can you hear me? an introduction to hearing loss prevention in agriculture can you hear me? an...

Can You Hear Me? An Introduction to Hearing Loss Prevention in Agriculture

Can You Hear Me?An Introduction to Hearing Loss Prevention

In Agriculture

Janet Ehlers, R.N., M.S.N.

Occupational Health Nurse

Pamela S. Graydon, M.S., COHC

Electronics Engineer

The results reported in this workshop represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of the

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.


Janet Ehlers, R.N., MSNOccupational Health Nurse

[email protected]

Pamela S. Graydon, M.S., COHCElectronics [email protected]


WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT?

Damage to Hearing including:

Hearing Loss

Tinnitus

How to Prevent the Damage

Hints and Resources


Disclosure:

There is no commercial support for this activity.

CDC, our planners, and our presenters wish to disclose they have no financial interests or other relationships with the manufacturers of

commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters.

Presentations will not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use.


For Continuing Nursing Education for Nurses (CNE): 1.2

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This activity provides 1.2 contact hours.

Continuing Education Contact Hours in Health Education (CECH): 1.5

Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

This program is designed for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) to receive up to 1.5 Category I CECH in health education. CDC provider number GA0082.

IACET Continuing Education Units (CEU): 0.1

The CDC has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. The CDC is authorized by IACET to offer

0.1 ANSI/IACET CEU's for this program.

For Continuing Nursing Education for Nurses (CNE): 1.2

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This activity provides 1.2 contact hours.

Continuing Education Contact Hours in Health Education (CECH): 1.5

Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

This program is designed for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) to receive up to 1.5 Category I CECH in health education. CDC provider number GA0082.

IACET Continuing Education Units (CEU): 0.1

The CDC has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. The CDC is authorized by IACET to offer

0.1 ANSI/IACET CEU's for this program.


To receive continuing education –

Can You Hear Me? … Hearing Loss Prevention In Agriculture

Presented on Tuesday, June 7, 2011Course number: EV1726R

Verification Code: farm_noise (note the underscore)

Must be completed by July 7, 2011• Go to the CDC Training and Continuing Education

Online at http://www.cdc.gov/tceonline

Search & register for this course . • Complete and submit your evaluation and posttest• Your CE certificate will be located at the

Transcript and Certificate section of your record• Complete application for CE within 30 days• For more detailed instructions, e-mail me at [email protected]


Occupational Safety and Health Act Of 1970

• To ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.


Occupational Safety and Health Act Of 1970

• OSHA - U.S. Department of Labor– Develop and enforce workplace safety and health

regulations.

• NIOSH - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services– Provide research, information, education, and

training in the field of occupational safety and health.


Noise-Induced Hearing Loss • An acquired hearing loss

• Begins at the higher frequencies (3,000 to 6,000 Hz)

• Develops gradually as a result of chronic exposure to continuous or intermittent noise– Nail Guns, Generator Running, Engine Noise, etc.

• Develops suddenly as a result of a single impulsive noise exposure.– Gunfire ,Fireworks, etc.


Who is at Risk?

33% of all people who are exposed to hazardous noise at work will develop Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

Even young people are at risk:

12-15% of people between 6 and 19 years old show signs of Hearing Loss.


Bilateral Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in 872 Wisconsin High School Students

Live andWorkon Farm

Little or noFarmExposure


• PAINLESS• PROGRESSIVE • PERMANENT

...but it is also PREVENTABLE

Noise-induced hearing loss is:


How Does Noise Damage Hearing?


Healthy Cochlea

Damaged Cochlea

National Hearing Conservation Association


Healthy Hair Cells

Damaged Hair Cells


You Have Killed the Hair Cells Associated With the Nerve

Fibers

They Have Died.

NOW WHAT???


How Do We Measure Sound?

Decibels (dB) = How loud it is

Frequency = High pitch vs. low pitch


Frequency (Hz)H

eari

ng

Lev

el (

dec

ibel

s) 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

500 1000 2000 3000 4000 6000


By age 25, the average carpenter or millwright has 50-year old ears!

Frequency (Hz)

He

ari

ng

Lev

el (

de

cib

els

)

You do not have to lose your hearing as you get older.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

500 1000 2000 3000 4000 6000

Carpenter, age 25

Healthy age 50 non-noise exposed maleCarpenter, age 55


Tinnitus

• One form of damage results in tinnitus

• A ringing, buzzing, whistling, clicking, hissing, chirping or other noise, – heard in the ear in the absence of

environmental noise.


Tinnitus: What does it mean when you have it?


94%

6%

Tinnitus

No Tinnitus

21%

79%

Tinnitus

No Tinnitus

Non-Noise Exposed Workers

Noise Exposed Workers

Percent of People With Tinnitus

American Tinnitus Association


Hearing Loss Does Not Mean Everything Is Just Quiet

“I thought if I lost my hearing, it would be quiet. But that constant ringing keeps me awake at night and I can’t hear my friends very well on my cell phone.”


Hearing Loss Impacts All Aspects of Life

“My little girl doesn’t understand why I can’thear what she iswhispering in my ear. she says . . . Mommyhears me when I whisper.”


How Can You Protect Yourself, Students, & Others

From Damaging Hearing?


What You Should Do To Prevent Hearing Damage

Hierarchy of Controls:

Reduce the noise or isolate the worker from the noise

(Engineering controls)

Remove the worker(Administrative controls)

Use Hearing protection devices


Warning Signs of Too Much Noise

• Raise your voice to be heard at arms length• Feeling of “fullness” in ears• Ringing in ears• Huh? What?• Blasting radio/TV• Raised Blood Pressure• Tired, Stressed


Hammer DrillHammer DrillChain SawChain Saw

Chop SawChop SawMiter SawMiter Saw

Impact WrenchImpact Wrench

Tile SawTile SawCircular SawCircular Saw

Hand DrillHand DrillMetal ShearMetal Shear

RouterRouter

PlanerPlaner

Belt SanderBelt Sander

Table SawTable SawOrb. Sand.Orb. Sand.MortisingMortising

75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115

Tas

k/T

ool

Noise Levels forCommon Tools


Key Factors for SelectingHearing Protection Devices

– Type – Intermittent or continuous noise– Comfort – RIGHT SIZE– Environment – grease, dirt– Communication - co-workers and equipment

NIOSH Hearing Protector Device Compendium


Over 400 available

The Best choice…The one that is -worn correctly when needed

--best suited for the job


The plug is best rolled between the fingertips

One-handedOne-handedOne-handedOne-handed


Formable Earplugs Roll down slowly.

Make sure you don’t get creases.

Reach over you head to straighten the ear canal.

Insert and hold for about 10 seconds. ????

Perform the hands over the ears test to determine if you

have a good fit.

Roll down slowly.

Make sure you don’t get creases.


Insert and hold for about 10 seconds. ????

Perform the hands over the ears test to determine if you

have a good fit.


Premolded EarplugsHold the stem of the plug.


Insert so that all flanges are inside the ear canal.

Perform the tug test to determine if you have a

good fit.

Hold the stem of the plug.


Insert so that all flanges are inside the ear canal.

Perform the tug test to determine if you have a

good fit.


Bands

- Can be labeled with student’s name- Teachers can see if they are wearing- Hang around neck when not needed and put on quickly- Have replaceable tips, no need to replace whole band


Why do people say they do not wear hearing protection?


Cost

NO EXCUSE

– Disposable plugs available for $0.18

– Custom plugs can cost hundreds of dollars but last for years and are tailored to different exposures


Communicationand Hearing Equipment

NO EXCUSE– Electronic devices can make communication

easier.

– Hearing can be temporarily impaired during a day if noise is excessive. Therefore, you may be less able to hear your equipment due to hearing loss later in the same work day than earlier.


Comfort

NO EXCUSE

– Over 400 types available

– Different sizes available for different size ears

– Can be custom fit


Convenience

NO EXCUSE

– Easily removed and hung around the neck until needed

– Kept on belt or hard hat

– Left in the workers’ toolbox

– Available at each machine that is excessively noisy


Culture – Peer Pressure

NO EXCUSE Especially for teachers and supervisors

– Teachers can eliminate this aspect by requiring hearing protection use in labs and modeling the appropriate use of hearing protection yourself.


Maintain hearing protection

• Keep them clean• Store them appropriately• Replace them when needed

• When plugs or seals feel different • When plugs or seals appear dirty

• Do not alter them• By cutting flanges• By putting holes in them• By adding your own string


Other Sources Of Hearing Damage

• Pesticides

• Organic solvents

• Carbon Monoxide

• Medications, e.g. aspirin and anti-inflammatories

• Smoking

• Leisure activities


How loud are you listening?

Nick tells you

Instructions available at dangerousdecibels.orgInstructions available at dangerousdecibels.org


Personal Music Players


Jo Farmer CarlieDave and Shari Kuther - PAF Amy Rademaker - PAFClinic Nurse Specialist Farm Safety Specialist St. Mary’s Hospital & Clinics, ID Carle Foundation Hospital, IL


Hints and Resources

Dangerous Decibels Teacher Kit

Handout of our slides

Posters

List of Resources (Websites)

Brochures (Hard copy or electronically)

Your Local Community


Free Brochures

NIOSH Publication No. 2007-175NIOSH Publication No. 2007-175 NIOSH Publication No. 2007-176NIOSH Publication No. 2007-176


Free NIOSH Companion Brochures

• They’re Your Ears – Protect Them

(Pub. #2007-175; red)

• Have You Heard? (Pub. #2007-176; blue)

• Access online at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/pubs/ no pubs.html

• Order in bulk via [email protected]

Provide complete mailing address and phone number


Community ResourcesVolunteers ?

• Local large company– Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (20

hour course)– Occupational Health Nurse– Safety director

• School Speech Pathologist

• School nurse – with additional education

• Audiologist


Turn That Down! Before you pop in those EARBUDSArticle in FFA New Horizons

December 2009

Sound Advice Through the YearsA narrative, interactive activity

Deborah Reed, RN, PhD; University of KY NAAE Communities of Practice*

Classroom-ready resource

*National Association of Agricultural Educators. Their website is available free to anyone.


Hearing SafetyClassroom-ready materials

http://www.gactaern.org/foundationskills.html. Scroll down to FS7.3 on hearing safety.

Georgia (GA) Agricultural Education Curriculum Office.

Sound Ideas Program University of Arkansas (AR) Division of Agriculture's

Cooperative Extension Service (4-H)Used in AR and Colorado (CO) with the STEM program

LaVona Traywick, University of AK

Willa Williams, CO State University


Upcoming dates & times (Eastern Daylight)

Can You Hear Me?... Agriculture

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 2:30-3:45 pm

Hearing Conservation in Schools:

What School Nurses Need to Know

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 3:00-4:00 pm

For additional dates and participation information

e-mail: [email protected] for an electronic

announcement you can forward to others


www.cdc.gov/niosh

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/youth

www.cdc.gov/nasd

Janet Ehlers, RN, MSN: [email protected]


WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT!

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Noise

Hearing Protection

Hints and Resources.


It’s Really Pretty Simple. . .Wear This Now. . . Or Wear This Later!

Per Pair

Standard issue $0.18-$7

Newest Technology ~$250

Each Ear

Standard issue ~$300-$600

Newest Technology ~$3500-$5000


This is your ear. This is your ear on noise.

Any questions?


To receive continuing education –

Can You Hear Me? … Hearing Loss Prevention In Agriculture

Presented on Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Course number: EV1726Q Verification Code: farm_noise

Must be completed by June 14, 2011• Go to the CDC Training and Continuing Education

Online at http://www.cdc.gov/tceonline

Search & register for this course . • Complete and submit your evaluation and posttest• Your CE certificate will be located at the

Transcript and Certificate section of your record• Complete application for CE within 30 days• For more detailed instructions, e-mail me at [email protected]


Take Home Message

Select appropriatelyWear correctly

Wear in loud noise - alwaysHave an assortment for students

can you hear me? an introduction to hearing loss prevention in agriculture can you hear me? an...

Documents

hearing loss prevention

health education cech

health education credentialing

hearing loss tinnitus

education units ceu

agriculture disclosure

agriculture janet ehlers

msn occupational health