Vulcan Materials, Johns Manville Among Safe-in-Sound Excellence Winners
Also honored Feb. 22 during the National Hearing Conservation Association's annual conference was Dangerous Decibels®, a hearing loss and tinnitus intervention program.
NIOSH and the National Hearing Conservation Association announce the winners of the 2013 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards™ on Feb. 22 during NHCA's 38th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. The awards honor organizations that have shown dedication to excellence in hearing loss prevention practices in the workplace and beyond.
"This year's recipients confirm that the benefits of noise control go far beyond the prevention of hearing loss and make good business sense, as a safe and healthy workforce benefits workers, employers, and the U.S. economy," said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to highlight the innovative work of companies who serve as leaders in this area."
Vulcan Materials Company received of the 2013 Safe-in-Sound Award for Excellence. The company produces construction aggregates. It has implemented what NIOSH and NHCA describe as "a quality data-driven hearing loss prevention program" using cost-effective noise measurement and control strategies and innovative noise monitoring strategies for mobile workers by integrating technologies such as GPS and videos.
The two innovation awardees are Johns Manville and Dangerous Decibels®, an intervention program dedicated to preventing noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. "Built upon collaborative partnerships between the Oregon Health & Science University, the Portland State University, the University of Northern Colorado and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the program has received widespread funding and dissemination support by numerous organizations. It is being recognized for the development, widespread dissemination and cultural adaptation of innovative training strategies shown to positively change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in youth and adults, including occupational settings and applying solid scientific and theoretical basis into all program aspects. The program includes science museum exhibits, virtual exhibits, K-12 classroom programs, educator training workshops, public outreach tools and research," according to NIOSH and NHCA.
Johns Manville was recognized for implementing an hearing loss prevention program that uses metrics to track noise exposure levels along with noise control engineering training; the JM "Hearing Conservation Pyramid" is readily adaptable to other noise-exposed industries, the partner organizations agreed.
To view the award recipient presentations, visit http://www.safeinsound.us/winners.html. Nominations for the next awards will be accepted until Sept. 6, 2013; visit www.safeinsound.us for more information.