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| • HEARING LOSS - The Number 2 Recordable Illness in the Manufacturing Sector as reported by BLS data. |
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| • The CavCom solution: When clear communication is critical |
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| HEARING LOSS - The Number 2 Recordable Illness in the Manufacturing Sector as reported by BLS data. |
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| (National Safety Council, Injury Facts ® 2008 Edition. Itasca, IL.)
It has been 25 years since OSHA implemented its Hearing Conservation Program rules (1910.95). The use of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) is obvious with factory floors and parking lots littered with used HPDs. Despite the apparent use, it appears that OSHA rules and hearing conservation practices are not working very well with hearing loss being the number 2 recordable illness for the manufacturing sector.
Hearing loss is an injury that is not as obvious as are hand, eye or head injuries. The onset is gradual and insidious, thus, workers are unaware of the injury until it is upon them. The most common symptom of noise induced hearing loss is the inability to understand speech, especially when background noise is present. This is not a good scenario for safety or productivity if communication is required in the work environment.
Industry Trends
- Implement policy requiring a minimum NRR 30 for HPDs
- “Double Protection” required in noise levels above 100 dBA
- A misconception that high NRR Values ensure employee protection
Real World Factors
- NRR is a laboratory value that is seldom achieved in daily HPD use.
- Workers control HPD effectiveness by their personal method of insertion and may achieve only a few dB of noise reduction – or none at all.
A Solution · CAVCOM · For THE PERFECT FIT
CAVCOM hearing protection ear sets and radio communication systems offer a solution to this ubiquitous problem. Lightweight, comfortable and protective with up to NRR 31.
- Universal or Custom ear sets have the microphone and speaker inside the ear to allow safe radio messages – behind the protection of the NRR ear piece.
- HPD effectiveness is monitored every time the worker transmits for a constant fit test. (Good seal, clear – Poor seal, garbled) Proof of Protection!
- Immediate Communication is essential for employee safety and efficiency. CAVCOM makes this possible in high noise and with respirator use.
Visit CAVCOM at Booth 466 at ASSE – Experience our unique SOLUTIONS!
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| The CavCom solution: When clear communication is critical |
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Clear communication in a high-noise environment can mean the difference between life and death. Often, companies boast that, “Our employees are our greatest asset.” Would you equip your greatest asset with anything less than the most reliable, rugged two-way communication system available? Because accurate operations call for accurate communications, industry calls on CavCom Inc.
Traditional communications equipment such as bone mics, throat mics, mask mics and lapel mics have been plagued with problems, which, in turn, creates a potentially dangerous situation for those needing to communicate through the devices. CavCom offers a true solution for respirator communications.
Communication: the vital link
Ineffective communication is often a key factor in responding to incidents and subsequent investigations, according to John Henshaw, former assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.
“In a majority of the cases, communication has been a contributing factor in an unsuccessful response whether the method of communicating wasn’t easy to use or the language used wasn’t consistent or understood clearly,” he explained.
Communication is the vital link.
“Proper communication is the only way that expectations can be made clear as to what performance is expected and what are the safest behaviors and procedures to follow,” Henshaw said. “That is, making sure the words being spoken are clear in order to properly understand the communication and that the words being used are encoded and translated properly by the receiver.
“You have no hope of getting the first part of that equation right unless you have the right equipment to make that happen — a system that won’t create barriers to communication.”
According to Henshaw, the biggest problem with traditional communications equipment is difficulty of use.
“Often, they are not easy to use without distracting the responder from what he is trying to do,” he said. “Also, if a responder is trying to communicate during an emergency, a different tone of voice is often used, which is also a little louder as the communicator is often a little more excited. You don’t have much time to banter back and forth in the communication to assure the correct message is conveyed. Therefore, the equipment should be able to accommodate different tones of voice and different sound levels because there will be quiet times and times of excitement, and there will be times when the responder will have to talk over other noise.
“A responder wants a device that he can use to convey the message one time and not have to be repetitious, which consumes valuable time in an emergency situation.”
From a safety and health perspective and OSHA compliance standpoint, the communication device that a responder uses cannot impact the integrity or effectiveness of PPE, including respiratory protection.
“The communication equipment cannot interfere with the ability of the respiratory protection to perform its function, and if it is part of the equipment or could potentially interfere with the PPE, the respirator should be approved with that device as an integral part of the PPE,” Henshaw explained. “An external device that does not have the potential to interfere with the PPE is another way around this problem.
“As we perfect our emergency response and deal with threats of terrorism, chemical exposures and other hazards, PPE and full containment will become more commonplace. The technology around communications systems is going to be more critical.
“Responders will need to use more effective devices for communications during these events, and that is why I think CavCom’s technology deserves a lot of attention.”
“All in the Ear”
CavCom’s “All in the Ear” two-way radio communication product line was designed for very high-noise environments and for use with head and face protection. Each system consists of a control unit, radio adapter, ear set and hand-held two-way radio. Features include an intrinsic safety rating, user “side tone” and remote PTT buttons for “hands free” use.
CavCom’s system is totally adaptable to any make or model of respirator without modification to the face mask. The device adapts to any two-way radio system, which means you do not have to replace your existing radios. The ear set can be used with any PPE — hardhats, respirators, face masks, winter clothing, helmets, bunker gear and safety glasses.
A refreshing alternative to cumbersome, bulky, old-fashioned head gear, CavCom’s ear sets weigh less than two ounces and fit entirely into the operator’s ears. The device is universal — one size fits anyone. Easy to fit and comfortable to wear, the device provides excellent hearing protection — NRR 29 — for the highest noise environments. No headset or boom microphone is required.
For extremely loud environments, double hearing protection is possible as ear muff devices can be worn over the ear set without breaking the ear seal. Additionally, the device features noise filtering to enhance speech in noise, muting background sound.
CavCom’s system is safe and effective in extreme conditions — petrochemical plant, ammonia refrigeration, corrugator, fire service, HazMat, paper mill, food processing, rescue, steel mill, textiles and snowmobile/ATV — where clear and immediate communication is absolutely critical.
“10 times better than anything on the market”
Kent Harmon, managing partner of Industrial Consultants, has been doing business with CavCom for about 10 years. His company conducts HazMat training, so communications equipment is essential to his business.
“We always try to use the best of every product that we can find in our business,” Harmon said. “We feel that it has a positive effect on the way that our clients perceive our business.
“When we began our relationship with CavCom 10 years ago, its radio systems were 10 times better than anything on the market then, and still are.”
Harmon appreciates the reliability and quality of CavCom’s systems.
“The failure rate is super low,” he said. “The only time that anything fails on the radios is generally our problem — like a dead battery. With our old systems, anything would go wrong, but CavCom’s systems are rugged. You can buy cheaper stuff, but it won’t be anywhere near the quality.”
When Harmon and the team at Industrial Consultants needed a system to hold their communication equipment, CavCom developed a pouch for them.
“Now we just put the pouch over the responders, and that has worked even better for us,” Harmon said. “The people at CavCom are very personable, professional and responsive. I recommend CavCom nationwide any time because the quality is phenomenal.”
“CavCom … the best thing that I found”
Jim Thomas, corporate safety specialist at Leprino Foods Co., was looking for communications equipment that was effective in the loud engine room environment at Leprino. After researching five different types of communications equipment offered by large manufacturers, he turned to CavCom.
“Nothing out there provides better communication in a loud-noise environment,” Thomas said. “CavCom was the best thing that I found.”
Leprino has been using CavCom’s equipment for a couple of years now.
“We have had no trouble with CavCom’s system,” Thomas said. “The universal ear pods make it seamless. It works for everyone.
“I enjoy working with CavCom, and the company has always been excellent with customer service. I would absolutely recommend CavCom’s communication equipment to others.”
Working safer and smarter
“Before CavCom, there was simply no effective method to enable radio communication — especially when background noise was present,” CavCom President Jeff Morrill said. “Most teams tell us that they have tried everything and nothing works very well. Once they try CavCom, they purchase our system.
“CavCom offers a true solution in a world of miscommunication, and we invite industry to contact us for an on-site demonstration.”
For more information, call Jeff Morrill at (866) 547-4988 or visit www.cavcominc.com.
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