Queensland Laboratory News Details
HEARING AWARENESS WEEK 23 - 29th August
Added: 13 August, 2009
HEARING AWARENESS WEEK - 23-29 AUGUST 2009
The week will present an exciting opportunity for Australia’s Occupational Hygienists to raise the profile of the profession, while at the same time doing something worthwhile to address the massive hearing loss problem that resides in the workforce and in the general community. It is estimated that 22% of Australians over the age of 15 have hearing impairment and it is rare to find a Hygienist who doesn’t have noise management near the top of their priority list.
A large number of organisations, both private and public, will participate in activities that will run during the week mentioned. In some cases, groups and individuals will register their proposed initiatives via the Hearing Awareness Week website at www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au.
To support those members who may wish to generate presentations at various levels here are some websites that may be useful. These have been provided with the compliments of Pam Gunn, Senior Scientific Officer – Noise, WorkSafe Division, Department of Commerce, Government of Western Australia.
Useful links:
1. An on-line hearing impairment calculator. Calculates expected hearing loss due to years of exposure to noise and ageing according to the model given in International Standard ISO 1999. (From Germany)
http://www.dguv.de/bgia/en/pra/softwa/laermrechner/index.jsp
2. UK Health and Safety Executive Noise page - Hearing loss simulator, online hearing check, noise exposure calculator and noise control case studies.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
3. Sound Advice - UK HSE website giving practical advice for control of noise at work in music and entertainment.
http://www.soundadvice.info/
4. Noise Control - A Guide for workers and employers. (from US OSHA but based on original Swedish booklet) Gives clear examples of the different sources of noise and the principles for controlling them.
http://www.nonoise.org/hearing/noisecon/noisecon.htm
5. The Noise Reduction Ideas Bank (from US Washington State Dept of Labor & Industries) - a searchable database of noise control ideas from around the world.
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/ReduceHazards/NoiseBank/default.asp
6. NASA's Buy Quiet Program
http://atl.grc.nasa.gov/Industrial/Buy_Quiet/index.html
7. E-A-R Hearing Conservation - much information about hearing protectors from US expert Elliott Berger
http://www.e-a-r.com/hearingconservation/
8. Acoustical design for open plan offices (from National Research Council Canada)
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ie/cope/03-Acoustics_e.html
9. Control Guide - Management of Noise at Work (Safe Work Australia)
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/DFD85E29-E3A3-4E49-95C9-DD3F29E2DD70/0/noise_control.pdf
10. Best Practice noise control at source (UK Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre)
http://www.invc.co.uk/invc-free-information.php
11. WorkSafe WA's SafetyLine Institute website – further resources (See: Elements 50-54) at
http://bizline.docep.wa.gov.au/safetyline/students/elements.cfm?UnitNumber=DOCEP1
These include articles on basic acoustics, causes of hearing damage and noise control management.
12. Noise Control - A Guide for workers and employers. From US OSHA, but based on original Swedish booklet. Gives clear examples of the different sources of noise and the principles for controlling them.
http://www.nonoise.org/hearing/noisecon/noisecon.htm
More for the General Public:
1. Dangerous Decibels (from Oregon USA)
http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/
Includes a virtual exhibition - a collection of games, demonstrations and activities that will answer three important questions: What are the sources of dangerous sounds? What are the effects of listening to dangerous sounds? How do I protect myself from dangerous sounds?
2. Don't Lose the Music (from UK Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
http://www.dontlosethemusic.com/home/
An educational and campaign site to encourage people to listen to music responsibly.
3. Hear the World - an international initiative to educate the public on the importance of hearing.
http://www.hear-the-world.com/
4. AgHealth Australia - Noise Injury Prevention Project
http://www.aghealth.org.au/index.php?id=5037 - facts and pamphlets for farmers and shooters.
Author:
Dr Barry Chesson CIH, COH, FAIOH
Chair
AIOH Communications Committee