Raise awareness about Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (ONIHL)

On average, hearing protection devices are only worn for about 38 percent of the time that a worker is exposed to excessive noise. A study from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences clearly shows that raising awareness among employees and providing proper training can have a positive impact on their wear rate.

Educate your employees so that you can

  • Reduce the risk of occupational noise induced hearing loss and deafness
  • Comply with occupational health and safety regulations regarding training for at-risk employees
  • Improve their hearing protection wear rate when they are exposed to noise
  • Motivate your employees so that they have a positive attitude towards hearing preservation. Ensure that they understand what’s at stake, and how important it is to be protected
Cotral Lab helps train employees understand noise-related risks

Raising awareness starts at the moment the ear molds are taken

Employee training and educating staff about Hearing Protectors

The first key step in your hearing preservation campaign is when the ear impressions (molds) are taken. This is done on-site, by a hearing protection specialist, at a time convenient for you.

During this appointment, your employees gain information about :

  • Noise and how the ears work
  • The risks of being exposed to noise without adequate hearing protection
  • Why they should wear their hearing protectors 100 percent of the time they are exposed to noise
  • How the ear molds are taken
  • The hearing protectors they will be provided with

Auditools: free awareness and training tools

Enjoy the benefit of free signs and awareness-raising tools :

  • "About Noise" signs explain how the ears work and the impact of noise on the unprotected ear
  • "Noise Scale" is a great reminder about how loud your specific industry can be, and which employees are most exposed at the plant
  • Other downloadable signs remind your employees how important it is to be protected the entire time they are exposed to noise, during working time as well as in their leisure time
Raising awareness about hearing protection

Successfully implement your prevention campaign

You want to reduce noise related risks in your business, but how do you begin ? What protection devices should you choose ? How do you involve your employees ? How do you facilitate the implementation of custom hearing protection solutions ?

Start with these three easy steps :

  • Setup your campaign timeframe
  • Use multiple communication channels, so your campaign can have a better impact
  • Repeat your messages frequently

Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 1269.3:2005) - Required Training Program

Employee Training and Education

The employer must institute a training program for all employees who need to wear hearing protection.

  • Training must be provided regularly, and at least annually, for each employee in the hearing conservation program
  • Training must be repeated at any time when equipment or circumstances change
Man thinking about hearing protection

The employer must ensure that training includes :

  • How hearing works
  • The harmful effects of noise
  • The purpose, use, care and maintainance of hearing protectors
  • The role of audiometric testing and an explanation of test procedures
  • The social handicaps of noise-induced hearing loss

(Source: www.osha.gov)