SOUNDS GOOD: Protect yourself against long-term hearing loss

In this U.S. Army file photo, Stan Barney
Capt. Jennifer Noetzel, chief of the Fort Drum Hearing Program, Preventive Medicine Department, fits an in-the ear TCAPS system for Pfc. Mark Epling, a member of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, during hearing equipment testing at Fort Benning, Georgia, in December 2012. (Photo Credit: Stan Barney)

From the U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Safety Office

ANSBACH, Germany (July 15, 2016) – You need sound to understand the world around you and to communicate with other people. Sounds tell you a lot about your environment. We rely on our ability to hear what other people are saying … a very good reason to take hearing protection seriously. Hearing loss caused by excessive noise occurs gradually, and it is irreversible.

If you work in a noisy environment, stay alert for early signs of hearing loss. One indication is “getting used to” the noise. If the noise bothers you less, you may be hearing less. Other signs: You are working with dangerous noise levels and there is a ringing in the ears or you experience a temporary hearing loss for a few hours after you leave work. If repeated, this temporary hearing loss can become permanent.

Here are two simple tests to help determine if you should be wearing hearing protection in your work area:

• Can you carry on a conversation in a normal tone? If not, the noise level may be too high.
• Are you hoarse from shouting over the noise? If so, the noise level may be too high.

Here are some ways to protect your hearing:

• As much as possible, remove yourself from noisy areas. In workplaces, loud machinery should be enclosed or otherwise separated from workers. Equipment should be kept in good repair so it runs more quietly. Alternatives to loud equipment and processes should be explored.
• You should receive regular hearing checks to determine if your hearing is being damaged. Be sure to co-operate with your employer’s hearing test program for your own safety.
• Wear the hearing protection recommended for your job. For many work situations, this will mean disposable foam earplugs. Ear plugs fit right inside the ear. They are usually made of foam and may be either disposable or reusable. They are rolled up and placed in the ear. Then they expand and block out the noise.
• Another type of earplug is made of hard plastic and is called a canal cap. Canal caps are similar to ear plugs. However, they are pre-formed. They are often attached to a headpiece to keep them from getting lost.
• For greater noise hazards, earmuffs are used. Ear muffs have cuffs which fit over the outer ear. Sometimes earplugs and earmuffs are used together to provide added protection.
• Maintain your hearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) according to the manufacturer’s directions. Use mild soap and water to wash your ear protectors regularly.
• Protect your hearing off the job, too. Use hearing PPE when working around noisy gasoline and diesel engines such as motorcycles and lawn mowers. Wear the appropriate PPE for recreational activities such as target shooting. Do not sit too close to the amplifiers at musical events, and keep the volume down on personal stereo headphones.

Noise-induced hearing loss occurs gradually, but it is permanent. Hearing loss can isolate you from Family, friends, and co-workers. The time to protect your hearing is now!

If you need assistance, contact Industrial Hygiene at 468-7872.

ARMY SAFE … ARMY STRONG!

For more on the USAG Ansbach safety program, visit www.ansbach.army.mil/safety.html.