NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS NIHL BSUIR SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS (NIHL) BSUIR SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE APRIL 2015 BY ROMAN MATVEEV

H I N L n e o d a i u r s c i e e n d g o s s

Introduction to NIHL is “a hearing impairment resulting from exposure to high levels of noise”, and it is also commonly known as industrial deafness.

Statistics

NIHL Irreversible Reversible hearing loss

Intensity↔Pitch Sound Intensity (Decibels) Pitch (Hertz)

INTENSITY Intensity = 20 logreferenceparticular 20 d. B=10*log 1020 20 d. B=10*0 d. B 40 d. B=100*20 d. B 60 d. B=1000*40 d. B

85 d. B

Noise Level 94 d. B Movie 99 d. B Snowmobile 110 d. B Video Arcade 115 d. B Motorboat 120 d. B Rock concert 127 d. B Sporting events 154 d. B Car stereo 167 d. B Gunshot 180 d. B Firecracker Table 2

PITCH 20 Hz NIHL The upper limit of hearing range The lowest limit of hearing range 20004000 Hz 20, 000 Hz

Table 1 Approximate Decibel Level Examples 0 d. B The quietest sound you can hear 30 d. B Whisper, quiet library 60 d. B Normal conversation, sewing machine, typewriter 90 d. B Lawnmover, truck traffic Maximum daytime exposure: 8 hours 100 d. B Chainsaw, drill, snowmobile Maximum daytime exposure: 2 hours 115 d. B Sandblasting, loud rock concert, auto horn Maximum daytime exposure: 2 hours 140 d. B Gun blast, jet engine Noise causes pain and injures to unprotected ears. Maximum allowed noise with hearing protector

How our hearing works Micro. Film: How Our Hearing Works

Like blades of grass…

Means of Ear Protection Earmuffs Earplugs

Conclusion: We should remember ¡ NIHL is entirely preventable but once acquired it is irreversible. ¡ The haircells never grow back, they are unrecoverable. That is why we should take care today.

Statistics of NHIL claims Number of Claims for NIHL 1998 -99 1999 -2000 -2001 -2002 Claims for NIHL 5755 5280 5185 4510 Percentage of Total Disease Claims 24 22 21 19 Percentage of Total Disease and Injury Claims 3. 8 3. 5 3. 2 Claims in SA decreased from 370 in 1999 to 190 in 2002 Although the number of NIHL claims has been reduced, it does not mean that noise induced deafness has been reduced *most recent data available (2006)

Number of claims per hundred thousand employees Statistics of NHIL claims NIHL Claims per Exposed Employees (2001/2) The highest number of claims are made by: Labourers and related workers, 33% Tradespersons and related workers, 30% Intermediate production & transport workers (plant or machine operators or transport drivers).

Statistics of NHIL claims The average cost of workers compensation claims for NIHL in 2001/2 was calculated to be $6711. Therefore, for Australia, the direct cost of NIHL claims for 2001/2 is calculated to be $6711 x 4510 claims i. e. just over $30 million. This figure does not include Hearing Aid fittings

Prevention NIHL Noise Control and Hearing Loss Prevention Program Actions to reduce noise exposure eg. Noise insulation, ear protection Actions to monitor the health of employees eg, annual hearing screening programs Establishing a noise control policy and program will enable a systematic approach to hearing conservation in a company eg purchasing policy on equipment noise levels, mandatory ear protection, training programs for employees