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Safety and Maintenance in the Automotive Industry

March 23, 2023

Workers in the automotive industry are exposed to various hazards such as noise, chemicals, sharp objects, and heat. Wearing appropriate protective gear and protection can help prevent injuries and ensure their safety.

One example of such protection is dB Blocker hearing protection.

There are several types of noise associated with the Automotive Industry such as impulsive noise, continuous noise, intermittent noise and low-frequency noise. Long-term exposure to all of these can result in permanent damage to the human ear.

CPE’s dB Blockers allow interpersonal and radio communication to be clearly exchanged while keeping your workers protected. Protect your shop workers today.

Contact us to get your shop fitted

hearing in the Automotive Industry

#automativeindustry #noise #workinnoise #hearingsafety #protectear #safety #communication

How to Clean your Custom dB Blocker Hearing Protection

March 20, 2020

Custom Protect Ear wanted to send you a reminder that your dB Blockers are washable, here is how.

How to Clean your Custom dB Blocker Hearing Protection

dB Blockers hearing protectors are washable!

Your protectors can be washed in warm water and mild soap. You may wish to lubricate them again after washing (a couple of times) to regain the comfort for insertion.

Take care to avoid getting water in the vent if possible, but should this occur, gently blow through to clear water out.

 

Believe it or not – the longer you avoid washing, the better the natural lubrication from the oils in your skin. Also, your natural cerumen (ear wax) acts as an antibiotic and although many of us were taught that when ear wax is present, it is a sign of not cleaning our ears. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is your body’s natural defence. Cerumen or earwax is healthy in normal amounts and serves as a self-cleaning agent with protective, lubricating, and antibacterial properties.

However, given the current concern of potential illness transference, we wanted to educate on how to wash and sanitize your dB Blockers.  After washing your ear pieces, you may wish to further sanitize with alcohol.

Once washing/sanitizing is complete, you may wish to re-lubricate your dB Blockers using mineral oil or Vaseline.

 Below we have included step by step instructions as found in your dB Blocker pouch.

Step-By-Step Instructions – Diagram & Video

Follow the step-by-step diagrams for a comfortable, secure fit. You may need to alternate between your new custom dB Blockers and your old ear plugs during this limited period until the fit is comfortable.

Fit-right-instruction

 

Please pass this information on to anyone in possession of dB Blockers™, dB Com™ and dB Life™ products. Thank you

 

Saskatchewan Industrial Safety Seminar

February 3, 2020

February 3 – 5, 2020
The World Trade Centre at Prairieland Park
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Safety Council is now planning for our 47th Annual Industrial Safety Seminar which takes place February 3 – 5, 2020. The last three years we averaged 750 registered delegates per year and we are expecting similar attendance for our event in 2019. Our trade show has a long history of being sold out of display space early. As a benefit for your past support we allow previous displayers a chance to secure display space prior to registering new exhibitors. If you would like to be a part of the 2019 Industrial Safety Seminar, we encourage you to register early!

​WHO ATTENDS THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SEMINAR?
The Industrial Safety Seminar, although aimed primarily at business and industry, is open to anyone interested in safety. Average attendance in the past 3 years was over 750 delegates per year representing Safety Managers and Professionals, Occupational Health and Safety Committee Members, Supervisors and interested small businesses and individuals. Delegates represent a large cross section of Saskatchewan industries including mining, utilities, oil & gas and construction, Provincial and Federal regulatory agencies, crown corporations and private companies.

The Industrial Safety Seminar is an excellent opportunity for new or experienced safety practitioners to attend professional development sessions with experts on a variety of current safety related topics. It is also an opportunity for all those interested in safety to network with like-minded people while expanding their safety knowledge.

The event will be held at World Trade Center Saskatoon at Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK. on February 3, 4, and 5, 2020. Note: ​The Tradeshow is open February 3 and 4.

February 3 - 5, 2020 The World Trade Centre at Prairieland Park Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

If you’re in the vicinity – come by and see us (Custom Protect Ear) at the show. Let us show you our latest innovative hearing protection from the family of dB Blockers™.

Seasons Greetings!

December 23, 2019

 

From all of us at Custom Protect Ear…

We want at to wish you a Happy Holidays and prosperous New Year.

Thank you for making this year so great. May you and your family have a very merry holiday season and happy New Year.

PLEASE NOTE:
The Custom Protect Ear Office and Lab will be closed
December 23, 2019 and reopen (regular hours) Thursday January 2, 2020.

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

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.

###

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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Noise-related hearing loss – Overview of Custom Protect Ear

July 5, 2018

Noise-related hearing loss is one of the most common occupational hazards affecting 25% of US workers. It’s the third most prevalent chronic condition in older adults and the most widespread disability. Repetitive, excessive noise is the main contributor to long-term hearing problems. It’s also a dangerous distraction, one that can cause other, more immediate and serious workplace accidents.

In response, many businesses use disposable earplugs to protect their employee’s hearing.

But if the earplugs don’t fit properly…

  • are uncomfortable
  • or prevent the employee from communicating
  • they may leave the employee’s hearing at risk.

Custom Protect Ear’s Mission is to eliminate Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Our dB Blockers address all these issues to deliver three key benefits. First, dB Blockers are extremely comfortable – which means people are willing to wear them, for their entire shift. Second, people wearing dB Blockers hear each other better – which improves workplace safety, communication and productivity. And third, dB Blockers are more cost-effective than disposable hearing protectors, so you pay less for a better product.

CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO ON NOISE RELATED HEARING LOSS 

How do we do it? We focus only on custom hearing protection

It starts with more than 40 years of research and development in hearing loss prevention.

That dedication has enabled us to make significant technological advancements in hearing protection, earn ISO 9001 certification and deliver a complete portfolio of products to more than 4500 international businesses in a broad range of industries. One of the keys is our custom-fit program, available throughout North America and internationally.

All dB Blockers are custom-fit to each user’s ear.

They’re also made from a super-soft, medical-grade SkinSoft silicone. This makes them exceptionally comfortable while providing a perfect seal, for excellent hearing protection. An exact fit also means dB Blockers provide excellent noise protection while eliminating itching… painful pressure points…and the need to wear bulky ear muffs. And, they come in a wide range of models, so you can choose the dB Blockers that match your workplace needs. You can also use the serial number to order a pair of dB Blockers for home, sleeping, swimming, or listening to music.

In addition to being extremely comfortable, dB Blockers are technologically advanced. Every pair of vented dB Blockers employs our proprietary “FT filters”. These work to block out background noise, while honing in on the frequency range of the human voice. As a result, people can hear each other better with dB Blockers, than without them.

People working in noise also prefer dB Blockers because they can be connected to numerous communication devices, including

  1. two-way radios
  2. Bluetooth cell phones and
  3. other audio components and devices.

Since employees don’t have to remove dB blockers to communicate with co-workers Or while talking on the phone or radio, their hearing is protected for an entire shift.

Finally, because dB Blockers can be worn for years, they provide significant cost savings over disposables.

That means you’ll save money while increasing compliance…

  • improving workplace safety…
  • enhancing communications…
  •  and boosting productivity.

Smart, right?

Custom Protect Ear, the North American Leader in industrial, custom hearing protection.

Because when you think about it, everything else… is just noise.

 

Hearing loss and accidental injury: Healthy Hearing

June 22, 2018

 Hearing loss and accidental injury

If you have hearing loss you may be at greater risk of an accidental injury at work or at play, according to a recent study.

Hearing loss and injury
Your risk of injury is higher with hearing
loss.

The study, which was published in March, used data from the National Health Interview Survey between 2007 and 2015 to analyze accidental injuries among a cross-section of adults. Accidental injuries were reported by 2.8 percent of adults over a three-month period, and the odds of such injuries were twice as likely among those who had hearing issues.

According to the study, hearing loss affects an estimated 16 percent of people in the U.S.

Hearing loss and safety

Study co-author Hossein Mahboubi of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of California, Irvine said the study establishes a link between hearing problems and accidental injury. “One can assume that if someone’s hearing is not great, if something comes their way like a baseball, or if they’re cycling out there and there’s a car horn getting close to them, they may not be able to hear that, and that theoretically can increase the possibility of getting injured.”

About 16 percent of the adults in the survey reported their hearing as anywhere from “excellent” to “deaf.” The rate of accidental injury increased from 2 percent among those with excellent hearing to about 5 percent among those with hearing problems.

Injuries were listed as driving, leisure or work-related. The rate of leisure injuries increased from .8 percent among those with excellent hearing to 1.4 percent among deaf adults, suggesting that people with moderate or severe hearing loss are more likely to get hurt while playing sports or engaging in other leisure activities.

Mahboubi said because they used CDC data for the study, they couldn’t get more detailed information about the categories. “You can’t really distinguish between, for example, what sort of sport injuries are out there, or what the participants were doing when the injuries happened.”

Those with good hearing or only a little trouble hearing had higher injury rates at work than those who were deaf. Mahboubi suggested that someone who has hearing loss might be more aware of dangers on the job and less likely to get injured.

Surprisingly, those with minor hearing problems were more likely to suffer injuries than those with more severe problems, which Mahboubi called an “eye-opening” result.

Because the people surveyed reported their own degree of hearing loss, Mahboubi said, the information is subjective. But he said the results were enough to show the relationship between hearing loss and accidental injury.

How to reduce your risk of accidental injury

Hearing loss Their goal is to remind people that hearing issues can be a health risk, Mahboubi said. “We would recommend that people who think they have at least some degree of hearing loss have it checked out by a doctor.”

Improving your hearing will not only help you reduce your risk of injuries and accidental falls, it will improve your relationships and quality of life! If you think you have hearing loss, check our directory to find a hearing healthcare professional in your area.

SOURCE:

https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52880-Hearing-loss-and-accidental-injury

Timber, Noise, and Hearing Loss: A Look into the Forestry and Logging Industry

Timber, Noise, and Hearing Loss: A Look into the Forestry and Logging Industry

We use our senses for many things. Take away or weaken one, such as hearing, and many things around us begin to change. Unexpectedly, the conversation across the room becomes more difficult to hear. Our favorite song on the radio doesn’t sound quite the same. This can become very frustrating for the person affected.

Hearing loss is common, especially among workers who are exposed to hazardous noise where they work. What exactly is “hazardous noise”? Noise is considered hazardous when it reaches 85 decibels (dBA) or more. In other words, when a person needs to raise his/her voice to speak with someone at arm’s length or about 3 feet away, a person is likely being exposed to noise that can potentially damage his/her hearing over time. This exposure to hazardous noise and/or chemicals that can damage hearing may lead to hearing loss linked to the workplace, also known as occupational hearing loss.

The risk of developing hearing loss varies by industry. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently looked at one particular industry sector in its paper: Prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed workers within the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting sector, 2003-2012. This study looked at the number of workers in this industry sector that had a material hearing impairment, which is hearing loss that interferes with understanding speech. We’ll call it hearing loss in this blog.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting is among the top industry sectors for worker exposure to hazardous noise that can contribute to hearing loss (37% exposed vs. 25% for all industries combined). Hearing loss within Forestry and Logging, an industry within this sector, is more pervasive. Noise-exposed workers in Forestry and Logging had a higher percentage of hearing loss (21%) than all noise-exposed industries combined (19%). To put this into perspective, a different study found that only 7% of non-noise-exposed workers reported hearing difficulty. Worker tasks in Forestry and Logging include:

  • managing forest nurseries
  • tending to timber tracts (plots of land selected for collecting timber)
  • gathering forest products
  • harvesting standing trees for timber

 

Timber-Logging

Activities associated with these tasks, such as unlatching cables used to hold and move logs (92 dBA) and the use of chainsaws (91-110 dBA), represent some of the highest noise exposures to this industry’s workers, and overall average exposures in some occupations have been shown to range from 97-102 dBA. These noise exposures, among others, contribute to the elevated prevalence of hearing loss seen in this industry.

Within Forestry and Logging, Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products had the highest prevalence of hearing loss (36%). This represents the highest prevalence within Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting.

Fortunately, there are effective methods for preventing worker hearing loss from noise. Reducing the noise, preferably at the source, is always the first and best step. To further reduce worker exposure to hazardous noise and minimize hearing loss within Forestry and Logging, this industry can:

  • Enclose engines and heavy equipment workstations to contain the noise
  • Install silencers and mufflers on equipment
  • Reduce exposure time for workers operating noisy equipment
  • Perform maintenance of hand tools and vehicle systems
  • Ensure that workers consistently wear properly-fitted hearing protection every time they are in noisy areas or using noisy equipment
  • Make sure that employees receive regular monitoring for changes in their hearing, so that additional measures to limit the progression of any detected hearing loss can be taken

There are also activities within Forestry and Logging that can expose workers to vibration, which may also contribute to the risk of hearing loss through suspected changes to the blood-flow within the inner ear. Vibration exposure can be reduced through routine maintenance of equipment and the use of anti-vibration chainsaws and gloves.

Visit our website for more information on occupational hearing loss surveillance and links to resources to protect worker hearing.

If you work in this industry, please share your experiences with reducing noise and improving worker safety and health.

SOURCE 

Timber, Noise, and Hearing Loss: A Look into the Forestry and Logging Industry

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