A recurring challenge for industrial hygiene and safety professionals is personal protective equipment and the human factor in its use. Companies assess noise exposures, provide medical monitoring and personal protective equipment, provide training and conduct workplace observations and audits; yet occupational hearing loss continues to occur. What else can be done? Recently, I tested out a quantitative ear plug testing system that evaluates how well ear plugs fit and learned quite a bit about the practical limitations of ear plugs.
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Industrial Hygiene: Quantitative Assessment of Hearing Protectors
Posted by Timothy Aeschliman on Tue, Jul, 07, 2015 @ 14:07 PM
Topics: hearing loss
Industrial Hygiene - Hearing Protection Devices
Posted by Eileen Watkins on Fri, Nov, 08, 2013 @ 11:11 AM
If you work in a noisy environment - or if your company is required to implement a Hearing Conservation Program because noise exposures exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 , then you may be using a hearing protection device (HPD). This article shares some important hearing protection reminders. It also describes the different types of HPDs and how to use them properly.
Topics: industrial hygiene, hearing loss
The subject of noise exposures and hearing loss is not new, yet it is still plagues many workplaces. OSHA estimates that approximately 30 million US workers are exposed to excessive noise. Are you or your employees exposed to high sound levels? Which areas of your facility are the loudest? Have employee noise exposures been measured? How do they compare to applicable limits and guidelines?
Topics: workplace safety, OSHA, noise, hearing loss