Mhe510, occupational health and safety, mod 3 slp

MHE 510 Occupational Health and Safety Mod 3 SLP Hearing Loss Prevention Program Noise-induced hearing loss is a major cause of deafness in the United States. There are many risk factors including age, allergies and noise. Increased exposure to music players and loud music continues to be a problem as does employees that do not protect themselves in high noise atmospheres (Daniel, 2007). This paper will discuss what must be done to design a program at work that is meant to reduce the amount of noise exposure for the employee.
The first thing necessary is to do noise testing throughout the organization, to determine the type and amount of equipment needed in this organization. One must remember however, that the loudest noises do not matter if they are not in an area that exposes employees (Hager, 2007). Hearing loss can seldom be restored so it must be prevented. Once it is determined where the noise levels either need to be attenuated or the employee needs to be protected, one can establish the type of protection to use.
Second, the issue of employee education must be approached as all of these employees must have a thorough understanding of what causes hearing loss is, how permanent it is, and how to protect themselves. The group of employees at risk according to this case study are the fork lift operators. When selecting a HPD or hearing protection device, many managers choose the cheapest that prevents the most exposure. The problem with this is that it may not be the right one for the kind of exposure that is found in this particular situation. Employees must also understand the OSHA rules that pertain to these issues.
OSHA requires mandatory hearing protection for employees that are exposed to 8 hours of dBA of 90 or greater. There must be signs posted in areas where this equipment should be used and . Once it is decided what protection equipment is to be used, it must then be enforced with loss of job for not using the equipment as ask. According to Ross, (2007) the University of Washington recommends the following for hearing protection
Noise Level
Recommendation
Below 85dBA
Optional protection
85-90 dBA
Low or moderate NRR
90-95 dBA
Moderate NRR
95-105 dBA
High NRR
Above 105
High NRR and no more than one hour exposure
Some of the possibilities include earplugs which should not be used in a dirty area as employees will roll the plugs with dirty hands and then put them in their ears. Others that are useful are canal caps and ear muffs. The company will have better compliance if the employee can choose from the ones that work in their area, the one that is most comfortable to them. Canal caps resemble ear plugs but are on a flexible band which is worn over the head. They work as well as ear plugs but do not have to be put down in a dirty area. They may, however, block less noise than the earplug. Ear muffs are good to use when they must be removed often or in a dirty environment. They should fit appropriately and should be appropriately fitted.
In conclusion, there are many ways to prevent hearing loss in the workplace. It must be remembered that hearing loss is not treatable so it must be prevented. With the proper testing, teaching, and protection, employers can protect their employees from this disability. Once the equipment has been decided upon, however, the employer must assure that the employee is following policy and wearing the equipment when needed.
References
Daniel E. (2007). Noise and hearing loss: a review. The Journal of School Health. 77(5). 225.
Hager L. (2007). Noise measurement in hearing loss protection. 52(7). 49.
Ross P. (2007). Hearing conservation: effectively preventing noise-induced hearing loss. Professional Safety. 52 (6).