NYC Construction Noise Rule Honored in NHCA/NIOSH Award
The 2010 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards™ being presented tonight at the 35th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference thank companies and individuals for dedication in preventing workers' noise-induced hearing loss.
The National Hearing Conservation Association and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will present the 2010 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards™ tonight during the 35th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla. These awards are given to companies and individuals who have prevented noise-induced hearing loss through innovative or excellent practices in construction, manufacturing, and service working environment.
"This year's awardees highlight how work-related hearing loss affects people across all industry sectors," NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard said. "The impact of partnerships and innovation in developing solutions and policies to address the preventable problem of work-related hearing loss is clear in these initiatives."
The Safe-in-Sound Award for Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention in the Manufacturing Sector is Etymotic Research, Inc. (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), which creates products that measure, improve, and protect hearing. The Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention in the Construction Sector award goes to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. for their joint work in developing, implementing, and overseeing the New York City Construction Noise Mitigation Rule. The rule sets noise emission limits and mitigation measures for all construction within New York City and also "proactively addressed work-related exposures," according to NIOSH.
The Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention in the Services Sector award is going to Associate Professor Dr. Kris Chesky and the College of Music at the University of North Texas, which were recognized for raising awareness of the importance of hearing loss prevention among student and professional musicians. Chesky is director of UNT's Texas Center of Music & Medicine.
Nominations for next year's awards will be accepted until Sept. 1, 2010. For information, visit www.safeinsound.us.