Transcript Noise-Induction Hearing Loss in the Construction Industry

NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
For ACCSH Meeting 3/15/01
Carol Merry Stephenson, Ph.D.
Mark Stephenson, Ph.D.
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
OVERVIEW
• Review of the problem
• Highlights from recent and ongoing research
• What’s new in technology and at NIOSH?
HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
Hearing loss from noise is the
most common occupational
illness (NIDCD), and the
2nd-most self-reported
occupational illness for American
workers.
NIHL accounts for about 1 in 5
losses severe enough for a person
to report trouble hearing (AAA).
Construction noise:
many sources, hours, variable levels; dynamic
Neitzel
Which Construction Workers are at
Risk?
• Highest Risk:
– Projects: road construction, carpentry,
concrete
– Trades: carpenters, laborers, operators,
ironworkers, sheet metal workers
– Stage: excavation, erection, finish
• Studies small; need comprehensive assessments
Neitzel
Task/Tool
Noise Levels for
Common Tools
Mortising
Orb. Sand.
Table Saw
Planer
Belt Sander
Router
Metal Shear
Hand Drill
Circular Saw
Tile Saw
Impact Wrench
Miter Saw
Chop Saw
Chain Saw
Hammer Drill
75 80 85
90 95 100 105 110 115
No. Peaks >140 dBA
Impulsive Peaks by Trade
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
carpenters
laborers
ironworkers
operators
electricians
Neitzel
Hearing Loss Among Male Carpenters
as a Function of Age
So what…
People lose their hearing
anyway as they age.
The Average 25 Year Old Carpenter
Has 50 Year Old Ears!
OSHA Standard for Construction: 29 CFR 1926.52
PEL of 90 dBA
What Constitutes A Hearing Conservation Program?
OSHA
06/29/1992
Compliance
Letter
•
•
•
•
•
•
Noise monitoring
Controlling excessive noise
Individually fitted protection
Education/Training
Baseline & annual audiometry
Procedures for preventing
additional hearing loss
• Record Keeping
THE CHALLENGE:
How can hearing
conservation
programs be
developed for
construction that
follow prevention
guidelines and
regulations without
ignoring the
concerns of labor
and management?
NIOSH HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS
Remove the hazard
Remove the worker
Protect the worker
Photo Courtesy of Rick Neitzel
PREVALENCE OF PROGRAM ASPECTS
BY COMPANY SIZE
90
80
70
60
Small
Medium
Large
50
40
30
20
10
0
Audiometry Monitoring
HPDs
Percent of Companies in Michigan That Provided
Monitoring Hearing Tests - 1999
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Ag
ri
Tra
Co
Ma
Mi
n
n
nuf
nsp
str
i
cul
n
g
act
uct
ort
tur
u
atio
i
e
on
rin
n
g
Percentage of Time Hearing Protectors
are Worn “Most of the Time” When
Working in Loud Noise
100
80
60
40
20
0
Hearing Conservation Professionals
Carpenter Safety Trainers
Carpenters
Don’t make the mistake of
thinking your job is over if
you simply provide hearing
protection and periodic
hearing tests.
Without training
workers how to
recognize noise
hazards, utilize noise
controls, and use
hearing protectors,
you may be wasting
your money.
Factors Affecting Behavioral
Change:
Organizational Level
Individual Level
• Knowledge/beliefs
•
•
•
•
Attitudes/values
Readiness for change
Decision-making style
Skills/ Self-efficacy
• Worksite norms- safety
culture
• Union/ management
priorities (TIME!)
• Modeling by trainers &
foremen
• OSH curricula during
apprenticeship
• Environmental support
INFLUENCING HEARING HEALTH
BEHAVIOR AMONG WORKERS
Studies utilizing a health communication/ promotion
approach indicate that education and training
must address two concepts:
Remove Barriers
Develop Self-Efficacy
Research by NIOSH, Drs. Lusk, Kerr, Lankford & others!
PERCENT
I believe exposure to loud noise can hurt my hearing.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
67
33
0
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Neither
0
0
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
UBC
PERCENT
I think my hearing is being hurt by exposure
to loud noise at work.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
43
45
10
2
0
Strongly Agree Neither Disagree Strongly
Disagree
Agree
What are some of the barriers cited by
construction workers and their
supervisors?
THE FOUR C’s
•Comfort
• Convenience
• Cost (personal & $)
• Communications / hear
important sounds
THERE ARE OVER 200 DIFFERENT HEARING PROTECTORS.
EVERYONE CAN FIND A PROTECTOR THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
THE BEST HEARING PROTECTOR IS THE ONE THAT’S
WORN!
RESULTS OF FOCUS GROUPS
Workers may be less
concerned about getting
a hearing loss then about
developing tinnitus.
“I expected to lose my
hearing. But, I thought
it would be quiet.”
Percent of People With Tinnitus
6%
Tinnitus
No Tinnitus
94%
Non-Noise Exposed Worker
79%
Tinnitus
21%
No Tinnitus
Noise Exposed Workers
American Tinnitus Association
Does this research-based communication
stuff result in education & training
programs that really work? You bet !
PERCENT
I think it will be hard to hear warning signals (like
back-up beeps) if I am wearing hearing protectors.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
55
Pre Training
Post Training
37
25
20
7
31
2
5
7
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Neither
11
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
PERCENT
Wearing hearing protectors is annoying.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Pre Training
Post Training
43
39
30
20
15
6 7
6 3
Strongly
Agree
28
Agree
Neither
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
What Training Approaches &
Messages Make Sense to
Construction Workers/ Managers?
• Get their attention
• Raise their consciousness
• Provide Information that enables people
to do the right thing
Engage All Stakeholders
“Engage persons
having an investment
in what will be
learned ...and what
will be done with the
knowledge”
Agree on expected
effects of the
training:
• Increase use of controls
• Increase use of HPDs
• Decreased incidence
of hearing loss
Use Credible Data- Site
Specific If Possible
• Perceived by
stakeholders as
believable
• Useful, feasible,
accurate, &
representative of
crafts at site
Blah, blah, blah…
Blah, blah, blah...
Share and Apply Lessons Learned
Training does not
automatically translate
into action--it takes
effort.
•All stakeholders need
feedback.
•Need a “Champion” to
actively follow-up
This is your ear.
This is your ear on noise.
Any questions?
Raise Awareness
It’s Really Pretty Simple…..
• Wear this now...
Get their attention
• Or wear this later!
Available protection vs. the amount of
protection obtained by untrained workers.
30
Decibels
25
20
29
15
21
10
5
26
23
26
22
17
13
7
2
0
Plug A
Plug B
Plug C
5
Plug D
8
1
Plug E
Plug F
5
Plug G
Likely protection as worn by untrained worker
Amount of protection listed on the box
Effect of not wearing your hearing protector
on the amount of effective noise reduction
TRAINING HELPS YOU AND YOUR WORKERS
MAKE SMART CHOICES ABOUT HPDs.
UNDER PROTECTION
Protection
in the
real
world
OVER PROTECTION
Ability
to hear
critical
sounds
Perhaps Best of ALL-Education & training will enable you to take advantage
of exciting new and emerging technologies.
• HPD rating methods
• “Flat” attenuation HPDs
n
Dose =
• Communication devices
• Fit-testing
• TTS monitors
• Personal noise monitors
• Records/Information management
i=1
Ci
__
Ti
X 100
Estimated Hearing Protection in an A-Weighted
Noise Environment as a Function of Rating Method
25
22
20
19
18
17
16
Lab
Fit
15
15
Subj.
Fit
11
10
8
6
5
5
6
1
0
EAR
EP-100
V-51R
UF1 Muff
OSHA
derate
New Flat Attenuation
&
Communication Devices
New Methods for Estimating Actual Performance
FIT-TEST METHOD
• Fit-test system feasible for
field use
• Using fit-test enabled
workers to learn to
correctly fit a new plug
• Knowledge gained and
consciousness raised
TTS Monitoring
• New Devices
• Training exercises to
teach self-monitoring
(RADIO exercise)
PERSONAL NOISE MONITORING
Measurement Number
31
29
27
25
23
21
19
17
Inside ESP
15
11
9
7
5
3
Ambient
13
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1
Percent dose
Noise dose: Ambient vs. Inside ESP
Industrial Sand Mine
HearSaf 2000 Information Management System
http://www.safe-at-work.com
New NIOSH Noise Efforts
Relevant to Construction
• Developed with input
from NORA Hearing
Loss Team
• Involves crossdivision collaborations
with staff from
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati,
and Spokane.
Possible External Partners:
We Are Seeking Others!
• LABOR
–
–
–
–
UMWA
USWA
UAW
UBC&J
• Equipment Manufacturers
– JOY
– Fletcher
– Others …
• Operators & Trade Associations
– BCOA, NMA, NSA
– CONSOL, Newmont, others
OVERALL EMPHASIS OF
NIOSH NOISE PROGRAM
• Assess workplace factors
and existing knowledge
• Conduct and evaluate
intervention efforts
• Disseminate information
and evaluate efforts
ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC AIM
Convene workshops,
meetings, and symposia
to obtain input,
facilitate collaboration,
and disseminate
findings.
NO NOISE!
PROGRAM SUMMARY
• Individual projects capitalize on the strengths of
existing facilities and expertise throughout the Institute
• Strong linkages to existing projects and external
partners from labor, industry, academia, etc.
• Data collection activities will support multiple projects
• Projects are designed to take advantage of unique
opportunities and to address historic barriers
• Outcomes from projects satisfy both short and long
term needs in hearing loss prevention
The New NORA Projects
1) National Surveillance of Noise Exposure and Hearing
Loss/ John Franks
2) Definition and Assessment of Engineering Noise
Controls/ David Podobinski
3) Web-based outreach to small constuction and mining/
Carol Merry Stephenson
4) Accommodation of Noise-Exposed, Hearing-Impaired
Workers/ Thais Morata
5) Noise Sampling strategies and Exposure-Response
Models/ Mary Prince
Web-Based Outreach to Small
Construction & Mining
Noise Control and Hearing Loss Prevention
Assess the quality and availability
of current information.
Determine new information needs.
Create an appropriate web-site to
www.nidcd.nih.gov
meet identified needs &
coordinate on-going output from
all aspects of NIOSH noise
program.
Evaluate the web-site & products www.hearingconservation.org
This is your ear.
This is your ear on noise.
Any questions?
NIOSH Toll-Free Number: (800) 35-NIOSH
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
Mark R. Stephenson, Ph.D.
(513) 533-8144
[email protected]
Carol M. Stephenson, Ph.D.
(513) 533-8581
[email protected]
Just a Few WiseEars Web Links
www.nidcd.nih.gov
www.cdc.gov/niosh
www.aearo.com
www.3m.com
www.howardleight.com
www.hearnet.com
www.hearingconservation.org