Noise & Hearing Conservation

NOISE & HEARING
CONSERVATION
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2a) Permissible Exposure Limit For Noise (Selected)
b) The effects of noise on hearing
c) The purpose of hearing protectors
d-i) Advantages and disadvantages of various types of
hearing protectors
d-ii) Attenuation of various types of hearing protectors
e) The selection, fitting, use and care of hearing protectors
f-i) Appropriate procedures & requirements of such tests
f-ii) The purpose of hearing tests
3) Summary
Introduction – What is sound?
 In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as a typically

audible mechanical wave of pressure and displacement, through a
medium such as air, and water.
 Sound pressure is the difference, in a given medium, between
average local pressure and the pressure in the sound wave.
 Other characteristics of sound – Power (W) and Intensity (W/m2)
 Ears detect changes in sound pressure, brain perceive these
changes
 Hearing threshold is 0.00002 Pa and pain threshold is 200 Pa
 Difference between “max” and “min” is 10,000,000 times
 Sound pressure level (SPL), Lp is a logarithmic measure of the
effective sound pressure of a sound relative to a reference value.
 pref (for sound in air) is 0.00002 Pa

Introduction – What is noise?
Noise is a sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected or undesired

Types of noise:
 Steady - Noise levels are fairly steady and meter reading
on slow response does not fluctuate more than 3 dB.
 Fluctuating - Noise levels are not steady and meter
reading on slow response varies over a 3 to 10 dB range.
 Impulse/Impact - A sudden loud noise that differs greatly
from the normal noise levels experienced in the workplace.
Exposure to Excessive Noise:

 Exposure to excessive noise can cause hearing loss.
 Commonly know as Noise-Induced Deafness (NID).
 NID is permanent and there is no known cure.
 Top Occupational Disease even if there are much under-reporting
 Best option is to prevent
Introduction – How loud is LOUD?
Rule of Thumb: When you feel the need to shout in order to be heard 1
meter away, the noise levels are probably 85 dB or more and hearing
protectors are recommended.
Permissible Exposure Limit For Noise (Selected)
Sound
Sound Pressure
Pressure Level,
Level, dB(A)
dB(A) Maximum
Maximum duration
duration per
per day
day
82
82 16
16 hours
hours
85
85 88 hours
hours
88
88 44 hours
hours
94
94 11 hour
hour
111
111 11 minute
minute
120
120 99 seconds
seconds
128
128 to
to 129
129 11 second
second
130
130 to
to 140
140 << 11 second
second
• Every increase in SPL by 3 dB (A), PEL is reduced by half.

• Duration of exposure per day is the sum of all exposure
durations, whether there is one continuous or multiple
separate exposures.
• All noises (continuous, impulse or impact) [80 to 140 dB(A)]
must be included in the computation of noise exposure.
The effects of noise on hearing
 Very loud sounds make the hair cells collapse and flatten
temporarily, resulting in temporary deafness.
 If this severe noise exposure is repeated over many years, the
hair cells in the inner ear become permanently damaged resulting
in permanent hearing loss.
 Once hearing is damaged, it cannot be repaired or replaced.
 You do not get used to noise; you gradually loose your hearing!
The effects of noise on hearing
Symptoms of NID – Late stage
Exposure to loud noise over many years

 Tends to speak loudly
 Experience difficulty in hearing telephone and ordinary
conversation
 Difficulty in hearing words and speech clearly especially in a
group
 Others complain that volume of TV & radio that you tune is too
loud
Note: How quickly hearing loss takes place depends on the intensity
of the noise, its duration, and how often the exposure occurs.
The purpose of hearing protectors
Use hearing protectors as PPE (last resort) only after all other
control measures have been considered.
•Hierarchy of control – elimination, substitution, engineering controls,
administrative controls, PPE
Hearing protectors reduce amount of noise traveling to the inner ear
Adv and Disadv of various types of hearing protectors
Adv and Disadv of various types of hearing protectors
Attenuation of various types of hearing protectors
Hearing protection is considered adequate when hearing protection is

able to reduce the noise level at the ear between 5 and 10 dB(A)
below the PEL for noise.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of Hearing Protector typically ranges

from around 15 to 30 dB. The NRR is provided by the manufacturers
and it differs from one model to another.
However as the effectiveness of hearing protection in the “real world”

may differ from the NRR that is derived from laboratory studies,
derating of NRR of the hearing protectors should be as follows;
• Ear muffs: subtract 25% from the labelled NRR

• Foam earplugs and custom moulded earplugs: subtract 50% from
the labelled NRR
• All other earplugs, including semi-inserts: subtract 70% from the
labelled NRR
The selection, fitting, use and care of hearing protectors
Selection of suitable hearing protector for a job should take into

account the following factors:
a) Approved hearing protectors
(appropriate attenuation data is available)
b) Sound attenuation requirement
(how much reduction in noise level is required)
c) Wearer’s comfort
(material, design, ease of fitting and removal, etc)
d) Working environment and activity
(humidity, dust, communications, etc)
e) Medical disorders (ear infection, skin disorder, etc)
f) Compatibility with other headgear such as helmets, spectacles,
etc
Proper Fitting & Use :

• Hearing protector must be properly fitted and used in order to
ensure its effectiveness in reducing noise exposure.
• Prior to using hearing protectors, it should be visually checked to
ensure that there is no deformity or damage.
• Hearing protector must be periodically checked during the work
day if it needs to be adjusted to maintain a reliable fit.
Ear-muffs
• Oval-shaped muffs to be worn so that
oval is vertical
• Hair should be brushed away from ear
• Muffs should cover the whole ear with
the cushion making a proper seal
• Muffs fit on the head snugly
Techniques for wearing earplugs

a. Disposable foam earplugs:
i. Roll and squeeze the
earplug.
ii. Pull the upper part of the ear
(pinna) up, out and back.
iii.Insert the foam earplug.
iv.Keep the plug in place using
a finger for five to ten
seconds while it expands as
this will prevent it from being
dislodged.
b. Reusable earplugs:
i. Pull the upper part of the ear Correct way of wearing
(pinna) up, out and back. disposable foam earplugs
ii. Insert the disposable earplug
till it fits snugly.
Ear plugs
 Keep clean and free of materials

 Wash in mild liquid detergent and warm water
 Squeeze excess water and air dry
 Discard plugs when hardened or do not re-expand
Cleaning of
earplugs
Dirty earplugs
Banded Ear Plugs
 Clean like normal ear plugs

 Do not tamper with the headband and the acoustic seal
Ear Muffs
 Keep clean and free of debris
 Clean cushions with warm soapy water
 Do not tamper with the acoustic seal between the cushions and
the headband
 Do not modify the ear muffs in any way
 Do not stretch or abuse the headband
Deformed ear muffs

Appropriate procedures & requirements of hearing tests
• Instrument used is audiometer

• Measurements:
- lowest audible sound determined (threshold)
- test over multiple frequencies (one frequency at a time)
- each ear separately tested
• Initial test is done to establish baseline on hearing status
• Subsequent tests done annually to check if there is any shift in
hearing threshold
 Stay 14 hrs away from loud noise to avoid inaccurate results due
to temporary hearing loss
 Best to take test before work
 Rest well before test and inform if have cold, allergy, sinus
problem
 Must inform if instructions given during test is not understood
The purpose of hearing tests
Why Conduct Audiometric Test?

 Establish baseline on hearing status
 Monitor effectiveness of hearing conservation program
 Help detect early signs of hearing loss
 Legal requirement for anyone exposed or likely to be exposed to
excessive noise
 Must be conducted by trained personnel
Summary
Summary of Key Points:

 Excessive exposure to noise over 85 dB(A) can cause hearing loss.
 Hearing loss is permanent and it cannot be cured or repaired.
 Several factors must be considered when selecting suitable hearing
protectors for a job.
 Hearing protectors must be properly fitted and used in order to
ensure its effectiveness.

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NOISE & HEARING

 In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as a typically

 pref (for sound in air) is 0.00002 Pa

Noise is a sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected or undesired

Exposure to Excessive Noise:

• Every increase in SPL by 3 dB (A), PEL is reduced by half.

Symptoms of NID – Late stage

Exposure to loud noise over many years

Hearing protection is considered adequate when hearing protection is

Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of Hearing Protector typically ranges

However as the effectiveness of hearing protection in the “real world”

• Ear muffs: subtract 25% from the labelled NRR

Selection of suitable hearing protector for a job should take into

Proper Fitting & Use :

Techniques for wearing earplugs

 Keep clean and free of materials

Banded Ear Plugs

 Clean like normal ear plugs

 Clean cushions with warm soapy water

 Do not stretch or abuse the headband

Deformed ear muffs

• Instrument used is audiometer

Why Conduct Audiometric Test?

Summary of Key Points:

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