Hearing Loss Prevention Branch Agenda

Hearing Loss Prevention Branch Agenda Overviews Dr. Güner Gürtunca, R. J. Matetic Exposure Source/Dose Dr. Eric Bauer Engineering Controls I (Acoustic Test Chamber) Peter Kovalchik, Shawn Peterson Communication & PPE (Auditory Research Lab) Dr. Efrem Reeves Worker Empowerment & Education Robert Randolph Engineering Controls II (Hemi-Anechoic Chamber) Peter Kovalchik, David Yantek, Ellsworth Spencer Other PRL Facilities Ed Thimons and R. J. Matetic Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Hearing Loss In the Mining Industry: Overview of the NIOSH Hearing Loss Prevention Program at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory R. J. Matetic, Branch Chief Hearing Loss Prevention Branch Pittsburgh Research Laboratory The Hearing Loss Problem • High rates of hearing loss: – 50-90% of miners are hearing impaired by retirement age • High exposures – difficult to control – 50-75% of miners have over 85 dB(A)/8hrs exposure • Ineffective usage of hearing protectors – Most workers use them improperly Pittsburgh Research Laboratory HLPB – Evidence Package • HLR program goals: – Hearing loss prevention programs – Hearing protection devices – Engineering control of noise sources – Surveillance and risk factors • Mining strategic goal 2: Reduce noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the mining industry (page 26) – Four intermediate goals Pittsburgh Research Laboratory 4-Part Hearing Loss Program (Intermediate Goals) 1. Exposure source/dose measurement and tracking 2. Engineering noise controls 3. Worker empowerment & education 4. Communication in noise & PPE Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Mining Hearing Loss Prevention Program Controls developed Exposure Source & Dose Controls needed Engineering Controls Barriers to implementation Communication & PPE Noisy tasks/settings Barrier solutions 25% Reduction in Overexposure Barriers and needed innovations Barrier solutions Empowerment & Education Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Project/Program Breakdown (FY 05) Program area Project Exposure source & dose 1 project Engineering noise controls 4 projects Cross-Sectional Survey: Noise Exposure Patterns/Sources Pilot Study on Coal Cutting Noise Related to Continuous Mining Machines Engineering Noise Controls for Roof Bolting Machines A Health Hazards Study of Surface Drilling Operations Definition and Assessment of Engineering Noise Controls Empowerment & education 1 project Communication & PPE 1 project Health Communication Interventions for Hearing Loss Prevention Hearing Protection and Audibility Considerations Majority of resources devoted to engineering noise controls Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Funding Breakdown (FY 05) Project Cross-Sectional Survey: Noise Exposure Patterns/Sources Personnel 246,589 Discret. 20,930 Total 267,519 Pilot Study on Coal Cutting Noise Related to Continuous Mining Machines Engineering Noise Controls for Roof Bolting Machines A Health Hazards Study of Surface Drilling Operations 135,158 386,618 10,000 613,000 569,000 for chamber 26,800 145,158 999,618 318,535 345,335 Definition and Assessment of Engineering Noise Controls Health Communication Interventions for Hearing Loss Prevention Hearing Protection and Audibility Considerations 396,354 253,323 212,656 76,000 47,455 17,825 472,354 300,778 230,481 802,128 (Support and non-research accounts) Grand Total 3,563,371 Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Project/Program Breakdown (FY 06) Program area Exposure source & dose 1 project Project Cross-Sectional Survey: Noise Exposure Patterns/Sources Engineering noise controls 3 projects Empowerment & education 1 project Pilot Study on Longwall Mining Machine Noise Sources Engineering Noise Controls for Horizontal Vibrating Screens Engineering Noise Controls for Roof Bolting Machines Worker Empowerment Interventions for Hearing Loss Prevention Communication & PPE Hearing Protection and Audibility Considerations 1 project Total funding: $2,344K ($1,884K personnel, $460K discretionary) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Hearing Loss Prevention Branch Organization Chart R.J. Matetic Branch Chief Rita Y. Baileys Secretary Audiology & Interventions Team Robert F. Randolph Team Leader Noise Control Team Peter G. Kovalchik Team Leader Daniel R. Babich Eric R. Bauer Roberta L. Hudak Arthur J. Hudson Efrem R. Reeves Lynn A. Alcorn Paul Jurovcik Pat McElhinney Jeffrey S. (Shawn) Peterson Adam Smith Ellworth R. (Bud) Spencer David S. Yantek Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Hearing Loss Prevention Branch 16 Current Employees • 12 Professionals • Professional Degrees • 1 Supervisory General – 2 PhD Engineer – 1 ABD (PhD cand.) • 3 Mining Engineers – 7 Master’s • 4 General Engineers – 8 Bachelor’s • 2 Mechanical Engineers • 4 Support staff • 1 Psychologist – 1 Secretary • 1 Occupational Health Nurse – 3 Technicians Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Hearing Loss Prevention Facilities Hearing Loss Prevention Unit Mobile testing & interventions Acoustic Test Chamber Precision measurement of total sound power Hemi-anechoic chamber Pinpoint noise source identification Auditory Research Laboratory Hearing protector evaluation Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Hearing Loss Prevention Branch Next: Exposure Source/Dose Dr. Eric Bauer Pittsburgh Research Laboratory