Listen Up! From the NHCA Experts…

March 26, 2024|Hearing/Noise, Industrial Hygiene in the Workplace

Safe-in-Sound Award: Real-World Successes in Hearing Loss Prevention

By: Thais C. Morata, NIOSH Senior Research Audiologist and NHCA Expert

Figure 1: Team that conducted a site visit at Dow’s Kendallville site in Indiana. Back row: Sean Clinning, Steve Mynhier, Ben Roberts*, Matt Sczepanski, Scott Nofsinger. Front Row: Ben Davidson, Thais Morata*, Vanessa Marshall, Sara Joswiak [Dow employees and Members of the Safe-in-Sound Expert Committee*]

Since 2009, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) and the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) have recognized those who demonstrate excellence or innovation in hearing loss prevention.

Dow is the winner of the 2024 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award™ for its outstanding efforts in raising awareness and transforming the culture around noise levels in its operational improvement efforts (see figure 1). The company achieved early success in implementing effective noise control and hearing loss prevention measures.

Testimonials highlighted issues such as noise exposure, hearing difficulties, stress and communication challenges—which significantly helped bolster the company’s efforts. Their strategy included identifying high-priority noise risks (using the recommended exposure level of 85 dBA, 3-dB exchange rate); using them to make a case for change; setting goals to fix the problems; and tracking progress over time. In addition, they implemented better hearing protection and fit-testing approaches, and they expanded training while long-term fixes were completed.

Figure 2: Boothless audiometry and fit-testing of hearing protectors at the Fort Liberty Hearing Program, U.S. Army.

The winner of the 2024 Safe-in-Sound Award for Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention is Lieutenant Colonel Kara Cave, U.S. Army. Throughout her career, LTC Cave has been a champion for evidence-based program advancements that have improved access to hearing healthcare and led to positive outcomes for the people and organizations she serves.

LTC Cave used a data-driven approach to demonstrate the benefits of various clinical and program initiatives (see figure 2)—to obtain support and investment for programs designed to prevent hearing loss; evaluate fitness for duty; and assess the effects of specialized hearing protectors on situational awareness.

More details on their interventions are available on the Safe-in-Sound website. Nominations are being accepted for the next round of awards. You can nominate others by June 8, 2024, or you can self-nominate by August 19, 2024.

Visit NHCA at: https://www.hearingconservation.org/

Disclaimer: Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.