Transcript Hearing Hazards

Hearing Hazards
1/05
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Effects of noise
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Causes hearing loss
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Amount of damage depends upon the
intensity of the noise and duration of
exposure
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Noise-induced hearing loss can be
temporary or permanent
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Effects of noise
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Prolonged exposure generally causes
permanent damage
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Noise-induced permanent threshold shift is
not reversible/cannot be medically treated
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Effects of noise
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Noise-induced hearing loss typically starts
with hearing threshold shifts in the higher
frequencies
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The type of hearing loss can be identified
and measured with audiometric examination
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Noise hazards
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Noise is unwanted/unpleasant sound that
may have a negative effect depending on:
• loudness/frequency
• duration of exposure
• how old/healthy person is
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Noise hazards
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Sound is measured by:
• frequency
• intensity
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Noise hazards
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Noise types include:
• wide band
• narrow band
• impulse
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Noise hazards
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Hearing protection must be provided when
noise exceeds an eight-hour time-weighted
average of 85db
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Noise hazards can cause:
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Drowsiness and irritability
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Inability to hear important instructions
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High blood pressure, ulcers, headaches
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Noise hazards can cause:
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Sleeping disorders
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Temporary or permanent hearing loss
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Engineering controls
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Isolate noisy machinery in a separate area
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Place machinery on rubber mountings
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Use sound-absorbing acoustical tiles
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Engineering controls
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Arrange work schedules to reduce
employee exposure to noise
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Inform supervisors of
unpleasant/unacceptable noise levels
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Hearing protection
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Factors taken into account when selecting
hearing protection devices include:
• noise hazards
• noise frequencies
• fit and comfort
• noise reduction rating
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Purpose/procedure for audiometric
testing
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Checks a person’s hearing
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Trained technician uses an audiometer to
send sounds through headphones
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Purpose/procedure for audiometric
testing
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Person being tested responds to the sounds
when they are first heard
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Chart records responses
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Hearing protection makes common
sense
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You are ultimately responsible for your own
hearing
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You have the most to lose if you suffer
hearing loss
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Make sure earplugs fit properly
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Hearing protection makes common
sense
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Have an annual hearing test
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Keep hearing protection devices in good
operation
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Hearing protection makes common
sense
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Don’t use homemade hearing protection
devices
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Wear hearing protection devices at work as
required
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