Noise and Hearing Conservation
For supervisors, coordinators, committee members and workers in noisy workplaces: how noise destroys hair cells and causes the noise notch and tinnitus, decibel arithmetic, distance, weighting and octave bands, the 85 dBA Lex,8 limit with a 3 dB exchange rate under Ontario Regulation 381/15, BC Part 7, Alberta Part 16, Quebec and the federal 87 dBA rule, sound level meters, dosimeters and CSA Z107.56 surveys, dose and Lex,8 for mixed and long shifts, engineering controls from source to receiver and buy quiet, administrative controls and CSA Z1007 hearing loss prevention programs, CSA Z94.2 protector classes, NRR derating and dual protection, fitting, fit testing and wear time, audiometric testing, significant shifts and compensation, impulse noise, ototoxic chemicals and special settings, and a capstone plant program.
HSE-241 12 lessons · 5 h 29 min
Offered by HSM University · Safety Training
This is the Canadian version of this course. See the American version.
What you'll learn
- Explain how the ear works, how noise destroys hair cells and auditory nerve connections, and how noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus appear on audiograms and in daily life.
- Apply decibel arithmetic to combine and subtract sources, estimate the effect of distance, interpret A-weighted and C-weighted levels and octave band data, and recognize low-frequency noise.
- Apply the criterion level, exchange rate and peak limit used in Canadian jurisdictions, including Ontario Regulation 381/15, BC Part 7, Alberta Part 16, Quebec and the federal COHSR, and describe the program requirements that follow.
- Plan noise measurements for different purposes, choose and set up sound level meters and dosimeters, check calibration, and average readings on an energy basis.
- Calculate noise dose, Lex,8 and TWA for mixed and extended shifts under different rules, identify the tasks that drive the dose and allow for measurement uncertainty.
- Rank noise sources and select engineering controls at the source, along the path and at the receiver, including enclosures, barriers, absorption, silencers, isolation and buy-quiet purchasing.
- Use administrative controls appropriately and describe the elements, roles and evaluation of a hearing conservation program.
- Compare hearing protector types, interpret CSA Z94.2 classes and the NRR, apply derating and dual-protection rules and avoid over-protection.
- Fit hearing protectors correctly, explain individual fit testing and personal attenuation ratings, and quantify the effect of wear time on protection.
- Describe baseline and periodic audiometric testing, significant shift criteria, follow-up, confidentiality and workers' compensation for noise-induced hearing loss in Canada.
- Assess and control impulse noise, recognize ototoxic substances, and adapt noise programs to construction, entertainment, call centres, firing ranges and other special settings.
- Design, cost and evaluate a hearing conservation program for a workplace, and identify the weaknesses of an inadequate draft program.
Course content
12 lessons · 5 h 29 min total · final exam
- 1 How hearing works and how noise damages it 32 min · quiz
- 2 Sound basics for noise control 30 min · quiz
- 3 Exposure limits and the law 26 min · quiz
- 4 Measuring noise: instruments and surveys 30 min · quiz
- 5 Interpreting exposure: dose, TWA and Lex,8 27 min · quiz
- 6 Engineering noise control 27 min · quiz
- 7 Administrative controls and hearing conservation programs 26 min · quiz
- 8 Hearing protectors: types, ratings and derating 27 min · quiz
- 9 Fitting, fit testing and wearing hearing protection 26 min · quiz
- 10 Audiometric testing and hearing loss records 25 min · quiz
- 11 Impulse noise, ototoxic substances and special settings 26 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: a hearing conservation program 27 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
For supervisors, coordinators, committee members and workers in noisy workplaces: how noise destroys hair cells and causes the noise notch and tinnitus, decibel arithmetic, distance, weighting and octave bands, the 85 dBA Lex,8 limit with a 3 dB exchange rate under Ontario Regulation 381/15, BC Part 7, Alberta Part 16, Quebec and the federal 87 dBA rule, sound level meters, dosimeters and CSA Z107.56 surveys, dose and Lex,8 for mixed and long shifts, engineering controls from source to receiver and buy quiet, administrative controls and CSA Z1007 hearing loss prevention programs, CSA Z94.2 protector classes, NRR derating and dual protection, fitting, fit testing and wear time, audiometric testing, significant shifts and compensation, impulse noise, ototoxic chemicals and special settings, and a capstone plant program.