Every year 22 million workers are at risk of losing their hearing from workplace noise hazards. Hearing loss disability costs businesses an estimated $242 million annually in workers' compensation. This is why OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), have launched the "Hear and Now-Noise Safety Challenge."
This is a challenge to help develop new technological solutions to workplace noise exposure and related hearing loss. The competition is open to the general public and idea submissions are due by Sept. 30. Ten finalists will be invited to Washington, D.C., to present their ideas to a panel of judges that will include investors and representatives of NIOSH and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
For details, read the OSHA release here.
There are many pressures on foundries to change various procedures for technological and economic reasons. While confronting these challenges, we must remain vigilant to assure the health, safety and well-being of our workers. This vigilance, in turn, requires technical information and guidance to ensure that our efforts are effective.
Publication — “Hearing Loss Prevention in Metalcasting”
This publication was prepared by members of the AFS Health and Safety Committee (10-Q) to provide foundries with updated information and guidance to support programs that address noise exposure issues in the workplace.
Chapter topics include:
https://hub.afsinc.org/apex/nc__Product?id=a2Z1a000000ACrOEAW
Fact Sheet — “Hearing Protection in Metalcasting Facilities”
AFS and the OSHA Alliance have published a four-page hearing fact sheet includes important information relating to hearing protection including: how to measure noise exposure, noise levels in metalcasting facilities and exposure management.
The free Fact Sheet can be downloaded at: http://www.afsinc.org/files/hearing%20fact%20sheet.pdf