Insulate - The Essential Insulation Magazine - May 2018

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Protection
The assessment results should
inform employers’ decisions about
which control methods to use,
including which HPE to select, if it
is required.
As with any other workplace hazard,
those responsible for maintaining
workers’ safety should also follow
the established hierarchy of controls
when making these decisions.
The first step in this hierarchy is to
seek to implement ‘control at source’
measures. This can mean using less
noisy equipment or ensuring that
employees carry out their work away
from loud automated machines, for
instance.
In some cases, this may not be practicable.
In others, such measures may
reduce noise levels, but not enough
to eliminate the need for HPE.
Where HPE is needed, there are
two main things to consider regarding
the selection process. First, the
equipment must provide adequate
protection for the noise hazard
being faced. Second, it must be suitable
for the individual wearer, the
environment and the task at hand.
As with the hierarchy of controls,
these requirements apply to all types
of personal protective equipment
(PPE).
When considering HPE’s adequacy,
it may seem intuitive that the higher
the attenuation, the better. However,
this is not necessarily the case. If the
noise attenuation is too high, the
HPE may stop the wearer from being
able to communicate effectively,
or from hearing alarms and warning
sounds.
Suitability is important because it
makes the wearer more likely to use
their HPE properly. For example, if
ear defenders are too tight, workers
may find them uncomfortable,
making it more likely that they will
frequently remove or adjust them.
This can leave them exposed to
potentially hazardous noise.
To help select suitable HPE, employers
should offer a wide range
of products. Employees should also
be heavily involved in the selection
process. This can involve feedback
sessions, questionnaires, focus
groups and similar means.
Training
The assessment results should
inform employers’ decisions about
which control methods to use,
including which HPE to select, if it
is required.
As with any other workplace hazard,
those responsible for maintaining
workers’ safety should also follow
the established hierarchy of controls
when making these decisions.
The first step in this hierarchy is to
seek to implement ‘control at source’
measures. This can mean using less
noisy equipment or ensuring that
employees carry out their work away
from loud automated machines, for
instance.
Validation
The final step towards protecting
workers’ hearing is validation. This
means ensuring that the HPE works
as well in practice as it does on
paper.
Although manufacturers provide
data for their products’ attenuation
levels, protection will vary between
users, owing largely to their physical
differences and how they wear the
equipment. For example, those with
wider ear canals may receive less
attenuation than others with narrower
ones. Those who insert their
ear plugs incorrectly may also face
greater exposure to hazardous noise.
Fit testing equipment, such as the
E-A-Rfit Dual-Ear Validation
System by 3M, can quantify the
level of protection achieved by each
worker, accounting for all these factors.
To use it, the individual simply
inserts ear plugs that are wired to a
computer or laptop equipped with
easy-to-use software. After responding
to input sounds, the system gives
accurate results within seconds.
By adopting this simple four-step
method, employers can ensure that
they have covered all bases needed
to protect their workers from potential
noise hazards.
For more information about
hearing conservation, or to ask
questions about any other type of
PPE, call the 3M helpline on 0870
608 0060.
News from Insulate Network
Energy Efficiency
Awards Success for
Rilmac Insulation
At the 2018 East Midlands Energy
Efficiency Awards Rilmac insulation
were announced winners in the category
of insulation & fabric installer /
Contractor of the year.
Presented with the trophy at the
official awards dinner on Wednesday
night, Rilmac Insulation were worthy
winners for the professionalism
of their installation and the quality
of their insulation work on projects
throughout the year.
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