veripro ® ear plug fit testing august 2010. 2 how much protection? 0 db 33 db ear #1 ear #2 ear #3
TRANSCRIPT
VeriPRO® Ear Plug Fit
Testing
August 2010
Attenuation can be determined at threshold, or above threshold
“Real-Ear Attenuation
at Threshold”
30 dB
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
“Real-Ear Attenuation
Above Threshold”
30 dB
VeriPRO allows the user to measure attenuation without interference from background noise levels
Determining Attenuation | Loudness Balance
Test Sequence
Part 1:Both ears
unoccludedThis sets the baseline level for each ear, and measures any asymmetry.
Part 2:Right ear occluded
Attenuation for the right ear is measured.
Part 3:Both ears occluded
Attenuation for the left ear is measured.
Result ~ Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR)
VeriPRO Test Protocol
Complete Check
● 5 freqs in each ear
● Includes reliability checks
● ↑ accuracy, ↑ test time
Quick Check
● 1 critical freq in each ear
● ↓ accuracy, ↓ test time
● Can use with severe hrg loss
ReportMode
● Individual
● Historical
● By freq.
Fit Training
● Videos
VeriPRO Functions
16
17
18
No earplugEarplug inserted
Adjust the left ear
User name
VeriPRO Step
19
20
21
22
23
1. Measures real-world attenuation of ANY earplug
2. Fulfills requirement to ‘ensure proper fitting’ of earplugs and evaluate their attenuation
3. On-screen training videos
4. Administered anywhere, quiet room not required
5. Protected exposure level and safe exposure level calculated
VeriPRO Benefits
24
25
VeriPRO® Q&A
28
“Will calibration of VeriPRO be available?”
“Can custom-molded earplugs
be used with VeriPRO?”
“Do Howard Leight earplugs test better
than others?”
“How reliable is VeriPRO?”
“Can workers with a hearing loss use
VeriPRO?”
“Why did I get a Low Attenuation
warning?”
“Why is 500 Hz tested twice?”
VeriPRO Q&A
29Rove Movement
500 Hz Retest(Complete Check Only)
≤ 6 dB
Attenuation
-10 dB
Reliability Report
VeriPRO Internal Quality Checks
30
31
Real-World Studies2007-2009
VeriPRO Real-World Studies
8 Locations (no pre-screenings)
100 Workers Tested
Casual Test Setting• HPD selected by worker• “Insert as usual”• Training feedback
disabled
Field Testing with VeriPRO
Variation from Published NRR
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Workers
Dif
fere
nce
in d
B
Distribution
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
-30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Variation from Published NRR
Wo
rker
s
Published NRR
VeriPRO Real-World Studies
Difference on 2nd / 3rd Test
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
Subjects
Var
iati
on f
rom
NR
R Published NRR
Many workers improve their protection simply by trying a different type of earplug
VeriPRO Real-World Studies
36
“How well can users predict their attenuation after a short fit-testing
training session?"
Pilot Study
37
Ability to Predict Noise Reduction
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Within 5 dB category
+/- 7.5 dB
(one Category off)
+/- 12.5 dB
(2 categories off)
Nu
mb
er
of
Ea
rs
(Eac
h s
ub
ject
est
imat
ed a
tten
. fo
r ea
ch e
ar)
56%
32%
12%
Pilot Study
38
OSHA Alliance: Best Practice Bulletin www.hearingconservation.org
Additional Information www.hearforever.org
Solution | Fit Testing
39
1. Annual employee training
2. New hires
3. Employees with shift in hearing
4. Extreme noise exposures (dual protection)
VeriPRO Usage
VeriPRO Implementation
40
41
Real-Ear
Attenuation at Threshold
(R.E.A.T.)
Loudness Balance
(Real-Ear Attenuation Above
Threshold)
Microphone in Real-Ear
(M.I.R.E.)
In-Ear Dosimetry
Ear Plug Fit Test Methods
42
Vs.Ear Plug Fit Test Protocols
Loudness Balance F-Mire
• NRR• Hearing Tests• No corrections required• Worker engaged• PAR• Like REAT
• NRR - EPA prohibits objective tests
• Corrections required• Worker as test fixture• Predicted PAR
43
FitCheck EARfit VeriPRO
REAT MIRE REAAT
Very Quiet Room Quiet Room Anywhere
PAR Predicted PAR PAR
Any earplugSelected modified
earplugs – ongoing costs
Any earplug
User generated training
Worker is test fixtureBuilt in training for
worker
Special training required
Special training required
Anyone can perform
Ear Plug Fit Test Methods
44
QuietDose
In-Ear Dosimetry As a Problem Solver• Continuously monitors in
noise level at the workers ear
• The only true measure of the hazard!
45
In-ear dosimetry measures/records worker’s actual noise dose, with and without protection
Provides real-time monitoring and alerts when worker approaches/exceeds safe limits
Only metric with direct potential to measure and prevent further progression of occupational hearing loss
46
QuietDose Research
47
• Mean Hearing Threshold (2k, 3k, 4kHz): 2000 – 2007 (N = 46)
• Employees using continuous in-ear dosimetry starting in 2005
Mean hearing threshold (2,3, and 4 kHz) Employees using continuous ESP starting in 2005
2000 - 2007 (N=46)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year of test
Mean
HTL
3,4,6
kHz
ESP Introduced trend line
Reducing Costs + ClaimsQuietDose Research
48
Preventive Action After NIHLIn practice, an OSHA-recordable STS is not a preventive action
It is documentation of a hearing loss after the fact.
How soon will an employee suffering NIHL be re-fit / re-trained ?
“Best case scenario” per Hearing Conservation Amendment
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Months
• Audiometric test • Retest • Notification
In-ear dosimetry “worst case” scenario …
1 Day
QuietDose
49
Off-job + On-job = STSOff-job + On-job = STS
QuietDose
50
In-ear dosimetry as a Problem Solver
• Employees with documented noise-induced hearing loss or Standard Threshold Shift [STS]
• Employees at-risk for NIHL
• Employee training + sampling
• Dual-protection/Extreme noise exposure
• Engineering controls
QuietDose
QuietDose Implementation
51
• Measure actual noise dose
• Continuous, real-time monitoring
• Notification of pending over-dose of noise
• Stops NIHL
52
• Expert support• No on-going costs• True PAR• Test any earplug,
anywhere• Worker involvement
creates self-efficacy• Built-in reliability checks
53
Make Hearing Conservation Part of Your
Everyday Life
54
Download today’s presentation at www.hearforever.org/dukeenergy
55
57
Lagging Indicators vs. Leading Indicators
Solutions
58
Indicators for Hearing Loss:• Standard Threshold Shift• Temporary Threshold Shift• Recordable Hearing Loss• Dosimetry• In-ear Dosimetry• Labeled NRR (derated?)• Personal Attenuation Level (PAR)
Solutions