Of all of the occupational health issues facing organizations today, noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common.In the United States alone, over 30 million people are exposed to noise every year, and nearly one in four cases of hearing loss among workers is caused by exposures on the job. Frighteningly, the number of employees affected by noise is steadily increasing each year, despite the fact that NIHL is completely preventable. It is clear that action must be taken to arrest this trend. The most effective way to combat this threat is through education of both the workforce who are exposed to noise and the staff who look to protect them. This webinar will: provide a definition of noise. discuss the importance of noise induced hearing loss as an occupational disease. describe the different physical impacts of noise. outline best practices for implementing and improving a hearing conservation program.

2. REGISTER NOW:
• Sign up for our free webinar on Noise
Induced Hearing Loss – Jan 28, 11:00am –
12:00pm Eastern US.
http://www2.medgate.com/NIHL-slideshare

3. Noise induced hearing loss is the most
common permanent and preventable
occupational injury in the world.
World Health Organization
“
”

4. OCCUPATIONAL NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS
• Long-term exposure
• Temporary or permanent
• Initially effects high frequencies
Speech recognition
• Cannot be treated or corrected
NIHL is permanent, fortunately it is
100% preventable

5. AUDITORY EFFECTS
• Acoustic trauma
hearing damage caused by short burst of
extremely loud noise
• Temporary hearing loss
Occurs immediately after exposure to a high level
of noise, complete recovery may take several
hours
• Tinnitus
Ringing or buzzing in
the ear

6. AUDITORY EFFECTS
• Permanent hearing loss
Progresses constantly as noise exposure continues
month after month and year after year.
Permanent and irreversible hearing damage has
occurred.
Noise-induced hearing damage cannot be cured
by medical treatment and worsens as noise
exposure continues.

7. NON-AUDITORY EFFECTS
• Non-auditory effects of noise may include:
Anxiety
Stress
Higher blood pressure
Depression
Fatigue
Withdrawal from social activities
Poor digestion

8. HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Identify
noise
hazards
Exposure
Monitoring
Assessment
and Corrective
actions
Hazard
Communication
Worker
Education
Periodic
review

9. HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM
1. Review work areas, work processes and operations
2. Observe workers and tasks completed during shift
3. Identify areas in the workplace where high noise levels
exist
4. Identify workers that may be exposed
5. Document assessments
Identify Noise Hazards

10. NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS
Causes no pain
Causes no visible trauma
Leaves no visible scars
Is unnoticeable in its earliest stages
Accumulates with every overexposure
Takes years to notice a change
Is Permanent & 100% Preventable

11. REGISTER NOW:
• Sign up for our free webinar on Noise
Induced Hearing Loss – Jan 28, 11:00am –
12:00pm Eastern US.
http://www2.medgate.com/NIHL-slideshare