CAOHC Determining When Hearing Loss is Work Related (77KB pdf) This article will outline some of the pertinent issues relating to work-relatedness determinations, including the responsibilities of the OHC and the PS.   National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss - A Practical Guide Hearing loss is one of the most pervasive occupational health problems in America today. Common Hearing Loss Prevention Terms There are many terms common to hearing loss prevention. The definitions below were written in as non-technical a fashion as possible.   U.S. Department of Labor How do I evaluate noise exposure? The first step toward solving any noise problem is to define it. What standards limit and control noise exposure? This standard is designed to protect general industry employees, such as those working in the manufacturing, utilities, and service sectors. What is considered "noise" and what are the potential health effects? Noise is usually defined as unwanted sound. The following sections provide information related to the origins of noise and its impact on our ability to hear.   National Hearing Conservation Association   National Safety Council Noise Control - An Affordable Solution When you're looking at ways to reduce noise at your facility, plant management will quickly bring up the subject of cost. Don't despair. There are several low-cost noise controls that significantly reduce the risk of worker hearing loss. Articles Alternative Field Methods for Measuring Hearing Protector Performance (115K pdf) In comparison with the mandatory noise reduction rating (NRR) testing of every hearing protector sold in the United States, real-world tests of hearing protector attenuation are scarce. Development of a New Standard Laboratory Protocol (772K pdf) Development of a new standard laboratory protocol for estimation of the field attenuation of hearing protection devices: Sample size necessary to provide acceptable reproducibility. Earlog 20 - The Naked Truth About NRRs (55K pdf) Since hearing protection devices (HPDs) are worn primarily for the purpose of noise reduction it is not surprising that hearing conservationists place great significance upon the sound attenuation that such devices can provide. The Ardent Hearing Conservationist (66K pdf) It all seems pretty straightforward. Noise damages hearing. Hearing protectors block sound. Select devices with high, or at least adequate Noise Reduction Ratings (NRRs). Hand them out. Tell people they need to wear them. Require they be worn. Job done. Well, not exactly …   ©2007 Custom Protect Ear Website design in Vancouver by Graphically Speaking