Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

December 4, 2019

A health and safety committee, comprised of worker and management representatives who meet regularly, brings the internal responsibility system into practice. This system recognizes that the employer and workers have a shared responsibility for workplace health and safety, with the employer having the final authority and responsibility. In most Canadian jurisdictions a health and safety committee is required by law.

This infographic outlines requirements and good practices for an effective health and safety committee, from defining roles and responsibilities to providing training and resources to recognizing and addressing workplace hazards.

Share the CCOHS Infographic

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 24, 2019

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

With the help of supporters like you, we’ve made incredible progress over the years.

In the last 20 years more than $360 million has been invested in breast cancer research by the Canadian Cancer Society and the former Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation combined, funding more than 1,000 research projects. The breast cancer death rate has dropped by 44% since the late 1980s.

The current 5-year survival rate is now 87%, due in large part to research advancements that have improved early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

But there’s still more work to do. Breast cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among Canadian women.

1 in 8 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

An estimated 26,300 Canadian women and 230 men will be diagnosed this year. That’s 72 women every day.

Let’s work together to create a world where no Canadian fears breast cancer.

Early detection + better therapies = 44% decrease in the breast cancer death rate since 19881 in 8 Canadian women will develop breast cancer

What we’re doing to help defeat breast cancer

Research

Thanks to the support of donors like you, CCS is the largest charitable funder of breast cancer research in Canada. This year so far, we have invested $12 million in breast cancer research in hospitals and research institutes across Canada. Over the last 10 years, we have invested close to $51 million in metastatic breast cancer research.

Information

Breast cancer can be confusing and overwhelming. Whether you’re worried about your risk, coping with a new diagnosis, living with metastatic breast cancer or supporting a loved one, we are here to help. Our services and programs offer vital support and information by phone, in person and online to all those affected by breast cancer, including family and friends. The Canadian Cancer Society can help you make sense of breast cancer with clear and current information you can trust.

Our website offers detailed information on breast cancer risks, screening, diagnosis, treatment, coping and more.

Our online tool can help you decide if breast cancer screening is right for you.

Publications on topics related to breast cancer are also free to order or download.

Our community services locator can help you find the services you need, such as support groups, wigs and breast prostheses.

Cancer information specialists are available by phone or email for anyone needing help to find information and support.

Support

Peer support groups offer valuable face-to-face connection, shared coping strategies and lived experience for people with breast cancer. To find a group near you, contact our Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca and use our Our community services locator

If you prefer to speak with someone over the phone, we also offer a free and confidential telephone-based service for adults 18 years and older who have been diagnosed with cancer or are caring for someone with cancer. You’ll have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with a trained volunteer who has had a similar cancer experience. Volunteers listen, offer encouragement and share ideas for coping.

Our online community, CancerConnection, helps people with cancer and their loved ones share their experiences and build supportive relationships. Visit CancerConnection.ca to learn more.

BRA Day

BRA Day (Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day) is a free, annual event that connects breast cancer survivors and women at high risk of developing breast cancer with leading breast reconstruction surgeons to answer all your questions. There are 25 events across Canada in 2017.

To register for an event or learn more about your breast reconstruction options, visit bra-day.com

Transportation

Since the mid 1950s, we have provided volunteer driver transportation assistance for people with cancer. Volunteer drivers provide return trips for patients from their home to treatment centres. They offer friendly support and kindness at a time when patients need it most.

If you need transportation to treatment, call 1-800-263-6750 or contact your local Canadian Cancer Society office.

Wig rooms

Our wig rooms help ensure people with cancer in communities across Canada have access to free wigs as well as a welcoming and supportive environment to try them on.

Donate now

5-year breast cancer survival rate in Canada – in the 1980s 73% and today (2006-2008) 87%

https://www.cancer.ca/en/about-us/news/national/2017/breast-cancer-awareness-month/?region=on


SOURCE

How to defend against noise-induced hearing loss

September 30, 2019

About a quarter of Canada’s Albertans have some degree of hearing loss, according to Deaf and Hearing Alberta, with exposure to excessive noise as the number one factor.

“Alberta is such a hard-working industrial province,” says Kari Weisgerber, director and CEO of the Hear In Edmonton hearing clinics. “People who work in the trades are really susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss.”

But damaging your hearing with noise is not limited to tradespeople. Anyone who goes to loud concerts, noisy restaurants or uses headphones is also at risk.

Prevention is a powerful tool in all areas of medicine, but according to Kari it’s particularly important when it comes to noise-induced hearing loss, which occurs when loud sounds cause wear and tear on the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that transmit sound to the brain.

Industrial worker

 

Here are a few of Kari’s suggestions tips for protecting your hearing.

1. Know that damage can occur in almost no time flat

Many people, Kari says, feel that loud noises won’t damage their hearing if they limit exposure. “Someone might use a loud lawnmower without earplugs on the basis that the job will only take a few minutes. But loud noises can permanently hurt your hearing in almost no time,” she says.

For instance, you can spend about 15 minutes in noise of 100 decibels before incurring permanent hearing damage. But that safe window gets cut in half for every three-decibel increase. By the time you crank the volume to 140 decibels—the volume of many live concerts—the safe exposure window is about half a second.

2. Recognize signs of damage early, hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative over a person’s life, says Kari. Damage incurred in one’s teens or 20s can get worse as people age. That’s why it’s important to take precautions early in life and to monitor closely for damage.

Ringing in the ears is a clear sign of hearing damage, while noises sounding loud but not clear is another.

For those who work in loud environments, including most tradespeople, Kari advises annual hearing tests.

3. Use hearing protection and consider custom-made earplugs to prevent hearing loss.

Most people who are regularly exposed to loud noises use earplugs. Something is better than nothing, but Kari cautions that lots of off-the-shelf hearing protection can be hard to use properly. The ubiquitous neon foam plugs, for instance, need to be deeply embedded in the ear to do their job. If the plug is visible sticking out of your ear, it’s not in deep enough.

If you’d like to avoid the uncertainty and inconvenience of using off-the-shelf hearing protection, consider having a pair of custom earplugs made. A pair runs around $160 and can provide top-notch hearing protection for years.

That might seem costly, but it’s much less than years of hearing aides—not to mention it preserves your ability to connect with loved ones, enjoy music, stay safe in traffic, and much else besides, says Kari.

Plus the fitting appointments are quick and painless, and providers like the Hear In Edmonton clinics offer guaranteed fit. Kari and her team will have your plugs re-made for free if they don’t fit perfectly.

Some custom plugs are even modular, so you can pop in different noise-blocking mechanisms depending on what you’re doing. Kari has customers who love live music and use different “screens” in their plugs depending on the concert venue they’re attending. Learn More about Custom Hearing products.

4. If you use earbud headphones, beware of volume creep causing hearing loss

Mass-produced earbud headphones don’t provide enough noise protection, says Kari. The improper seal between bud and eardrum means outside sounds leak in unless you’re using the earbuds in perfect silence. The tempting solution to this is just to bump up the volume to make sure the music comes through. This is a very easy way to damage your hearing, says Kari.

There are two solutions. The first is to make peace with an imperfect listening experience while using your buds and keep the volume low, even in an area with loud ambient noise.

The second is to have custom earbuds made for your ears. They block outside noise much better, so they also make music sound better. Plus they’re modular, so you can use them with any number of sets of headphones.

To Learn More about hearing loss prevention and protection check out our resource section. 


SOURCE: https://edmontonjournal.com/sponsored/health-sponsored/how-to-defend-against-noise-induced-hearing-loss

Hearing loss on the rise among Canadian oil and gas workers: study

August 16, 2019

Richmond, British Columbia — More Canadian oil and gas workers in the drilling sector are showing signs of job-related hearing loss, according to a recent study from WorkSafeBC.

oil-gas-pipework.jpg

Researchers looked at hearing test data collected by oil and gas employers from 2012 to 2017. They found that, despite an increase in workers reporting they wear hearing protection (to 98 percent from 94 percent), the percentage of workers with noise-induced hearing loss grew to 45 from 33.

Of the 294 workers affected, 66 percent were younger than 35.

“There are a number of reasons why workers may be diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss even though they are wearing some form of hearing protection,” Sasha Brown, an occupational audiologist at WorkSafeBC, said in an Aug. 22 press release. “The earplugs or earmuffs might be the wrong size, inserted or worn incorrectly, not worn for long enough, or they may not be providing enough protection for the duration and intensity of noise exposure.”

heairing loss oil and gas

Why choose Custom Hearing Protection

Custom Hearing Protection – means a customized hearing solution that fits the individuals ear exactly leaving little to no room for noise to get in. Just like one size fits all work boots are probably not the best choice, neither is one size fits all hearing protection. Every human ear is unique in size, shape, and depth. Therefore it makes sense that for hearing protection to be the most effective, as well as the most comfortable, it must be custom fit.  Due to the increase of hearing loss claims, more and more employers are choosing custom hearing protection over disposable ear plugs. Read More for a case study. 

WorkSafeBC offers the following recommendations to employers:

  • Ensure all at-risk workers wear sufficient hearing protection that fits, and that they understand how to properly wear it.
  • Make sure workers insert or wear the correct hearing protection before entering a noisy environment, and wear it until they exit that location.
  • Rotate workers to different positions to minimize their time in noisy environments.
  • Identify potential engineering controls to mitigate risk of exposure.
  • Ensure workers have their hearing tested and are aware of the results.

To assist employers and workers, WorkSafeBC has published a safety bulletin featuring an infographic on earplug insertion and online resources.

Each year, 22 million U.S. workers face exposure to potentially damaging occupational noise, and employers spend an estimated $242 million on hearing loss disability, according to OSHA. The agency’s requirements for hearing protection are outlined in 29 CFR 1910.95.


SOURCE
https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17549-hearing-loss-on-the-rise-among-canadian-oil-and-gas-workers-study

Top CDN Safety Trade Shows to Attend in whats left of 2019

August 9, 2019

Bad news: with so many available, deciding which one(s) to attend can be a challenge!

Here is a sneak preview of what is Available for the rest of 2019.

Whether you’re trying to decide which show is best for your employees to attend or you’re on the flip side and are trying to convince your boss, here’s my list of the top ten safety shows to consider attending in 2019 and why:

CHES National Conference

September 22-24, 2019

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

ches conference saskatoon

For its 39th consecutive year, the Canadian Health Care Engineering Society will be hosting their Annual Conference of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society in Saskatoon. Known as the “hub” that enables resiliency in healthcare, this conference welcomes attendees from over 400 healthcare facilities across Canada. The CHES Conference is a fantastic place for those in the field to expand their knowledge base, network and continue their education.

CSSE

September 22-25, 2019

Winnipeg, Manitoba

csse 2019 winnipeg

The Canadian Society of Safety Engineer is one of the most important safety organizations in the country which is why it comes as no surprise that attending their annual conference is always worthwhile. Hundreds of safety professionals from across Canada, the U.S. and beyond join each fall to learn about the most current safety information, tools and practices available to ensure their workplaces are up to date and compliant.

One great thing about the CSSE show is that each year it moves to a new location across the country; a major bonus for individuals who may not have a lot of work flexibility to travel. Last year it was Niagara Falls, this year it will be in Winnipeg and in 2020 it’ll be taking place in St. John’s.

Le Grand Rendez-Vous

October 30-31, 2019

Montreal, Quebec

grand rendez-vous trade show and conference

For any of you who live in Quebec, here’s a great French Canadian safety show to keep on your radar. This robust safety conference focuses on innovations in the prevention of work accidents and occupational diseases. There is a huge list of safety pros lined up to present (you can read more about them here) at the 20+ sessions which cover the newest in health and safety. Between sessions, be sure to walk the trade show which will include nearly 200 exhibitors!

Motorcycle Riding: Protect your hearing

As the temperatures rise and the days are longer activities and outings change. These changes related to summer often mean BBQs, gatherings, Motorcycling and July 1 and 4th festivities with friends and family. And what also does occur is more noise; noise when riding, noisy music, noisy fireworks and even noisier traffic such as motorcycle riding.

Motorcycle Riding: Protect your hearing; the effort is worth it

Whether you wear a full-face helmet, a three-quarter or a shorty, earplugs are a must. Hearing damage is cumulative and permanent. It takes a little effort to find an earplug that will work for you, but it will be worth it. It’s much less cost and effort than hearing aids, I can assure you.
Wear Your Protection:

When your ears are exposed to constant wind noise, several things happen: the cilia inside your ears get tired (no, seriously) and collapse. Your brain gets tired from filtering out all that extraneous noise, and that causes unnecessary fatigue. The nerve connections between your ears and your brain can sustain damage.

All of that combined means hearing loss. If you’ve ever found your ears ringing after a stint on the highway, that means, without question, you are damaging your hearing. A 60mph wind will cause hearing damage within 15 minutes. You have 7 minutes at 75mph, and 3 minutes at 85mph with no hearing protection. Yes, if you’re not wearing earplugs you are definitely slowly going deaf.Motorcyles

Windshields and full-face helmets can damp the wind noise some, but they often just change the windflow without quieting the noise. Earplugs are a great low-cost way to protect your hearing. The frequency of wind is excellent at damaging humans’ hearing. Earplugs will filter out those frequencies but they absolutely do still allow you to hear sirens, horns, and other traffic warnings. If you find the earplugs you’ve used block too much sound, try different ones.

There are a bunch of different earplugs on the market, and they can be divided into two simple categories: disposable and reusable. Disposable earplugs are made of foam, and the general rule is, they work well three times: if you wear them all day three days in a row, or if you take them out and reinsert them three times in one day, they’re done, the foam wears out, and they don’t hold a good seal anymore. They must be inserted in a specific way into your ear, and you can see that process on the CDC website here.

Hearing Protection – Earplug Options

There are also Reusable or custom hearing protection which is a little more expensive, but they will last you about 5 years and the fit your ear exactly. Custom Protect Ear’s dB Life All Sport Earpiece and Headset is the rider who wants to listen to their digital music player or radio, All Sport™ is the ideal way to take your tunes on the road. All Sport™ is a headset that connects to your digital music player and is specially designed to work in the harsh environment bikers endure. Wind noise, bike rumble, and traffic sound compound to make listening to radio or music a challenge while riding. Learn More about the All Sport. 

Whatever option you choose – it is imperative you choose at least one. If you are unsure then we recommend you ask your friends what earplugs they use, and if you can try a pair of theirs: that’s the easiest, cheapest way to go about finding a good, comfortable pair of earplugs. If you want a longer term solution then check out Custom Protect Ears website to find a hearing solution for you and your lifestyle need.

Good luck everybody, and happy hearing!


SOURCE

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/355870/ear-plugs-protect-your-hearing/

What is hearing loss?

July 30, 2019

After our eyes, the most important sensory organ is our ears, thus hearing loss has significant consequences. In most cases, hearing loss is age-related. However, it can also be triggered by loud noises or infections, or may be hereditary.

Hearing loss may occur very suddenly, although in most cases it is gradual, and so you only become aware of it as it progresses. Fortunately, in most cases impaired hearing can be improved, or even fully corrected, either by using a proper hearing protection device or by using a hearing aid. 

First signs of Hearing Loss 

Hearing loss rarely occurs all of a sudden. It usually develops gradually, over a long period of time – and is therefore imperceptible at first. This is because those affected gradually get used to the onset of hearing loss. Because the brain can compensate for the hearing deficiencies for a long time, there are few disadvantages in everyday life during the first phase.

hearing loss

But from a certain point, hearing loss can no longer be readily compensated for. Often, this is noticed by family and friends of the affected person long before they themselves realize they cannot hear normally. Hearing loss can have an impact on your daily life either socially and recreationally. With an already noisy world we have started to see hearing loss grow in the workplace as well. Solutions like a custom hearing protection device such as dB Blockers has grown in popularity amongst individuals and employers. Learn more. 

Long Term Affects of Hearing Loss

Even those affected by hearing loss who know that they can no longer hear perfectly often still do nothing for a long time. Using the argument “It’s still OK!”, they put off a hearing test with an audiologist or ENT doctor. This is because being aware of your own hearing loss is one thing, but acknowledging it is not so easy.

hearing loss

The problem is that if you wait too long, you risk serious consequences. Researchers have found that after about seven years, our brains simply lose the ability to hear certain sounds.

If you can hear these sounds again with a hearing aid, they may no longer be correctly interpreted, and are therefore often perceived as excessively loud and unpleasant – even if it’s something as harmless as the rustling of leaves or a friendly conversation next door.

The following three questions may help you find out if you have hearing loss:

  1. Do you hear low background noise excessively loudly?
  2. Do you have the TV on very loud?
  3. Do you find conversations stressful?

To Learn more about hearing loss contact your local Audiologist. Also check out our resources page. 

 


Source:https://www.connecthearing.ca/hearing-loss/

 

Westone Acquires North America’s Largest Custom-Fit Industrial Hearing Protection Manufacturer

March 12, 2019

For Immediate Release

Westone

 

 

 

 

 

Westone Laboratories
2235 Executive Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
www.Westone.com

Westone Acquires North America’s Largest Custom-Fit Industrial Hearing Protection Manufacturer

Colorado Springs, CO – February 14, 2019 – In partnership with their principal investment group, HealthEdge Investment Partners, Westone Laboratories, Inc., a market leader in custom earpieces, high performance in-ear monitoring technology and hearing protection, announced it has closed on its acquisition of Custom Protect Ear, the largest custom-fit industrial hearing protection manufacturer in North America.

Zubin Meshginpoosh, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Westone shared, “We are delighted to join forces with Custom Protect Ear, the most trusted brand in custom-fit hearing protection used by hundreds of industrial clients across a wide variety of industries.”

Jeffrey Goldberg, Chairman, and CEO of Custom Protect Ear added, “Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is an epidemic in the workplace, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to eradicate it. This partnership with Westone allows us to expand our geographic reach, increase the pace of innovation and have a positive impact on more lives.”

Custom Protect Ear’s management team and operations will remain headquartered in Vancouver, BC with an operating subsidiary, ProtectEar USA, based in the United States.

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About Westone

Established in 1959, Westone Laboratories is celebrating 60 years of delivering custom earpieces that protect and enhance hearing, facilitate communication, and support hearing healthcare professionals. The largest manufacturer of custom earpieces in the world with both hearing healthcare and music specialists on our research, development and production teams, Westone is recognized as a leading innovator across the custom earplug, hearing protection, and music industries. Westone is a proud partner of the United States Military providing specially designed communication-enabled and hearing protection earpieces for service members and first-responders around the world. It is our people, our experience, and our products that truly make Westone “The In-Ear Experts®.” For more information, visit Westone.com or contact Jeff Ipson at (719) 540-9333.

About Custom Protect Ear

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Custom Protect Ear was founded in 1976 and provides effective, verifiable, and noise level matched industrial hearing protection to over 4,500 corporate clients worldwide across a wide range of industries including distribution, manufacturing, machining, energy, packaging, public safety & security, transportation, and food. CPE is a certified and compliant ISO 9001 manufacturer that incorporates both traditional handcrafted manufacturing processes and leading-edge 3D printing technology. Known for their product quality and customer service, CPE utilizes a custom fitting process performed by highly trained technicians to personalize every protective earpiece to each user then backs it with a ‘FitRight Guarantee’ and industry-leading warranty program. For more information, visit ProtectEar.com

About HealthEdge Investment Partners

HealthEdge Investment Partners, LLC is an operating-oriented private equity firm founded in 2005 that focuses exclusively on the healthcare industry. HealthEdge seeks to achieve superior returns by investing in businesses that benefit from the knowledge, experience, and network of relationships of its partners. HealthEdge’s partners have more than 100 years of combined operating experience in healthcare as CEOs and investors. For more information on HealthEdge, please visit HealthEdgepartners.com or contact Elizabeth Breslin at (813) 490-7104.

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Occupational Health & Safety work conference Manitoba

January 22, 2019

OHS Manitoba

Safety: Be Part of the Solution

Every day we’re faced with issues that demand a solution in some form or another. From changing a light bulb up in the rafters to cleaning a spill down in the basement – safety should always be part of the solution.

Our program is designed to help you make safety part of your solution at work, at home and in your community. With the experience and know-how you bring to the event and the exciting new ideas and philosophies you’ll learn at the SSM OHS Conference, you’ll be prepared to use safety at every turn to help craft the best solution possible.

You’ll be sure to leave the annual conference well equipped with a “Safety Solution” for your workplace.

The show is 2 days Jan 23 & Jan 24th. Don’t forget to check us out at the show.

 

Custom Protect Ear

 

Working with our distributor, Ross Hearing.

ross hearing

T’IS THE SEASON OF GIVING: CPE donates $40,540 to Canadian Cancer Society

December 4, 2018

November, 29th, Surrey BC.

Custom Protect Ear donates $40,540.00 the Canadian Cancer Society.

The total of $40,540 of represents the monies collected and matched since 2010, for the Pink dB Blocker Initiative. All proceeds are provided to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Below see Picture: (Left – Dagne Blaauw, Jeff Goldberg and Right-Laura Bennett) 

Cancer society

 

What is the Pink dB Blocker Initiative

Your support of our products allows CPE to donate a portion of what we make to charity each year, and facilitate ways in which to raise additional money for causes that touch our stakeholders personally. One of the ways we contribute is through the Pink Blocker Initiative. 

One of CPE community support initiatives is a program that partners with you to support Breast Cancer Research. By matching the $5 added to your purchase of each pair of pink dB Blockers, CPE will send $10 to the Canadian Cancer Society

The pink ear-piece shows that you are a supporter, and an active participant in your community’s support network.

Cause-related initiatives are an important part of the CPE corporate culture, and we welcome your ideas for helping us expand our programs in cancer research, autism support, education for better hearing health, and more eco-friendly ways of doing business.

When it comes to  Cancer, dB Cares™ 

Canadian Cancer society

 “We wish to thank all those who have so willingly donated to the cause to help find the cure”. 

The Custom Protect Ear Team

dB Cares