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Hear Tomorrow: A Personalized Approach to Hearing Conservation Theresa Y. Schulz, PhD, LtCol, USAF (ret.) Topics Noise And Acoustics Noise Reduction Reducing Costs for Hearing Loss Motivating Workers Noise + Acoustics Noise + Acoustics Non-Occupational Occupational Noise + Acoustics Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common permanent and preventable occupational injury in the world. World Health Organization Noise + Acoustics Worker’s Compensation In many countries, excessive noise is the biggest compensable occupational hazard. Cost of NIHL to developed countries ranges from 0.2 to 2% of its GDP. NIHL is on the rise globally. (Source: WHO) Noise + Acoustics United States Statistics Most common occupational injury in the United States. 22 million US workers are exposed to hazardous noise at work on a daily basis. Approx. 8 million Americans suffer from NIHL. (Source: NIOSH, 2009) NOISE+AND Noise Acoustics ACOUSTICS - Hierarchy ~ Hierarchy of Controls of Controls ENGINEERING CONTROLS • Buy Quiet • Vibration Pads • Enclosures ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS • Rotate Workers • Barriers • Extended Breaks • Isolation •2nd/3rd Shift PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Noise + Acoustics - OSHA Update OSHA Update: Feasibility • Oct 2010 – Intent to change interpretation of “feasibility” • Must use engineering controls that are capable of being done • First extended comment period then withdrew that interpretation • Proposing public hearings and asking NIOSH and professionals for input Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) Noise Reduction Rating Noise Level = 100 dB Noise Reduction Rating = 30 dB How much noise is reaching the ear of the worker ? That is completely unknown … (55 – 104 dB) Noise Reduction Rating Noise Reduction Rating • A laboratory estimate of the amount of attenuation achievable by 98% of users when properly fit • A population-based rating ― some users will get more attenuation, some will get less The NRR is only a population estimate, not a predictor of individual attenuation. Noise Reduction Rating – Determining an NRR • 10 human subjects tested in a simulated industrial room • Tested with ears open / occluded at nine frequencies • Each subject tested 3x • NRR calculated to be population average A test subject in the Howard Leight Acoustical Lab, San Diego, CA, accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Noise Reduction Rating – Determining an NRR NRR NRR Number of test subjects 5 4 3 2 1 14 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 19 23 25 27 Attenuation Noise Reduction Rating De-Rating Methods OSHA NIOSH CSA NRR ÷ 2 Earmuffs NRR – 25% Class A up to 100 Formable Earplugs NRR – 50% B up to 95 (feasibility of engineering controls) Fit Test All Other Earplugs NRR – 70% C up to 90 Noise Reduction Rating – Attenuation in dB Real-World Attenuation ≠ NRR 192 users of a flanged reusable earplug ~ 27 NRR 50 NRR = 27 Multiple-Use Earplug 40 30 20 10 0 -10 From Kevin Michael, PhD and Cindy Bloyer “Hearing Protector Attenuation Measurement on the End-User” Retraining and refitting resulted in an average 14 dB improvement for this group Noise Reduction Rating Biggest Factors in Achieving NRR 2. WEAR TIME 1.FIT A worker who selects an earplug with an NRR of 30 but then removes that HPD for just … effectively reduced his 8-hour NRR to just … 30 dB 5 min 10 min 15 min 30 min 26 dB 24 dB 22 dB 18 dB In noise exposures, small intervals of no protection quickly void large intervals of adequate protection. Noise Reduction Rating Noise Reduction Rating • The EPA recently made an announcement about a proposed change to the Noise Reduction Rating [NRR] • This is the first change in hearing protector regulation in nearly 30 years Noise Reduction Rating Current NRR Label 80th % 20th % Minimallytrained Proficient Users Mock-up of New Label Noise Reduction Rating Three New Labels LABEL DESCRIPTION Conventional HPD Perform lab test with subjects who fit the protector after brief training Estimates the range of protection achieved by 20% and 80% of users Active Noise Reduction [ANR] • Uses a Microphone-in-Real-Ear [MIRE] method to estimate protection • Measured with ANR turned OFF and ON to show the additional attenuation from the ANR Level Dependent/ Impulse Noise Reduction • Testing will occur over a range of impulse noise levels. Multiple tests to determine lower and upper ranges of impulse noise reduction • Will include two ranges to identify attenuation for passive and active modes Noise Reduction Rating Determining New NRR • 20 human subjects tested in a simulated industrial room • Subject trained then fits their own earplugs • Tested with ears open / occluded at 9 frequencies • Each subject tested 2x • NRR calculated to be population average New NRR (NRsa) 80% achieved > 20 dB 20% achieved > 26 dB Number of test subjects 5 4 3 2 1 11 14 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 19 23 25 27 Attenuation 33 Noise Reduction Rating How to Apply the New Label Two-number range displays the estimated protection achievable by minimally-trained users [80%] versus proficient users [20%]. 80% 20% A wider range indicates greater variability in the fit of that HPD. Smaller ranges indicate more consistency of fit. For example, earmuffs will usually have a tighter fitting range than earplugs, and may have a smaller NRR range. Noise Reduction Rating What Can I Do Now? Although the new labeling regulation takes effect whenever the final rule is published by the EPA, there are a number of actions you can take now to prepare your Hearing Conservation Program for the change. • Evaluate Noise Spectra to determine if spectral balance corrections will be necessary • Upgrade to One-on-one Training research studies confirm that oneon-one training is superior to group training Estimated Noise Level Reduction, dB 50 possible for a few motivated proficient users to achieve or exceed possible for most individually trained users to achieve or exceed 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 NRSG 0 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Noise Spectral Balance, B = L C - L A (dB) NRSG table B = L C - L A -1 Protection x = 20% 36.7 Performance x = 80% 29.8 2 34.4 25.5 6 33.5 24.1 13 31.9 22.9 14 16 Noise Reduction Rating What Can I Do Now? • Evaluate Current HPD Selection to determine whether they are appropriate for your noise environment. Use the Howard Leight Hearing Protector Selector for recommendations. • Update Hearing Conservation Training Program on proper fit of hearing protectors. Hold a “Toolbox Training” and hold a refresher fit training session. Noise Reduction Rating What Can I Do Now? Use VeriPRO® fit testing • Train how to properly fit HPDs • Select appropriate HPDs • Document adequate protection Use QuietDose™ • In-ear dosimetry measures and documents the noise dose employee is exposed to during their work shift Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Fit Testing In-Ear Dosimetry Noise Rating Field Reduction Verification – Fit-Testing Earplug Fit Testing Provides an accurate, real-world picture of your employees’ hearing protector effectiveness. ID if your employees are: • Getting the right protection • Need additional training • Need different earplug As a problem solver: • Derating Schemes • One-on-One Training • HPD Selection • NRR Change Field Verification – Fit-Testing Real-Ear Attenuation at Threshold (R.E.A.T.) Field Verification – Fit-Testing Loudness Balance (Real-Ear Attenuation Above Threshold) Field Verification – Fit-Testing Microphone in Real-Ear (M.I.R.E.) Field Verification – Fit-Testing In-Ear Dosimetry Microphone in Real-Ear (M.I.R.E.) Field Verification – Fit-Testing Audiometric, 1,2 IntregaFit,* MultiFit REAT, freq 1 One FitCheck* HPDWellFit 1 QuickFit 1 EARfit* VeriPRO* SafetyMeter* REAT, One freq MIRE Loudness Balance Sound booth Quiet Room Anywhere Anywhere PAR PAR Derived PAR PAR Any earplug Any earplug Modified or custom earplugs Any earplug COHC 2 Training included COHC Training provided Training included * Commercially available Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss OSHA Alliance: Best Practice Bulletin www.hearingconservation.org Additional Information www.hearforever.org Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Variation from Published NRR 10 Published NRR 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 Distribution of PARs -25 12 -30 0 10 20 30 40 50 10 60 Workers Workers Difference in dB 5 70 80 90 100 8 6 4 2 0 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 Variation from Published NRR 15 20 25 30 Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Personal Factors Gender Age Distribution of PARs 12 Years in Noise Workers 10 Ear Canal Size 8 6 Familiarity 4 Model of Earplug 2 0 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Program Factors Variation from Published NRR # Group Trainings # Personal Trainings REDUCING Reducing Costs COSTS of Hearing / CLAIMSLoss Difference on 2nd / 3rd Test 10 Variation from NRR 5 Published NRR 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 -30 Subjects Trying a second earplug often improves attenuation Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss “How well can users predict their attenuation after a short fit-testing training session?" Fitting Tips Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Ability to Predict Noise Reduction 100 Accuracy of estimate (75% were within one category of actual PAR) 47% 90 80 70 60 28% 50 14% 40 30 20 10 0 Same Category One off Two off Three off Four off Reducing Field Verification Costs of–Hearing Fit-Testing Loss "I know how to better fit my earplugs now." "I found a more comfortable fit. It was very beneficial." "Feel like am protected now!" "Learned A LOT about best earplugs for me" "I had no idea I was not using my earplugs correctly." "I was amazed with the results after being shown the proper way to use earplugs. "Recently had threshold shift" "Found better earplugs" "Very glad I did the fitting test. Now I know the correct way to fit my ear plugs.” In-ear dosimetry measures/records worker’s actual noise dose, with and without protection Provides real-time monitoring and alerts when worker approaches/exceeds safe limits Only metric with direct potential to measure and prevent further progression of occupational hearing loss Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Research > Alcoa Works Reducing Costs ofIntalco Hearing Loss Mean Hearing Threshold (2k, 3k, 4kHz): 2000 – 2007 (N = 46) Mean hearing threshold (2,3, and 4 kHz) Employees using continuous in-ear starting in 2005 Employees using continuous ESP starting indosimetry 2005 2000 - 2007 (N=46) 50 ESP Introduced Mean HTL 3,4,6kHz 45 trend line 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year of test 2005 2006 2007 Reducing Costs of Hearing Loss Preventive Action after NIHL In practice, an OSHA-recordable STS is not a preventive action …. It is documentation of a hearing loss after the fact. How soon will an employee suffering NIHL be re-fit / re-trained ? “Best case scenario” per Hearing Conservation Amendment In-ear dosimetry “worst case” scenario … 1 Day 0 2 • Retest • Audiometric test 4 6 8 10 Months 12 14 • Notification 16 Training + Motivation Training + Motivation Personalize Hearing Loss Show, Don’t Tell • Provide copy of annual audiogram to worker • Use personal examples to demonstrate consequences of hearing loss • Ask questions: • What is your favorite sound? • What sound would you miss the most if you couldn’t hear? • What sounds connect you to people and your environment? Training + Motivation Demonstrate Future Risk Training Materials • www.hearforever.org • www.hearingconservation.org • http://adl.grc.nasa.gov • www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise • www.dangerousdecibels.org www.hearforever.org/ MASHA2011 Training + Motivation Training + Motivation Send Clear Message On + Off Job HC Part of Everyday Life • Include recreational hearing conservation in annual training • Provide extra HPDs for home use • Promote Hearing Conservation at company/family events Training + Motivation Remove Barriers to HPD Use Make HPDs Available • Highlight “where to find HPDs” in annual training • Make sure HPDs are wellstocked and accessible • Include group of workers in selection process for increased acceptance • Offer wide variety to match comfort, job requirements Make Hearing Conservation Part of Your Everyday Life Download today’s presentation at www.hearforever.org/MASHA2011