Factors Affecting Hearing Conservation
Program Effectiveness
This project involves developing a systematic and comprehensive
approach to the evaluation of hearing conservation programs (HCP)
required as part of the noise and hearing conservation standard.
This study involves developing evaluation methods using data routinely
collected as part of the standard and supplemental information provided
through program audits and employee-centered focus groups to gauge
company commitment to health and safety activities. This supplemental
information was used to better understand how implementation of
the program has changed over time and what factors impacted these
changes. The study examines 15-30 years of longitudinal HCP data
in relation to noise exposure, degree of compliance with OSHA standards,
changes in hearing protection use, and non-occupational factors.
Various hearing health outcomes will be examined and compared to
available standard populations and contemporary industrial reference
populations developed as part of this study. Longitudinal models
describing rates of hearing loss as a function of noise, age and
other risk factors will be compared across study plants with varying
degrees of compliance to the hearing conservation standard to assess
whether proactive programs do a better job of protecting workers’
hearing relative to those that implement the minimum requirements
under the standard.
Model Hearing Conservation Programs
for Miners
NIOSH, in a collaboration with an extramural partner, is implementing
a Model Hearing Conservation Program for an underground mine. The
program will incorporate the best practices of well-run programs
in other industries and will evaluate the effectiveness of this
strategy over a five to six year period.
Preventing Hearing Loss from Chemical
and Noise Exposures
The objective of this project is to develop guidelines on how to
address the auditory risk from chemical exposure or mixed noise
and chemical exposures.
There are chemicals commonly found in industry, construction, and
agriculture that are hazardous to hearing alone, or when combined
with noise. There is very little awareness in the occupational health
community of the chemical hazards to hearing. Standard hearing conservation
practices focus entirely on noise and do not take into account the
potential risk to hearing posed by chemical exposures. When chemical
exposure limits are set, rarely are auditory effects are taken into
consideration. NIOSH has been a pioneer in the research on the effects
of chemicals and noise on hearing and now is in a position to develop
recommendations for the occupational health community, and disseminate
this information to its stakeholders. Ultimately, information obtained
in this effort could be used to reduce the risk of work-related
hearing loss and increase awareness of the ototoxic potential of
chemicals alone and when combined with noise.
- Presentation: Addressing the Risk
of Hearing Loss from Industrial Chemicals
Flash Version
The Role of Emotion in Promoting Hearing
Conservation Behaviors Among Coal Miners
NIOSH and researchers from Michigan State University have been working
with the United Mine Workers of America to increase hearing protection
behaviors among coal miners in the Eastern United States. Using
a theoretical framework for message adoption or rejection, the study
will examine methods to motivate miners to take the individual steps
necessary to encourage hearing protection. A randomized study design
will be used to determine which of four possible messages is the
most effective at encouraging changes in behavioral intention related
to hearing protection among the target population.
Hearing Loss Intervention for Carpenters
The comprehensive hearing loss prevention program (HLPP) for carpenters,
designed to cultivate behaviors to reduce the incidence of occupational
hearing loss, will field-test HLPP and collect survey and observational
data to assess the program's effectiveness in promoting carpenters'
work site hearing health behaviors. Measures to be evaluated include
factors related to cost-effectiveness and feasibility of the program,
as well as knowledge gained by participants through training, behavioral
intentions of participants, and correlations with actual workplace
behaviors. The results of this effort will contribute directly to
a reduction in noise-induced hearing loss among construction workers.
The model approach used in this program may also be applicable to
a wide range of occupationally noise-exposed workers.
Accomodation of Noise-Exposed, Hearing-Impaired
Workers
This project proposes to develop a standard evaluation and intervention
protocol to be recommended for the accommodation of noise-exposed,
hearing-impaired workers so that they can continue to perform their
jobs safely and prevent additional hearing loss. Workers who have
hearing impairment face special problems, especially when working
in hazardous noise environments. Standard hearing conservation practices
do not take into account the special problems encountered by noise-exposed,
hearing-impaired workers. Initial research efforts will be directed
toward investigating the factors that affect a hearing impaired
worker in noisy environments. Subsequently, an intervention strategy
will be developed and evaluated.
- Presentation: Issues Regarding
Hearing Protection Device Use in Manufacturing and Mining
Powerpoint Version (2MB)
Evaluation of HLP Programs