Hearing Conservation

Noise exposure is one of the most common occupational hazards. Workers need hearing protection that can protect against these hazards while simultaneously allowing essential communication with coworkers and monitoring of the work area to alert against potential dangers of loud sounds. Improving hearing conservation in all aspects of the industry requires accurate detection of noise hazards, proper selection of hearing protection solutions, and comprehensive hearing conservation programs designed for the rigors of challenging workplace conditions.

Once the correct hearing protection has been specified, it is essential that it be adopted and worn in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Education about noise exposure is key; once workers understand the risks, they are much more likely to wear ear protection devices and encourage their colleagues to do so as well. This course will provide learners with key insights into all aspects of a positive approach to hearing conservation, along with a deeper understanding of noise as a hazard.

Hearing Conservation Course Content

This course will cover:

• Noise Exposure Monitoring: Measure noise levels and monitor employee exposures to identify which employees should be included in the hearing conservation programme.
• Overview of Noise Monitoring: Understanding the noise in the working environment and assessing if employees are exposed to potentially harmful levels of sound.
• Engineering and Administrative Noise Controls: Strategies to reduce employee noise exposure by controlling noise at its source, enclosing and/or isolating noisy equipment, limiting time spent in high-noise areas, and moving employees away from noise sources when feasible. 
• Protection: Determining the most suitable Hearing Protection Equipment (HPE) devices for your working conditions and the factors that influence choice. Providing a variety of hearing protection devices, including at least one type of earmuff and several types or sizes of earplugs. Hearing protectors must be capable of reducing the noise exposure of the wearer below the Upper Exposure Action Value of 85dB(A). Individual fit testing of employees helps to validate the fit of hearing protectors and understand a hearing protector’s effectiveness and the protection it offers the wearer.
• Audiometric Testing: Offering a baseline hearing test for each employee in the hearing conservation program as soon as possible after noise exposure begins and providing annual hearing tests as long as the employee is in the program to detect any work-related changes in hearing over time.
• Education: Highlighting the importance of training all employees enrolled in the hearing conservation program annually. Training should include information on how noise damages hearing, the importance of hearing testing, proper fitting and use of hearing protectors, motivational aspects related to how hearing loss may affect each worker personally, and the value of hearing well. 
• Legislation: Understanding the legal duties of the employer, Noise at Work Regulations, controlling and managing noise, how to establish noise burdens within the industry, exposure limits and action values, assessing the risk to health and safety created by exposure to noise levels within the workplace, eliminating or controlling exposure to noise in the working environment, documents referencing Hearing Protection Products and the Standards, predicting the attenuation provided by HPE devices and the desired level of protection to allow audible communication, peak sound pressures, and duties of manufacturers and suppliers of equipment. Health surveillance.
• Exposure: Discussing other harmful sounds outside the industry. Typical exposures in personal life that can also affect an individual's hearing over time, along with how they can be removed or managed.

Learner Numbers

In order to ensure the interaction between the learners and the tutor is spread evenly and effectively, the maximum number of learners allowed on a course is eight.