Winning Strategies for Hearing Loss Prevention
The NIOSH
Safe-in-Sound Awards™
BY DEANNA K. MEINKE AND THAIS C. MORATA
How might hearing loss prevention programs be improved?
NIOSH is helping answer this question with its Safe-in-Sound
Awards™, which the agency created as a way to publicize
success stories in hearing loss prevention. Through Safe-in-Sound, NIOSH obtains information about successful real-world hearing loss prevention programs and public health
practices. By disseminating these successful strategies, Safe-in-Sound helps other groups to advance hearing loss prevention practices.
NIOSH created the Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award in
partnership with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) in late 2006.
There are three Safe-in-Sound Awards, one
for each of the three North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) sectors
providing startup funding for the project:
construction, manufacturing and services.
In addition, a fourth award for “innovation
in hearing loss prevention” was established
to recognize individuals and/or business
entities, regardless of their sector. Industry
safety personnel are encouraged to nominate
their own businesses as well as others working toward hearing loss prevention in the
workplace.
The Safe-in-Sound Awards are presented annually at the
NHCA annual conference by the NIOSH director or his or her
representative. The awards were first presented in 2009, and
current and past award winners can be viewed at www.safe
insound.us/winners.html.
At AIHce 2012, attendees will have the opportunity to
honor the 2012 Safe-in-Sound Award recipients during a
congratulatory ceremony during Roundtable 203, “What Is
85/3, and Why Noise Is More Hazardous Than You Think,” on
June 18. Three winners are being recognized in 2012: one in
the construction sector, and two in the manufacturing sector.
In addition, NIOSH presented the first ever corporate-wide
Safe-in-Sound award this year.
2012 Safe-in-Sound Award Recipients
3M, Hutchinson Plant. The hearing conservation program
at the 3M plant in Hutchinson, Minn., was recognized
for its all-inclusive and strongly integrated approach to
worker hearing health, including statistically driven noise
exposure assessments, implementation of a buy-quiet
equipment program and noise control for existing equip-
ment. In addition, the plant was recognized for compre-
hensive implementation of hearing protection fit-testing
of all personnel, availability of both general
and specialty hearing protection devices for
off-the-job noise exposures, high-quality
audiometric testing and strong support from
corporate management, plant management
and individual workers. This 3M program
was tailored for individualized training and
development of a culture of personal respon-
sibility to maintain noise controls, identify
noise hazards and properly fit and utilize
hearing protectors throughout the facility.
Bechtel National Inc., BSII, Waste Treat-
ment and Immobilization Plant Project. The
Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization
Plant (WTP) is the world’s largest radioactive
waste treatment plant. It is being designed,
constructed, and commissioned by Bechtel National, Inc. in
Richland, Wash. The Bechtel Waste Treatment and Immobi-
lization Plant Project was recognized for the comprehensive
integration of its hearing loss prevention program compo-
nents; for innovative strategies to address industry-specific
challenges in noise monitoring, risk evaluation and risk com-
munication; for adopting the NIOSH-recommended exposure
limit of 85 dB with the 3 dB exchange rate; for promoting the
active involvement of the work force in their efforts; and for
encouraging other Bechtel sites to adopt these strategies.
Colgate-Palmolive (CP) is the first company to receive a
Safe-in-Sound Award at a corporate level. CP achieved
