Safety Tidbit # 2-1 – Hear and Now – Safety Noise Challenge

Safety Tidbit # 2-1 – Hear and Now – Safety Noise Challenge

How many of you knew that OSHA kicked off a technology challenge in June?  Submissions are due September 30, 2016.  OSHA is seeking technological innovations that will help with hearing protection use in three main areas:

·      Technology that will enhance employee training and improve effective use of hearing protection.

·      Technology that alerts workers when hearing protection is not blocking enough noise to prevent hearing loss.

·      Technology that allows workers to hear important alerts or human voices while remaining protected from harmful noise.

While I applaud OSHA’s (and MSHA and NIOSH’s) drive to help workers to use their hearing protection, as an industrial hygienist, I wish they would push as much for the elimination of the sources of noise in the workplace.  Oftentimes, small changes in the workplace or with the operation significant reduction in noise levels can be realized. Furthermore, if we eliminate the source of noise the need for training and protection from noise becomes irrelevant. 

Noise is one of OSHA’s original health standards that actually came from OSHA’s precursor the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and is listed in OSHA’s origination Federal Register Notice on May 29, 1971. It still even has its same standard number 1910.95. However, although the standard was amended in 1982 to include medical surveillance there are still 22 million workers who run the risk of losing their hearing due to excessive noise in the workplace.

I implore all workers and employers to review their workplaces for exposures to noise and evaluate their risk.  Then use some simple tools available from OSHA’s website on Occupational Noise to reduce the incidence of noise. Also, if you are in the market for new equipment you might check out NIOSH’s Buy Quiet webpage to find quieter equipment for nominal differences in price.  If you need further assistance, please call PA OSHA Consultation or your company safety and health consultant.

Remember Personal Protective Equipment is the last line of defense in protection against workplace hazards and have been shown time and again to be ineffective due to improper or lack of use.