Ear protection

Exposure to high noise can cause hearing impairment. It can create physical and psychological stress. There is no cure for noise-induced hearing loss, so the prevention 

Developing a Safety and Health Program, Second Edition 

Preformed or molded earplugs should be individually fitted by a professional. When properly inserted, they work as well as most molded earplugs. The individually fitted earplugs are fitted by a professional because they are only for a specific task determined with a sound level meter measured at a slow response. Due to a worker s mobility, personal monitoring is conducted by the use of a noise dosimeter. 

Some earplugs are disposable, to be used one time and then thrown away. The non-disposable type should be cleaned and inspected after each use for proper protection. 

Ear muffs need to make a perfect seal around the ear to be effective. Glasses, long sideburns, long hair, and facial movements such as chewing, can reduce protection. Personal protective equipment should be provided and must be used if feasible engineering controls fail to reduce sound levels to the levels specified by Title 29 CFR 1910.95—Occupational Noise Exposure. 

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Goggles/face screens, gloves/protective clothing, ear protection, barrier creams... 

Effects of use of safety equipment assessed apposite possible creation of additional hazard (e.g. loss of ability to hear emergency signals while wearing ear protection) ... 

In addition, high temperature surfaces around cylinders and discharge piping are exposed. Compressors are notoriously noisy. For this reason, ear protection should be worn. When working around high-pressurized air systems, wear safety glasses and do not search for leaks with... 

Permanent damage to hearing can be caused at sound levels above about 90 dB(A), and it is normal practice to provide ear protection in areas where the level is above 80 dB(A). 

Because the sum exceeds 1.0, employees in this environment are immediately required to wear ear protection. On a longer-term basis, noise reduction control methods should be developed for the specific pieces of equipment with excessive noise levels. 

CAUTION Sodium nitrotetrazolate dihydrate is an energetic material with sensitivity to various stimuli. Particular care should be taken to not excessively dry the material, as anhydrous NaNT is considerably more sensitive than the dihydrate. While we encountered no issues in the handling of this material, proper protective measures (face shield, ear protection, body armor, Kevlar gloves, and earthened equipment) should be used at all times. 

Figure 11.1 Author s daughters Claire and Jane exhibit ear protection before a display.

CAUTION Sonication, filtration, and transfer should be performed in a fume hood. Personal protection equipment—laboratory coat, gloves, and safety glasses—must be used. Ear protection should be utilized during sonication. 

The other environmental impact consideration is noise. The air compressor with its tail-gas expander and steam-turbine drive could present a problem. Therefore, this unit should be enclosed in a brick building to contain the noise, with those working inside the building required to wear approved ear protection. 

Noise levels MRI scanners used rapidly switching magnetic gradients and as the coils expand and contract, high auditory noises and vibrations, which can reach 130dB (the sound intensity of a jet engine), can be emitted, so appropriate ear protection is required. 

Industrial and mining settings should require ear protection (plugs or muffs) for noise above a certain decibel level, hard hats for head protection, and steel-toed shoes for foot protection. A safety harness should be worn when sampling from heights. A full protective suit should be worn when in extreme heat or cold or near hazardous chemicals. Check to see whether mechanical equipment must be shut down to sample safely. Eye or face protection should be worn if hot gases may be released to the atmosphere. In some circumstances, weather may be a factor. In the field, local terrain may require special gear. 

Ear protection can be carried out naturally and by using hearing protection devices. The ear itself has a protective mechanism that helps... 

Caution. During these, and all subsequent manipulations with the autoclave under pressure, ear protection should be worn in case the bursting disc blows. 

Wearing ear protection devices at continuous noise levels greater than 85 dBA can prevent or reduce the danger of permanent hearing damage. 

Most countries have adopted 85 dBA as the limit for the permissible noise. At any workplace with sound levels exceeding 85 dBA, ear protection devices must be worn, and workers exposed to this level should have their hearing level checked periodically. 

There are three places noise can be reduced at the source, in the path between the source and personnel, and on the persormel [16]. The ideal place to stop noise is at the source. There are several techniques used in the flare and burner industry to reduce the noise at the source, however, these techniques are limited. Ear protection can reduce noise relative to the personnel using it, unfortunately a plant operator cannot ask a surrounding community or workers within a nearby office building to wear ear protection when the noise levels become a problem. The most common method for reducing noise is in fhe pafh befween the source and personnel using silencers, plenums, and mufflers. The purpose of fhis section is to discuss fhe most common and effective noise abatement techniques utilized in the flare and burner industry. 

Wear eye protection Wear safety helmet Wear ear protection Wear respirator Wear safety boots Wear protective gloves... 

Beware of health hazards for installers. They should wear breathing masks and eye and ear protection. 

If there is a noise problem, it will be necessary to wear ear protection. 

Has adequate PPE, e.g. hard hats, safety boots, overalls, gloves, dust/vapour masks, life-jackets, buoyancy aids, immersion suits, goggles, ear protection and wet weather gear been provided ... 

At the first action level an employee must be provided with ear protection (ear muffs or ear plugs) on request. At the second action level the employer must reduce, so far as is reasonably practicable, other than by providing ear protection, the exposure to noise of that employee. 

Protection against noise is best achieved by controlling it at source. Wearing ear protection must be a last resort. Employers should ... 

New regulations introduced in 2006 reduce the first action level to 80dB(A) and the second level to 85dB(A) with a peak action level of 98dB(A) or 140 Pa of pressure. Every employer must make a noise assessment and provide workers with information about the risks to hearing if the noise level approaches the first action level. They must do all that is reasonably practicable to control the noise exposure of their employees and clearly mark ear protection zones. Employees must wear personal ear protection while in such a zone. 

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