machine- totally exposed was terrifying. Afterwards, I deemed it necessary to educate him on the demerits of exposing his ears to such loud noises. A lecture that was perhaps better apt for the employer.

Unfortunately, this occurrence is commonplace in industries and companies around the world. Employees are left unprotected from the dangers of loud noise and their employers- not caring too much about the safety of the workers, or perhaps ignorant of the damage, are unconcerned. The health and safety of workers must be considered paramount, and in particularly loud industries, their ears must be protected from noise hazards. But, with what should it be protected?

Ear defenders are personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to protect the wearer from extremely loud noises. In a ton of industries, employees are routinely exposed to noise levels higher than 85 decibels, which can be detrimental to their long term health. As an employee, it is your RIGHT to be adequately protected in your job and you must demand ear defenders from your employer.

There are two major types of ear defenders that can be used for protection against high level noise. There are the ear muffs and the ear plugs. Ear muffs, similar in appearance to a headphone, has acoustic foam which absorbs sound waves. Ear plugs however, are small cylindrical-shaped gadgets designed to fit onto the ear canal. Your choice of an appropriate ear defender will depend on your industry, ambient conditions, and individual requirements.

In industries where employees are required to wear other forms of PPE, say helmets and goggles, ear plugs which can easily be used in tandem with these PPEs are more suitable than ear muffs.

Ear muffs (ideally, thermal muffs) are better suited for workplaces in cooler climate. Conversely, with its small surface area, ear plugs are the go-to defenders for workplaces in warmer climates. Moreover, the less-cumbersome design of ear plugs means they are much easier for employees to carry around. However, employees with ear infections will be more comfortable wearing ear muffs because of its detachment from sensitive ear nerves.

Summarily though, ear plugs, which sit on the ear canal, guarantee the very highest levels of noise protection. As an employer, you may even consider advising employees to wear muffs and plugs together for greater protection against ultra-high noise levels (>103 decibels).

As kind of a bonus, newer models of ear defenders, whilst eliminating loud noises, enable the employee to hear signals and alarm calls and via a two way radio, communicate with their colleagues. This is very useful for workplaces where communication is essential amid high level noises.

Perhaps, you have soldiered on in your noisy workplace without ear defenders for a long time, or you’ve seen someone who has, and don’t really know what the noise is all about. There are several reasons why you absolutely, matter-of-factly need to use ear protection in your workplace. The consequences of continuous exposure to high noise levels can be highly damaging to your health and relationships. May we examine these consequences?

Physical consequences:

One time exposure or constant exposure to noise in the workplace may result in a condition called occupational noise induced hearing loss (ONIHL). That is temporary or permanent damage to the hearing abilities of one or both ears. ONIHL can occur immediately upon exposure or, every so often, subsequently after series of exposures.

Signs of hearing loss include: difficulty hearing and understanding words, tinnitus (ringing in the head or ears), ear aches, difficulty understanding consonant sounds, and a spinning sensation akin to vertigo. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you should see an Otologist. Unfortunately, noise induced hearing loss cannot be cured, but it can be treated and managed.

Psychological health reasons:

High levels of noise can cause a range of psychological problems including mental health problems, stress, dizziness and vertigo, nausea, muscle cramps and just plain old noise annoyance. Working amidst high level noise can distract employees and reduce their concentration levels, causing mental, emotional or physical strain, which may result in depression.

Moreover, our bodies respond to noise during sleep, regardless of whether we are awoken or not. The ensuing sleep deprivation may result in fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, mood swings and an increased susceptibility to injuries and diseases.

Physiological health reasons:

Exposure to industrial noise may affect the workings of the cardiovascular system and lead to an increase in the heart rate. This increase in heart rate can cause high blood pressure and hypertension.

A study of aircraft noise around Heathrow Airport found that high level noise was associated with coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease in the nearby area. And in a 2018 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), hypertension was found to be more common among workers exposed to loud noise in the workplace.

As an employer, the reality is that you have a lot to gain if your employees are protected from noise (and all) hazards in your workplace. In the event of workplace injury or harm to your employees, the medical, legal and compensation costs will fall squarely on your shoulders and, depending on the level of your business; that may be detrimental to your income.

An employee without the numerous health problems associated with high level noise will be far more focused, productive and effective in the organisation. This enhanced focus and concentration creates a safer condition in your workplace and reduces the potential for accidents.

In the event of an accident in your workplace that could have been hitherto avoided by wearing ear defenders, your company’s reputation may be tarnished and other companies are less likely to do business with you as a result. Providing ear defenders and all required PPEs for your employees will make those reputation-damaging accidents less likely.

Then again, procuring ear defenders for your employees do not suffice. You must organise trainings and workshops on how to properly use and maintain the defenders. Furthermore, you must regularly inspect the defenders for change in shape and reduced performance.

Adequate workplace protection is non-negotiable, and now more than ever, you must rise up to this challenge and ensure that every single person in your company is protected against all forms of noise hazards. If you don’t protect employees in your workplace and ensure their safety, no one else will. It is your OBLIGATION and a necessity for every company serious about doing business in the 21st century. Including yours.

About the author

Precious Marho is a freelance writer specialising in occupational health, safety and oil and gas.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Hearing Protection

TOP TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE DOING DIY PROJECTS THIS WINTER (GUEST POST)

February 5, 2014 pat brownlee

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent

DIY is something that most of us will tackle at some point or another around the home. Yet, if not done carefully, it can result in accidents and injuries, and is one of the top reasons for a visit to hospital. With winter in full force, this time of year can pose further challenges for DIY enthusiasts, so read on for some top tips to stay DIY safe this winter.

Always read instructions

There’s always so much to do in the run up to special guests or holidays; a growing to-do list, you might want to tackle those neglected DIY projects in time for the festive season. However, no matter what DIY job you tackle, always make sure you are fully prepared and equipped with the right tools for the job. Read instructions and understand what needs to be done. Accidents may well occur if you’re in a rush to get things checked off your list.

Let there be light

Natural light levels are low in wintertime, so make sure that you tackle any DIY tasks with sufficient extra lighting. If you can’t see what you’re doing properly, then you may end up banging a nail into your finger, instead of the wall!

Be careful using ladders

No matter what time of year you use ladders, it’s always important to be safe and careful when using them. In winter, using ladders outdoors can pose more of a compromise to safety, especially if your boots are muddy making the steps slippery. Don’t go up a ladder in windy weather, either. If there’s a problem that needs fixing, for instance with your roof, then call a professional out.

Electrical awareness

We’re prone to wetter and windier weather in winter, so if you need to do any DIY work in the garden involving the use of electrical items, make sure that you don’t operate them on a wet day. Electricity and water don’t mix, and could result in a nasty electric shock.

Don’t mess with gas

During winter we are reliant on our boilers to keep us warm and provide hot water. If your boiler conks out on the coldest day of the year, don’t be tempted to tamper around with it, in an effort to get it up and running again. Messing with gas can be very dangerous, especially for the amateur DIYer, so it’s always worth calling out a professional if your boiler does end up letting you down.

Wear protective equipment

Don’t cut corners with any DIY tasks by not protecting yourself. Make sure your eyes, ears, hands or feet are protected for the particular DIY tasks that you are undertaking.

Lifting heavy objects

Many people like to have a makeover or shift furniture around as the different seasons change. If you need to lift, move or carry anything at home, make sure that you do it safely and don’t cause injury to your back in the process. Get help to carry items, if needs be. The last thing you’ll want is to spend your time laid up in bed with a back injury because you were too impatient to get your DIY tasks done, or didn’t ask for help.

A lover of all things DIY, Justine writes for one of the UK’s leading online suppliers of high quality tools and machinery – Tool Orders UK.

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

EFFECTIVE HEARING CONSERVATION IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

December 31, 2013 pat brownlee

Occupational hearing loss is an important issue that employers must not only acknowledge but also take precautionary measures to prevent. When your employees work in a dangerously loud environment, without preventive measures in place, they are risking their health and safety on your watch. You may be surprised to know that an environment only needs to have a noise level of 85 db to begin causing damage to the human ear.

A kitchen blender, diesel truck, and city traffic all fall within this range; a noise level most of us don’t think twice about. It only takes a few hours of unprotected hearing before this range (or higher) begins to do irreversible damage. Here are a few examples of ways your company can promote hearing conservation in the workplace.

Provide Employees with Hearing Protection
Hearing protection should be compulsory for employees in all noisy areas. This is made easier when employers have ample hearing protection available that is conveniently located in an area proceeding a workplace with higher noise levels. Mark the area clearly with signs. Consider holding a safety class to educate employees on noise levels in their workplace, proper ways to use the hearing protection, and the risk they take if they choose not to use it.

Decrease Workplace Noise Level
As well as promoting hearing protection awareness in the workplace, you can also take steps to decrease the amount of noise as a whole. Setting a noise target will help your company create a plan, and you will be able to make adjustments accordingly. Consider upgrading older equipment and machinery to quieter newer models and purchase new machinery that has noise control as part of its intended design. Simpler, less expensive measures can also be taken to effectively lower noise in the workplace. Carpeting or other types of noise barrier between certain machinery and employees can be effective at reducing noise levels.

Create Hearing Protection Zones
By clearly marking zones with higher noise levels, workplace hearing awareness will be increased. As a responsible employer, hearing protection should be required in any marked zone. The hearing protection zone should have clear signs that not only mark the area as a dangerous noise area, but also remind employees to use their hearing protection before entering.

Initiate a Workplace Safety Code
To strengthen the importance of workplace safety within your company, you may wish to consider including an official addition on hearing conservation and safety in general in your company code of conduct. Not only does this reinforce safety protocol, but it shows that your company takes employee safety very serious.

Excessive noise does much more than cause hearing damage for your employees, studies have shown that working in a noisy environment increases stress levels, impacts emotional and psychological well-being, and lowers concentration. Chances are if your company operates with a noisy workplace, employees concentrating on the job at hand is likely detrimental to job safety and the smooth running of the work environment. As an employer you are legally responsible for the well-being of the employees who work for you; hearing safety is vitally important for their safety and your own.

Jessica Galbraith is a writer who has worked in several workplaces under excessive noise. As an advocate for hearing conservation, she also runs a small business entrance mats enterprise. Sent to us by Debbie Allen.

Hearing Protection

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR HEARING AT WORK (GUEST POST)

July 26, 2013 pat brownlee

As you must already know, your hearing is integral to living an easy, high-quality life. Without your hearing, life would become significantly more problematic – not only would you be unable to hear things like your child’s first words or even just your favourite TV show, but you’d be putting yourself at risk when crossing the street or working in dangerous environments.

You’ll want to take good care of those ear drums; they’re precious, and there’s not a great deal you can do once you’ve lost them. When you work in a loud environment, you’re at a much greater risk of damaging your hearing. Thankfully, with a few simple precautions you can protect your ears from harm.

How Can Noise Damage Hearing?

Too much exposure to loud noises can hurt your ears. On the short term, you can temporarily lose your hearing, but prolonged exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, or even deafness.

If you work around loud noises, exposure to a sound of over 85 decibels for eight hours a day can seriously affect your hearing. An idling tractor and a conveyor are two examples of 85dB noise.

Anything above this – like power tools, chain saws, and jet engines – are even more dangerous.

If noise is causing damage, there are some tell-tale signs you should watch out for. If you hear a ringing in your ears, or have trouble following a conversation with more than one person, or struggle to hear high-pitched sounds, you should get your hearing checked out.

The best way to do this is to see a trained audiologist. You can book your hearing test online, and the test is quick and painless.

How Can You Protect Your Hearing on the Job?

Thankfully, it only takes a bit of common sense and a few simple preparations to stop your hearing from suffering harm as you work. One of the best – and easiest – methods is to just wear safety ear plugs
whenever you are exposed to loud sounds; so, before using that jackhammer, for instance.

If you are, for whatever reason, averse to putting things inside your ears, a great alternative is to wear safety earmuffs. These sit over your ear, covering the entire thing, thus blocking out most noise.

Both ear plugs and ear muffs are measured in terms of effectiveness in cancelling out noise – this is known as the NRR or Noise Reduction Rating. As you’ll be around loud noises for long periods of time, you’ll want to make sure you get your hands on ear plugs or ear muffs with an NRR number of 25 or above.

This number means that it reduces the total noise level by 25 decibels, thus bringing that 85dB tractor engine down to a comfortable 60dB.

If you’re using reusable ear plugs, make sure you wash them with warm water and soap after each use. That’s all the maintenance they need, so there’s really no reason to shy away from using them – your hearing is valuable! If you feel that your hearing is already damaged then it would be wise to get a hearing test done. You can book one for free at Boots Hearingcare just to put your mind at ease.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Hearing Protection

WORKING IN LOUD ENVIRONMENTS: TREATMENT AND PREVENTION (GUEST POST)

April 19, 2013 pat brownlee 1 Comment

When we first learn to sing in tune, we learn the connection between intonation, sound and our ears, nose and throat. Live or loud music therefore impacts not only these bodily functions, but our jaw and teeth too.

Causes of jaw and teeth pain from loud music and treatments

The following are potential causes for the experience of pain in the jaw and teeth while listening to live or loud music:

Existing ENT condition

Some individuals may suffer from an existing Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) condition that may be the underlying cause of discomfort when experiencing live music. The ENT region may become more sensitized to sound.

Treatment: A referral from a General Practitioner (GP) to an ENT specialist may help identify if this is the cause and the best available treatment to reduce sensitivity.

Clicking Jaw or TMJ disorder

A temporo-mandibular joint disorder or clicking jaw is when the upper and lower jaw do not function as they should, causing dysfunctional bite and pain in the jawbone, teeth and face. The sound vibrations may aggravate symptoms of TMJ.

Treatment: An Orthodontist may assess if TMJ is the cause and recommend treatments such as orthodontic braces and pain relief.

Loose teeth or Periodontal disease

People who suffer from gum disease, such as Periodontitis, may have loose teeth that are particularly affected by the vibrations from loud or live music. Periodontitis or gum disease occurs when decay damages the periodontal ligament that keeps the teeth secured to the jaw bone through the gum tissue. Once the ligament becomes destroyed, teeth become sore, infected and loose. These loose teeth may literally rattle to the music, causing further pain that radiates through the jawbone and face.

Treatment: Periodontists and Endodontists are dentists who specialise in treatments for gum disease. Root canal treatment may be used to remove infected gum tissue so that the tooth may be replaced by a dental restoration anchored to a dental implant. Missing teeth may be replaced by dentures, dental bridges and crowns.

Noise Anxiety and Bruxism

We all experience thresholds to sound differently and some of us may be more sensitive to sound volume than others. When anxiety due to noise or loud sound is experienced, some people may clench their teeth and grind their teeth. The teeth and jaw may ache from the teeth grinding.

Treatments: Dental mouth guards or shields may be custom-made for individuals who grind their teeth, whether due to noise anxiety, other fears or at night during sleep. Mouth guards prevent grinding teeth-on-teeth contact that may damage the tooth enamel causing teeth sensitivity. Some people may need to speak to their GP about anti-anxiety medication to prevent future TMJ disorders from developing.

Our thanks to James at netvectors.co.uk, for showing us another risk that is taken by people who listen to extremely loud music or work in loud environments. For the best in hearing protection, which might help solve the dental problems, see our large variety of noise protection. pb

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Hearing Protection

FIVE SAFETY HAZARDS TO AVOID AT CONSTRUCTION SITES (GUEST POST)

November 19, 2012 pat brownlee

Another great article sent to us by Saam Banai

Whether you work in construction, have construction going on in your home, or you commute by construction on a regular basis, there are many things that you should be aware of in order to stay safe from injury around construction sites. Over the years, construction related injuries and deaths have decreased dramatically due to the federal efforts of OSHA towards “collaborative safety,” but we can still do our part to pay attention our own personal safety regardless of regulations outside of our control.

The Dangers of Heights

Perhaps the most dangerous element of construction sites is gravity. Usually, heights are involved when constructing multi-floor buildings so it’s possible for workers to fall from high up. This is when the need for fall protection equipment is imperative. It’s important to be aware of ledges and loose guard rails when working near the edge of a high story. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of objects that are placed near these ledges. Tools, boards, and metal pieces might fall on unsuspecting workers or bystanders, ones whom hopefully have access to the best injury lawyers.

Electric Hazards

Electricity is always flowing on construction sites. Be aware of sockets and frayed wires when installing lights or working with power-tools. If you’re doing work in your own home, do some research and talk to an electrician before digging into your walls. There’s no sense in being a hero when repairing or installing electric components for yourself or your family.

Machines

Power-tools and large machines are obviously a source of danger on construction sites. When operating heavy equipment like cranes or bobcats, be sure to understand all of the safety information in either the booklet or told to you by a professional. Do the same when working with saws, nail guns, jackhammers, and soldering irons.

Chemical Hazards

Dangerous chemicals are perhaps some of the hardest hazards to avoid on construction sites, but only if you fail to have due diligence. Asbestos, a cause for Mesothelioma, is one of the best examples of things to look out for. Others include lead paint, varnish, solvents, and materials that are flammable. Be sure to use masks and gloves when applicable.

Noise

This danger is less life threatening than others, but it can still cause unfavorable injury. Constant work with jackhammers and other tools can result in loss of hearing. That’s why it’s important to always wear protective ear guards when working with louder than normal equipment. Noise can also prevent people from hearing the warning sounds of other dangers, like an approaching vehicle or falling object.

There are many things to avoid when working or walking around construction sites, and these are just a few. If attention is paid, and regulations are followed, we can continue the trend of decreasing accidents over the years. Everyone has to play their part though and be diligently aware of much that is going on while on the job.

Saam Banai is a freelance writer and editor. He contributes this article for The Perecman Firm PLLC, some of the best injury lawyers in New York, specializing in construction accidents, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, and vehicle accidents. They have helped victims of various accidents in New York City to obtain over $200 million in settlements and verdicts.

As Saam stated in this article, all types of occupational safety products are needed around construction sites. Keep your employees safe at all times on the job.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Hearing Protection

WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, WHY NOT JUST GO BY THE RULES?

July 26, 2011 pat brownlee 1 Comment

Not long ago, we talked about keeping protective guards around machinery to keep employees from amputations or other injuries. In OSHA’s “Quicktakes” for the month of July, it is amazing the amount of money that companies pay for severe violations. It seems money spent on safety would be more cost-effective, as well as keeping employees safe.

OSHA fined a stamping products company $426,100, and cited the company for 27 safety and health violations, including one willful violation for failing to report two amputation injuries that occurred at the company’s metal stamping plant in Cleveland. While operating mechanical power presses in the plant before OSHA’s January inspection, two employees had fingers severed and crushed. The company was cited for a total of nine willful safety violations, which included failing to train press operators in safe work methods and failing to ensure the flywheel on the mechanical power presses were adequately guarded.

A willful health violation is one that is committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. The above company received one willful health violation for the lack of proper chemical hazard communication and training, in addition to twelve serious safety violations. Those include failing to perform a required workplace hazard assessment, ensure employees had appropriate eye protection, train employees in the use of portable fire extinguishers, conduct performance evaluations for employees who operate powered industrial trucks (fork lifts), complete annual crane inspections, ensure proper machine guarding on the shear, spot welding machines, and mechanical press, and establish die-setting procedures. They also had four serious safety violations including exposing employees to excessive noise, having improperly stored compressed gas cylinders and allowing various electrical safety hazards. They have been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. This mandates targeted follow-up evaluations to ensure compliance with the law.

A second company was fined $214,830 by OSHA, and cited the company with four safety violations, after two workers suffered amputation injuries at the company’s metal stamping facility. The company willfully disregarded the law’s requirements by failing to lock out/tag out hazardous energy sources prior to performing maintenance operations and to have point-of-operation guarding on two press brakes that caused the worker amputations in two separate incidents. They were also cited with a serious violation for failing to use safety blocks when dies were being adjusted and repaired. Before this inspection, the company had been cited by OSHA for 47 violations since 1988. They have also been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

Workers have the right to go to work and expect to return home intact. When companies show a blatant disregard for the safety of their workers, they are shirking their responsibility to those who come to perform a job without being in danger. Hopefully, by being placed in this enforcement program with regular inspections, they will wake up and start paying attention to safety, rather than fines.

OSHA “Quicktakes”

General Safety Issues

WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE FOR NOT WEARING YOUR PPE?

January 27, 2011 pat brownlee 2 Comments

It seems that things haven’t improved in the past few years regarding employees getting injured because they were not wearing their personal protective equipment on the job. Surveys of safety professionals, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional at the National Safety Council Congress in 2006, 2007, and 2008, found high levels of non compliance with PPE protocols. In 2006, there was 85% non-compliance; 87% in 2007, and 89% in 2008.

The headline in the latest Kimberly Clark survey of 132 attendees at the American Society of Safety Engineers show in Baltimore, Maryland, conducted via the Internet between June 9, and 13, 2010, reads: U.S. Workers Risking Injury By Not Wearing Safety Equipment. Almost all safety professionals in this survey reported that workers in their companies had at some point failed to wear the necessary safety equipment while on the job. According to this survey, the top workplace safety issue by all respondents was worker compliance with PPE protocols.

The most challenging PPE category, (eye protection and safety glasses), according to 42 per cent of respondents, was that nearly three out of five workers who experienced eye injuries were found not to be wearing eye protection at the time of the accident or were wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. This information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. NIOSH reports that around 2,000 U.S. workers each day have a job-related eye injury requiring medical treatment, and the U.S. Labor Department says that thousands are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented. What is so hard about putting on a pair of safety glasses, goggles, or side shields?

Hearing protection was the next highest category for noncompliance. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss is 100 per cent preventable when proper preventative measures are implemented. Coming in next were gloves, followed by head protection. Some of the complaints from workers were: uncomfortable, too hot, unavailable near the task, poor fit, or unattractive looking.

We all know that every business must have a strong safety culture, beginning at the top. It is important for managers and upper level bosses to wear safety products that apply to their workers any time they are on the shop floors, or other areas where their employees can see them. They and the floor supervisors should set the example and be consistent with it.

Personal protective equipment is more effective if it fits well and is comfortable. Persons in charge of purchasing these products should keep in mind the different sizes and shapes of their employees. Good training is necessary, as well. Whether you have young workers who think they are never going to get hurt, or more experienced ones that have had the good fortune to not be in an accident, stating “it’s never going to happen to me,” may sadly be fooled one day.

Supervisors who have seen employees get hurt on the job, say it is helpful if an employee can tell his/her co-workers how it happened and how it has changed his/her life, if the injury was serious. Wearing PPE should be a condition of employment. If a worker is not complying with that rule, they should be reprimanded just the same as any other violation of their work agreement. They need to understand that they can lose their job by failing to wear equipment that could possibly save their limbs or even their life. Contractors should comply the same as regular employees and ensure their employees follow the same safety protocols. If a job gets shut down because of non-compliance, and there is no pay for time that they are shut down, it may get everyone’s attention pretty fast.

If your excuse was “I didn’t have time to put it on,” was it because you were late getting to work? “I won’t get in an accident” or “I’ve been doing it that way for years, and so far, so good!” are just reasons that really don’t fly. You have to be responsible for your safety, and your employer buys you that equipment to keep you safe. It is important that you keep up with it, take care of it, and wear it at all times on the job.

There’s been much discussion about safety incentives. Some companies give safety awards when their employees go for a year without a lost-time accident. At one place I worked, we got pizza for going a month without a lost-time accident; however, there were people that got hurt, but wouldn’t report it because they didn’t want the others to lose their pizza party! One good suggestion was from a manager that gave “on-the-spot” rewards. If he observed an employee using safe work practices, he would hand him/her small treats such as movie tickets, dinner gift cards, fuel gift cards, some nice safety glasses, gloves, or glove clips.

Whether you get a reward for safe actions at work or not, the main prize is staying safe throughout your entire career. Having a supervisor that watches and observes like a “mother hen” really is the key. Supervisors know a lot more than we think they do, sometimes. They are responsible for your safety and seeing that you do everything you can to work safely. One of the most important things you can do is to wear your PPE, whenever it is required.

If it doesn’t fit or there’s another problem, tell your supervisor or manager. Otherwise, no excuse is good enough when you take a chance with safety.

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

LISTEN UP: SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT HEARING LOSS

August 4, 2009 Doug 1 Comment

It could take only a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for hearing loss to occur. Data compiled from the CDC/NIOSH website contains the following information in regard to hearing protection numbers:

Each year, 30 million people are exposed to harmful noise at work.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most-often reported occupational injury.

It only takes a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for damage to occur.

Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.

Here are some scary statistics: a newspaper press (97dB) can cause permanent hearing damage in just 30 minutes. A chain saw (110 dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 2 minutes. A simple hand drill (98 dB) or a tractor (96dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 30 minutes.

Noise Reduction Rating is a number that appears on the labels of all hearing protection products sold in the U.S. In theory, the NRR equals the level of noise reduction (in decibels) provided by the earplug or earmuff, in laboratory conditions. These conditions can be very different from actual working conditions. Earplugs may be inserted incorrectly or earmuffs may not completely cover ears of workers, therefore the products may not furnish the level of protection listed on the package.

NIOSH has recommended that NRR data be adjusted to account for these differences. For real world working conditions, NIOSH recommends that the NRR for earmuffs should be reduced by 25%, the NRR for formable earplugs reduced by 50%, and for all other earplugs should be reduced by 70%. For example, a pair of earplugs with an NRR of 29 would be adjusted according to the NIOSH recommendations to 14.5 (29 dB x 50% = 14.5 dB).

Whenever the time-weighted average noise is greater than 85dB, OSHA requires the use of hearing protection. By adjusting the NRR of a hearing protector according to NIOSH’s recommendations, and subtracting that number from the actual time-weighted noise level, it is possible to get an idea of how much noise is actually entering the ear.

An example is: a worker in a factory who experiences a time-weighted average noise level of 97 dB would need a hearing protector that provides at least 12 dB of protection. That worker would need earmuffs with an NRR of at least 16 or formable earplugs with an NRR of at least 24, based on the ratings on the packaging.

NRR data can be misleading without a proper understanding of its usefulness as a tool. If it is used correctly, however, it can provide valuable information to help workers choose the correct hearing protection device.

Source:
Gateway Safety

Hearing Protection

HEARING LOSS

March 5, 2009 Doug

Each year, 30 million people are exposed to harmful noise at work.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most-often reported occupational injury.

It only takes a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for damage to occur.

Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.

Here are some scary statistics:

a newspaper press (97dB) can cause permanent hearing damage in just 30 minutes.
A chain saw (110 dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 2 minutes.
A simple hand drill (98 dB) or a tractor (96dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 30 minutes.

NIOSH has recommended that NRR data be adjusted to account for these differences. For real world working conditions, NIOSH recommends that the NRR for earmuffs should be reduced by 25%, the NRR for formable earplugs reduced by 50%, and for all other earplugs should be reduced by 70%. For example, a pair of hearing safety earplugs with an NRR of 30 would be adjusted according to the NIOSH recommendations to 15 (30 dB x 50% = 15 dB).

Information courtesy of
Gateway Safety

Work Safety Blog