E3586. What?! Protect Your Hearing. Leader s Guide

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Amie Craig
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1 E3586 What?! Protect Your Hearing Leader s Guide 1

2 What?! Protect Your Hearing This easy-to-use Leader s Guide is provided to assist in conducting a successful presentation. Featured are: INTRODUCTION: A brief description of the program and the subject that it addresses. PROGRAM OUTLINE: Summarizes the program content. If the program outline is discussed before the video is presented, the entire program will be more meaningful and successful. PREPARING FOR AND CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION: These sections will help you set up the training environment, help you relate the program to site-specific incidents, and provide program objectives for focusing your presentation. REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Questions may be copied and given to participants to document how well they understood the information that was presented. Answers to the review questions are provided separately. INTRODUCTION The ability to hear is something we take for granted because we re subjected to noise all the time. We often think we can hear just fine and that losing our hearing would be obvious to us. The problem is that hearing loss happens gradually over time. Many people don t realize they have a problem until it s too late and the damage has been done. When you re hearing is gone, it s gone for good. This video is about how to prevent hearing loss. Topics include how we hear sounds, factors that affect hearing, warning signs of hearing loss, employee hearing tests, using hearing protection and types of hearing protection devices. PROGRAM OUTLINE HOW WE HEAR SOUNDS Noise enters the ear as vibrating energy called sound waves. The outer ear directs the sound waves into the ear canal and past the eardrum to the middle ear. In the middle ear, the sound waves cause three little bones to vibrate. These bones are called the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup because of their shapes. These vibrations are then passed onto the inner ear, which contains fluid and tiny hair-like cells. The hair-like cells transmit the vibrations to the auditory nerve, which then carries sound to the brain. Damage to the nerve endings in the inner ear causes hearing loss. Once the damage is done, the sensitive inner ear mechanism can t repair itself and hearing loss becomes permanent. FACTORS THAT AFFECT HEARING Excessive noise is determined by measuring the volume of sound. Decibels are used to measure sound levels. Excessive noise is generally considered to be sound at a level of 85 decibels or more. An office has an average of decibels, an industrial setting at decibels and heavy industrial settings such as paper mills at 98 or 100 decibels. Sounds other than those on our jobs can affect hearing too. These include sounds from a kitchen blender at 85 decibels, a lawn mower at 95 decibels or a firearm at 150 decibels. Whether you are at home or on the job, another factor that affects your hearing is the kind of noise to which you are exposed. Noise can be either continuous or impulse. These factors, combined with how often and how long you re exposed to the noise, can cause harm over time. WARNING SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS You may have trouble hearing S and T sounds when people talk to you. People main complain that you re talking too loudly. Some people have a constant ringing in the ears, called Tinnitus. These are all signs of hearing loss. 2

3 HEARING TESTS To prevent hearing loss on the job, many employers test and monitor the sound levels in their facilities. They also check employee hearing with tests called audiograms. Audiograms are usually done once a year. Some companies use mobile vans that come to the worksite. The first hearing test you take is called the baseline audiogram. When the baseline results are compared with the results of future hearing tests, it s possible to tell if hearing loss has occurred. Sometimes a hearing problem calls for more extensive testing. That s done in a medical clinic by a doctor or an audiologist. USING HEARING PROTECTION The best way to avoid hearing loss is through prevention and that means wearing hearing protection. As a general rule of thumb, you need hearing protection if you re in a situation where you can t carry on a regular conversation at a distance of three feet without raising your voice. Your employer will provide a variety of hearing protection choices if you re exposed to excessive noise levels during the workday. You should also be trained so you can choose the right device for you. People have a lot of misconceptions about hearing protection: it s too big, too awkward to put in or just too much trouble to deal with. Like anything new, hearing protection will take a little time to get used to; once you are properly fitted and trained, using hearing protection becomes second nature and just another part of the job. There are three types of hearing protection: earplugs, which rest inside the ear canal; ear bands, which rest outside the ear canal; and, earmuffs which go over the ear. When worn properly, your hearing protection device should allow you to hear sounds such as conversations, safety sirens and equipment warnings, although the sounds will be softer. EARPLUGS Earplugs fit into your ear canal and form a light seal to keep excess noise out. Disposable earplugs are often made of foam and are designed for one-shift use, while reusable earplugs are pre-molded and designed to be used more than once. To properly insert foam earplugs, roll the plug into a crease-free cylinder between the thumb and forefinger. With the other hand, pull the ear out and up to open the ear canal. Place the plug well into the ear and hold in place for a few seconds to give it time to fully expand. Earplugs should be adjusted throughout the day because chewing and even talking can loosen the plug. Disposable earplugs should be discarded at the end of each shift. If they expand during the day so they no longer provide enough protection, or if they get dirty, get a new pair. Reusable earplugs should be cleaned with soap and water and dried each day, then stored in a clean, dry place. If they show signs of wear or don t fit properly any more, get them replaced. EAR BANDS Ear bands consist of pre-molded earplugs attached to band. They can be worn over the head, in front of the neck or behind the neck. Ear bands provide a less effective seal than earplugs, but they still provide protection. EARMUFFS Earmuffs cover the ear and can be worn as a separate unit or as part of a hardhat. Earmuffs are easy to put on, but some people find them heavier and hotter than earplugs if worn for a long period of time. To use earmuffs properly, first check the cushions for cracks, tears or other signs of wear. Center the muffs so they form a tight seal around the ears. Push aside hair to keep it from interfering with the seal. 3

4 Never wear earrings with earmuffs because they can affect the seal. Also, make sure glasses or eye protection doesn t affect the seal either. Check the seal and adjust the muffs throughout the day. Clean the cushions with a damp cloth when you re done using them and replace earmuffs when they show signs of wear. PREPARE FOR THE SAFETY MEETING OR TRAINING SESSION Review each section of this Leader's Guide as well as the videotape. Here are a few suggestions for using the program: Make everyone aware of the importance the company places on health and safety and how each person must be an active member of the safety team. Introduce the videotape program. Play the videotape without interruption. Review the program content by presenting the information in the program outline. Make an attendance record as needed and have each participant sign the form. Maintain the attendance record as written documentation of the training performed. Here are some suggestions for preparing your videotape equipment and the room or area you use: Check the room or area for quietness, adequate ventilation and temperature, lighting and unobstructed access. Check the seating arrangement and the audiovisual equipment to ensure that all participants will be able to see and hear the videotape program. Place or secure extension cords to prevent them from becoming a tripping hazard. CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION Begin the meeting by welcoming the participants. Introduce yourself and give each person the opportunity to become acquainted if there are new people joining the training session. Explain that the primary purpose of the program is to show viewers why it is so important to protect their hearing and also what devices they can use to prevent hearing loss. Introduce the videotape program. Play the videotape without interruption. Review the program content by presenting the information in the program outline. Lead discussions about specific job tasks at your facility that require hearing protection and why it is crucial for employees performing these tasks to always wear the required protection devices. Copy the review questions included in this Leader's Guide and ask each participant to complete them. After watching the videotape program, the viewer should be able to explain the following: How people hear sounds; Factors that affect hearing; Warning signs of hearing loss; Why using hearing protection is vital to preventing hearing loss; Proper use of earplugs, ear bands and earmuffs. 4

5 C3586 What?! Protect Your Hearing REVIEW QUIZ Name Date The following questions are provided to check how well you understand the information presented during this program. 1. Once the nerve endings in the inner ear are damaged, they cannot be repaired and hearing loss becomes permanent. 2. Excessive noise is generally considered to be sound at a level of decibels or more. a. 60 b. 75 c. 85 d Exposure to noise off the job does not affect your hearing. 4. A condition in which a person experiences a constant ringing in the ears is known as. a. Meningitis b. Tinnitus c. Hepatitis d. Encephalitis 5. As a general rule of thumb, you need hearing protection if you can t carry on a regular conversation at a distance of 10 feet without raising your voice. 6. Ear bands provide a less effective seal than earplugs. 7. Earrings should only be worn with earmuffs when you are sure you have a tight seal around the ears. 8. You should still be able to hear conversations, safety sirens and equipment warnings while wearing hearing protection, although the sounds will be softer. 5

6 C3586 What?! Protect Your Hearing ANSWERS TO THE REVIEW QUIZ 1. a 2. c 3. b 4. b 5. b 6. a 7. b 8. a 6

E4061 Hearing Conservation: Are You Listening, Jim? Leader s Guide

E4061 Hearing Conservation: Are You Listening, Jim? Leader s Guide ARE YOU LISTENING, JIM? This easy-to-use Leader s Guide is provided to assist in conducting a successful presentation. Featured are: INTRODUCTION