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Noise & Hearing Conservation - Coggle Diagram
Noise & Hearing
Conservation
If ears have no protection
Noise exposure is present both during work and in other settings.
Nevertheless, a single exposure to extremely loud noises can potentially result in permanent damage.
After being exposed to low-level noises, your ears generally have the ability to recover.
Noise Effects Us In Other Ways
Noise is Psychologically Stressful
Noise may distract our attention and cause: Accidents, Misunderstandings, Poor Performance, Fatigue and General Anxiety
NOISE
created by many
different sources:
Industrial equipment and tools
Music
Traffic
Gunfire exercises
Ventilation
Noise Exposure
Duration of Exposure
Types of noise
Continuous
Impulse
Intensity
Frequency
Causes of Hearing Loss
Age
Disease
Trauma
Drug
Noise Exposure
Damage to ears
Outer ears
Inner ears
Middle ears
Human Hearing Range
20 Hz (low rumble) to 20,000 Hz (whine)
Speech Between 500 Hz to 2000 Hz
Average Hearing Loss at 4000 Hz and up
0 dB (just audible) to 140 dB (causes pain)
80 dB(A) 8 hour TWA will effect some
100 dB(A) 8 hour TWA will effect all
Measuring Sound
Terminology
Intensity
Frequency
Hearing protection
Personal protective equipment can include
various types of earplugs
earmuffs that attenuate noises to 125dB above 600Hz and up to 115dB below this frequency.
In general, insert-type ( e.g. expandable foam ) devices provide better protection than muff-types devices
Hearing Conservation Program
Identifying noise hazardous areas
Engineering controls to reduce the hazard
Posting of noise hazardous areas
Providing hearing protection to personnel
Medical monitoring (audiograms)
Education and training
Recording Requirements
Engineering Controls
Accomplished as part of:
New construction
Renovation
Equipment Replacement or repair
Personal protection
Ear plugs
Ear muffs
The best ways to reduce hearing loss (in order of priority
Eliminate the source
Substitute a quieter process
Engineer sound controls on the source
Isolate the source by distance
Shield the source
Provide sound dampening materials