Honeywell has published a new eGuide which outlines the four vital steps of a hearing conservation program.
The guide focuses on employee awareness of the risks associated with noise in the workplace, the benefits of hearing protection and the correct use of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs).
Honeywell Industrial Safety global technical training specialist for hearing conservation, Kjersti Rutlin, said safety managers need to look more closely at their approach to reducing noise risk in the workplace and consider how they are protecting workers’ hearing
According to Safe Work Australia noise induced hearing loss accounts for 11% of workplace claims.
“Noise induced hearing loss is an entirely preventable yet irreversible disease affecting a considerable number of Australian workers,” Rutlin said.
“It affects approximately 4700 people each year, or 11% of all occupational disease claims.
“Furthermore, it amounted to $41 million in workers’ compensation payments and had an estimated total economic cost of around $240 million.”
Rutlin said safety managers need to look more closely at their approach to reducing noise risk in the workplace and consider how they are protecting workers’ hearing.
He said implementing a successful hearing conservation program is paramount to reducing the incidences of NIHL.
“By following a few essential steps, health and safety professionals can encourage workers to take responsibility when it comes to protecting their hearing, and therefore reduce the potential for permanent hearing damage,” he said.
The eGuide from Honeywell looks at how those in the health and safety industry can assess the risk, choose HPDs that are fit-for-purpose, make sure they are worn correctly, and educate workers on protecting their hearing both on and off the job.
It explains that workers who are actively involved in the process are critical to a successful hearing conservation program.
“Only then will they fully appreciate the importance of preserving their hearing beyond the workplace and start to view HPDs as an essential piece of equipment,” Rutlin said.
Meanwhile, the latest whitepaper from Honeywell explores the causes and consequences of occupational noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) to help safety managers educate their workforce on the importance of adequate hearing protection.
“Since it shows no visible signs of injury and develops over time, NIHL can be difficult to detect,” according to Rutlin.
“For too long, the health and safety community has considered this topic a low priority, despite the devastating effect NIHL has on quality of life for those affected, not to mention the substantial cost to businesses and society.
“Educating workers and employers on the importance of hearing protection is crucial for change.”
The whitepaper approaches the topic by exploring what noise consists of and provides examples of noise levels in some common working environments. It then goes on to discuss the real cost of neglecting hearing protection to both workers and businesses, and the challenges associated with understanding the actual noise levels workers are exposed to.
Finally, it looks at how the recent changes to regulation and the latest advances in technology can help support hearing conservation efforts.
Download a free copy of ‘Understanding the causes of and consequences of occupational hearing loss‘ here: http://bit.ly/31lk05D
Download a free copy of ‘Key Steps to a Successful Hearing Conservation Program here: http://bit.ly/2RVg4p6