Did you know that OSHA can fine your company for a willful violation if you disregard emloyee heath and safety by not providing annual audiometric testing when employees are exposed to harmful noise? You can also be cited for not having a hearing conservation program, if applicable to your operation. Makes sense, right?
But how did that standard threshold shift occur when you have a program in place, you provide annual audiometric testing, and you require hearing protection? How can that employee have an audiogram that shows a change? It may come down to one simple explanation...the employee is not wearing their hearing protection appropriately. Just because you walk by and see them with earplugs in their ears does not mean they have inserted them correctly to obtain the maximum protection provided by the protective equipment.
A good reference video on how to insert foam earplugs can by found by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvG5oVW6FCo&feature=related
Use this video, or another resource you may have access to, to remind your employees how to properly fit hearing protection so they can maximize their benefits. Information on hearing conservation articles and information can be found at
http://hearing-protection.4ursafety.com/
You can follow specific blogs on hearing protection (and other safety topics) at
http://www.blog4safety.com/category/hearing-protection/
You can obtain information on hearing conservation for the hearing impaired at
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