|
Petrotrin has
embarked upon an
aggressive
Occupational Health
programme for its
employees. The
Industrial Hygiene
group has commenced
a series of
monitoring and
training programmes
designed to minimize
Occupational Health
issues in the
Company. The Noise
and Hearing
Conservation
programme has been
successfully
delivered throughout
the majority of the
Company and is
continuing on an
ongoing basis.
Noise and Hearing
Conservation Program
What is Noise?
Noise
is any unwanted
sound. Sound is
measured in
decibels. Noise is
created when any
material vibrates in
air. This vibration
can be a single
sound wave, such as
when a hammer
strikes a nail, or a
continuous vibration
created by running
equipment.
|
|
How we hear
The ear is made up
of three parts – the
outer, middle and
inner ear. The outer
ear is the part you
can see and it is
designed to collect
sound waves and
direct them to the
middle ear. The
middle ear is
composed of the
eardrum and small
bones that transmit
sound vibration to
the inner ear. The
inner ear contains a
fluid filled spiral
called the cochlea
which contains small
hair-like cells.
Sound causes the
fluid to move which
causes the hair-like
cells to bend. This
creates a signal to
the auditory nerve
which transmits the
impulses to the
brain which
interprets the
signals as sound.
Back
to Top |
|
What is loud
noise?
Studies have shown
that exposure to
noise levels at or
above 85dBA over an
8 hour period can
mean the risk of
hearing loss. To
understand the level
of noise, a typical
vacuum cleaner has a
noise level of about
70 decibels and a
lawn mower has a
level of about
100dB. Hearing loss
caused by noise
exposure depends on
three factors:
|
1. |
How loud is
the noise |
|
2. |
How long you
are exposed |
|
3. |
How often
you are
exposed |
|
Back
to Top |
|
|
How
do you know if the
noise level is too
loud?
If you have to shout
to someone that is
just 2 or 3 feet
away in order for
them to hear you,
then the noise level
in your area is too
loud.
Causes of hearing
loss
|
Aging |
As we age,
the
hair-like
cells in the
inner ear
can stiffen
or shrink.
This reduces
the ability
of these
cells to
react to
sound waves. |
|
Illness |
Diseases can
cause damage
to the
middle ear,
inner ear or
auditory
nerve. Any
damage can
cause loss
or reduction
of hearing. |
|
Noise
Exposure |
Frequent
exposure to
loud noises
or a single
exposure to
a very loud
noise can
damage the
inner ear. |
|
|
Signs of hearing
loss
 |
Ringing,
roaring or
whistling in
the ear |
|
|
Problems
understanding
normal
conversations |
|
|
Need to turn
up the radio
or
television
to
understand
voices |
|
|
Problems
locating
sources of
sound |
Back
to Top |
|
How can I protect
my hearing?
At
Home
|
|
Use sound-
absorbing
materials to
reduce noise
at home.
Rubber mats
can be put
under noisy
kitchen
appliances.
Curtains and
carpeting
also can
help reduce
noise. Storm
windows or
double-pane
windows can
reduce the
amount of
noise that
enters the
home |
|
|
Avoid using
several
appliances
at the same
time. Try to
keep
television
sets,
stereos and
headsets low
in volume |
|
|
Avoid trying
to drown out
unwanted
sound with
other
sounds. For
example, do
not turn up
the volume
on your car
radio or
headset to
drown out
traffic
noise or
turn up the
television
volume while
vacuuming |
|
Back to Top |
|
|
How can I
protect my hearing?
On the job
|
|
Be conscious
of the noise
in your
environment.
If you are
standing
three feet
away from
someone and
you can’t
hear what
that person
is saying to
you the
noise level
is likely
damaging to
your hearing |
|
|
Reduce noise
exposure by
spending
only the
time
necessary
for the
effective
operation of
the facility |
|
|
Wear hearing
protection
devices
(earplugs,
earmuffs
etc) when
operating
machinery or
when exposed
to
continuous
noise |
|
|
Persons
exposed to
noise levels
of 85
decibels and
over should
have their
hearing
tested every
year |
|
|
Tell your
colleagues
of the
importance
of wearing
their
hearing
protection
devices and
encourage
them to do
so |
|
Back
to Top |
|
Petrotrin’s
Noise and
Hearing
Conservation
Program
Petrotrin
has
undertaken a
Noise and
Hearing
Conservation
program. The
primary goal
of the
Company is
to reduce,
and
eventually
eliminate
hearing loss
due to
workplace
noise
exposures.
The program
includes the
following
elements:
|
|
|
Noise Area
Monitoring |
|
|
Personnel
Monitoring |
|
|
Hearing
Conservation
Training |
|
|
Audiometric
Testing |
|
