212 CALL 132 100 OR SHOP 24/7 AT RSEA.COM.AU CLICK&COLLECT FREE Pick-up from our Stores PROTECT YOUR HEARING PPE - HEARING PROTECTION Damage Prevention Since noise induced hearing loss cannot be cured, it must be prevented. There are several noise control techniques including engineering controls and administrative controls. Personal hearing protection should be regarded as first aid until noise levels can be reduced to ‘safe’ levels, or as a last resort when noise cannot be engineered out. Personal hearing protection is usually available in two forms: earplugs and earmuffs. Earplugs are usually made of silicone, or foam, and are inserted into the ear canal. Earmuffs completely enclose the ear, and are held in place against the side of the head by a headband. Earplugs and Earmuffs work by blocking the sound waves from reaching the inner ear. The process of blocking the sound waves is called attenuation. The higher the attenuation the more noise is blocked from reaching the inner ear. The Class System Under the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1270:2002, the class system is a simple way to select a hearing protector appropriate to a noise exposure. Once the extent of the noise hazard has been determined by a noise level survey, the user simply applies this to a table like the one below to select an appropriate hearing protector. All calculations are based on the maximum exposure limit of 85dB Leq, 8hr. Example: If a noise level survey shows a person will be exposed to a noise level of 102dB(A)Leq 8hr using the above table, we can see that a Class 4 hearing protector is required for protection against this level of noise. In Australia the SLC80 rating is still an acceptable method for the selection of hearing protectors according to clause A2.3 in Appendix A of AS/NZS 1269.3:2005. Workplace Protection Discomfort or irritation when wearing hearing protection is particularly apparent and can lead to removal of the hearing protector. This is commonly what happens with high attenuating hearing protectors that are often heavier and more uncomfortable. You only have to remove your hearing protection a few minutes every day for the damaging effects of noise to accumulate. This is why 100% wear time is so important. Over a working day, periods of a few minutes of unprotected exposure can easily accumulate. An example of reduced effective protection is removing your hearing protector for 10 minutes during a total exposure time of 1 hour. The effective protection provided by a high attenuating hearing protector (30dB) is reduced to 8dB. This makes the effective protective value 22dB less than expected, by wearing the hearing protector 83% of the time over 1 hour. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is 100% Preventable Unlike most occupational injuries, there is no visible evidence of noise- induced hearing loss (NIHL). It is not traumatic and often goes unnoticed when it first occurs. Noise-induced hearing loss accumulates over time, its effects realised long after the damage has been done. NIHL is permanent and irreversible. With proper education, motivation and protection, is also 100% preventable. When is Noise Considered Hazardous? Noise is considered hazardous anytime you must shout at someone an arm’s length away to be heard. While exposure to hazardous noise is common, prevention of NIHL is simple: consistent use of properly fitted hearing protection when exposed to hazardous noise. That is the goal of every Hearing Conservation Program. Indicators of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Although there are no visual signs of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, there are a few simple indicators of NIHL. Identification in its early stages can help prevent further damage. High-Frequency Hearing Loss. When hearing impairment begins, the high frequencies are often lost first, which is why people with NIHL have difficulty hearing high pitched sounds such as human voices, alarms and signals. Compared to other sounds, they will seem muffled or distorted. With normal hearing, conversations are understandable if they are loud enough. When someone suffers from noise-induced hearing loss, simply turning up the volume does not make speech clearer. The clarity is adversely affected regardless of how loud the volume. Gradual Progression. NIHL rarely happens overnight. Rather, it accumulates over time with every unprotected exposure to hazardous noise, usually in both ears. This progression can be detected through healthy hearing practices, including the performance of annual audiograms on all employees in your Hearing Conservation Program. Audiograms can identify whether your employees are experiencing a Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS), or a Standard Threshold Shift (STS), which indicates permanent damage and requires further preventative action. Common Symptoms. Those suffering from noise-induced hearing loss will experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or muffled hearing. Non-auditory effects of NIHL may include increased stress, high blood pressure, sleep problems and/or headaches. Create a Successful Hearing Conservation Program Through Best Practices. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major compensable industrial disease in Australia and results in substantial economic costs. The National Code of Practice for Noise Management and Protection of Hearing at Work provides practical guidance on how the national standard can be achieved. It requires that employees who have work areas with noise levels at or above 85dB (A) have, access to hearing protection on the job. Implementing a Hearing Conservation Program may appear complicated, but there are a number of best practices safety managers can employ to ensure compliance with regulations and promote employee hearing safety. Common Noise Levels Quiet Office 50-60dB Restaurant 60-70dB 50kW Electric Motor 90dB Heavy Vehicle 90dB Grinder 83-115 Compressor 101-123dB Diesel Generator 107-111dB Mining Drill 108-113dB Power Saw 110dB Rock Drill 110dB Class SLC80 dB For Use In Noise 1 10-13 Less than 90dB(A) 2 14-17 90 to less than 95dB(A) 3 18-21 95 to less than 100dB(A) 4 22-25 100 to less than 105dB(A) 5 26 or Greater 105 to less than 110dB(A) 30dB 25dB 20dB 15dB 10dB 5dB 100 95 Percentage of Exposure Time Worn Hearing Protecor SLC80 30dB (A) Effecive Atenuation (dB) 90 85 80 75 PROTECT YOUR HEARING Material Courtesy of Howard Leight.
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