Hearing Conservation
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Effects of noise
- Causes
hearing loss
- Amount
of damage depends upon the intensity of the noise and duration of exposure
- Noise-induced
hearing loss can be temporary or permanent
Effects
of noise
- Prolonged
exposure generally causes permanent damage
- Noise-induced
permanent threshold shift is not reversible/cannot be medically treated
Effects
of noise
- Noise-induced
hearing loss typically starts with hearing threshold shifts in the higher
frequencies
- The
type of hearing loss can be identified and measured with audiometric
examination
Noise
hazards
- Noise
is unwanted/unpleasant sound that may have a negative effect depending on:
- loudness/frequency
- duration
of exposure
- how
old/healthy person is
Noise
hazards
- Sound is measured by:
- frequency
- intensity
Noise
hazards
- Noise
types include:
- wide
band
- narrow
band
- impulse
- Hearing
protection must be provided when noise exceeds an eight-hour time-weighted
average of 85db
Noise
hazards can cause:
- Drowsiness
and irritability
- Inability
to hear important instructions
- High
blood pressure, ulcers, headaches
Noise
hazards can cause:
- Sleeping disorders
- Temporary or permanent hearing loss
Engineering
controls
- Isolate
noisy machinery in a separate area
- Place
machinery on rubber mountings
- Use
sound-absorbing acoustical tiles
Engineering
controls
- Arrange
work schedules to reduce employee exposure to noise
- Inform
supervisors of unpleasant/unacceptable noise levels
Hearing
protection
- Factors
taken into account when selecting hearing protection devices include:
- noise
hazards
- noise
frequencies
- fit
and comfort
- noise
reduction rating
Purpose/procedure
for audiometric testing
- Checks a person’s hearing
- Trained technician uses an audiometer to send sounds through
headphones
Purpose/procedure
for audiometric testing
- Person
being tested responds to the sounds when they are first heard
- Chart
records responses
Hearing
protection makes common sense
- You are ultimately responsible for your own hearing
- You have the most to lose if you suffer hearing loss
- Make sure earplugs fit properly
Hearing
protection makes common sense
- Have
an annual hearing test
- Keep
hearing protection devices in good operation
Hearing
protection makes common sense
- Don’t use homemade hearing protection devices
- Wear hearing protection devices at work as required
This information is provided to you as
An
EHS Network of Central Kansas "Safety Training Article"
Home About EHS EHS Calendars EHS Bookshelf
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Library FREE
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Site created
by Debbie Grow, EHS Network of Central Kansas
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EHS Network
Last
updated: October 2003