Name: Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing
Address: Calgary Alberta Canada, AB
Telephone: (403) 399-4775

Your hearing is an important asset. Once it is lost or damaged, there is very little you can do to get it back. This is why hearing loss prevention, through PPE, administrative and engineered controls, is so vital.

To ensure your safety, it is important to learn about the decibel level protection guidelines and schedule an audiometry test.

Why It is Important to Get an Audiometry Test

The Recommended Threshold for Hearing Protection is 85dBA Lex

Specific industries are prone to loud noises. Just think about working in a factory or on a tarmac at an airport. Employees at welding shops or construction sites are particularly vulnerable to hearing loss. This is why experts have taken the time to measure when this damage occurs. By knowing when damage occurs, it is possible to set necessary safeguards on the working conditions.

According to experts, hearing protection should always be worn when the sound level reaches 85dBA Lex. If the sound exceeds 85dBA Lex, and you are exposed for longer than the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL), you may be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

For effective prevention, invest in quality custom ear protection and monitor changes to your hearing with regular audiometric testing.

How to Measure Detrimental Decibel Levels – Noise Measurement & Hearing Loss

Measure the Loudness by Undertaking a Noise Measurement Assessment

While your employer should be responsible for determining the noise levels in a busy work environment, it is not a process you should leave to chance.

If you do not have access to sound level meters or noise dosimeters to measure the levels, you should know that we provide noise measurement services that include sound mapping and noise dosimetry.

These services aim to determine the noise levels in your workplace and occupational exposure of your employees, thereby providing you with an opportunity to implement a hearing conservation program that includes routine audiometric testing and custom ear protection.

Watch for Other Signs of Hearing Damage

Another way to make sure that you are staying safe is to track the signs of hearing loss over time. Audiometric testing is the best way to record lasting changes, but pay attention to ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing conversations and other subtle indicators.

Additionally, you may experience temporary hearing loss in loud situations. Remember, any time you hear ringing in your ears or have to shout to be heard, you should perform a hazard assessment and wear proper hearing protection if there are signs that the environment is too loud.

You should not let these symptoms go unchecked. If you notice any issues with your hearing, start wearing protective gear right away.

The OH&S code requires employers to have their employee’s hearing checked with an audiometry test if they are exposed to noise regularly. This test can help you determine the state of your hearing.

Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing is your locally owned and operated Calgary business. We are committed to providing mobile hearing testing services and other safety tests, to numerous industries and companies in Western Canada. Our services are part of the WorkSafeBC Provider Network, while our sound booths are approved by the CSA. We offer audiometry testing, mask fit testing, custom earplugs, noise measurements, help with implementing a hearing conservation program, and spirometry testing. If you want to improve your workplace, leave it in the hands of our team. Contact us today on (403) 399-4775.

Many steps go into building your company’s hearing conservation program. Below, we have given a brief overview of each step and how to approach them. For more information, consider reading this post from Work Safe Alberta that outlines the requirements in more detail.

The Steps to Building a Hearing Conservation Program

Educating Workers

The first step in your hearing conservation program is educating your workers. As an employer, you must ensure that your employees understand the dangers of excessive noise exposure, how to tell they are being exposed to loud noises, and what they can do to protect themselves from hearing loss.

Measuring Sound Levels

Next, you must measure the sound levels in your workplace. To do this, a suitable individual, with sufficient training, must go through all worksites on your property and assess the level of noise. This involves using a properly calibrated, sufficiently sensitive audiometer per the requirements of CSA Standard Z107.56-06 Procedures for the Measurement of Occupational Noise Exposure. Typically, you begin with the areas where you must raise your voice to be heard and understood.

Posting Signage

After you identify the areas that require hearing protection, you must post signage declaring them as such. This signage must be placed at all entrances to the loud areas, as is suitably possible.

Controlling Noise Exposure

Once you post signage for all employees and contractors, the next step is controlling the noise exposure of workers who must work in these loud locations. In some cases, this means limiting their time in the area, but it can also mean looking for quieter equipment or making hearing protection available.

Conducting Audiometric Tests

To track the level of hearing loss (If any) of your workers, you must conduct annual audiometric testing for all exposed workers. You must do this testing with trained, qualified and suitable testing equipment and technicians. The best hearing conservation programs hire outside audiometry testing companies to perform this task.

Making Hearing Protection Available

Finally, you are almost ready to work in the loudest areas of your premises again. However, before that, you must find and make available hearing protection that effectively diminishes the worker’s exposure. This may take the form of muffs, plugs or even custom hearing protection.

Reviewing the Program Annually/ Monitoring Sound Levels

Now that you have a hearing conservation program that meets the standards and requirements of Alberta Occupational Health & Safety, there is only one step left. An annual review of said program. This is your opportunity to analyze and change any parts of your program that are ineffective. Remember, if your processes change, you must also reevaluate all affected policies and procedures.

One of the most effective ways to measure your hearing capacity is an audiogram. The audiogram is a results sheet put to use for “pure tone” hearing tests. They effectively indicate your range of hearing, from deep and quiet sounds to high, loud noises. Below, you can learn about the process of taking the test, reading the audiogram and possible indications of your results.

Additionally, we will give recommendations on how to combat hearing loss in your workplace. Among other options, custom earplugs can prove to be an asset for long-term dynamic hearing.

How We Use Audiograms

The Pure Tone Hearing Test

We typically perform hearing tests in one of our mobile vehicles for convenience. Inside, we have soundproof testing booths that meet local and provincial testing requirements, including CSA standards. We measure your hearing in both ears through a series of tones that rise in loudness for particular frequencies across a part of the sound spectrum.

When you arrive, you will don a set of headphones and hold a small button. Then, the tones will begin, and when you first hear the sound, you indicate it with the signal. The test records your input, and this process repeats until the completion of the test. Afterwards, we share the results with you and offer any insights we may have to share.

How to Read an Audiogram

The first step in reading an audiogram is to understand the two measures of assessment. The first is pitches and frequencies, which we measure in Hz (Hertz). You read this from a deep tone (250 Hz) on the left to a high tone (8000 Hz) on the right.

The second metric is loudness or intensity, which goes from quietest at the bottom and loudest at the top, and decibels (dB) are the unit of measurement. Typically, the audiogram has a range of 0dB (quiet) to 100 dB (loud).

Therefore, each mark on the audiogram indicates the lowest intensity threshold for multiple frequencies that each ear hears. Usually, we mark the right ear results with an “O” and the left ear with an “X.”

Interpreting the Results

Generally, hearing loss results from continuous exposure to loud noises or a single loud incident at close range. If we find results on your audiogram where you indicated hearing a particular frequency above a certain threshold, it is typically a sign of hearing loss.

However, ears will often have different frequency thresholds due to previous overexposure, and poor results in one ear might not show up in the other. As a result, when we share your test results, we may advise you to seek a medical professional for hearing-related concerns.

Custom Ear Plugs and Other Hearing Protection

If you work with loud noises regularly, you should have hearing protection. Although custom earplugs are the most effective method, disposable earplugs and reusable muffs are still better than leaving your ears without protection. All of this protective equipment reduces the intensity of sound and keep the sensitive inner ear safe from long-term damage. Work with your employer to find a solution that works to keep them protected and their workers safe.

There are many good and responsible reasons for an employer to provide audiometry testing for their workers. One of the best reasons is the legislative requirement set out by Alberta Occupational Health & Safety (OHS). Still, there are also moral and even cost-saving reasons to engage with this valuable service.

However, we still occasionally field questions about why audiometry testing is important and ways to avoid doing it. As a result, we put together a shortlist of the hidden costs of audiometry testing.

4 Results of Ignoring Audiometry Testing

Human Impact

Perhaps one of the most obvious hidden costs of employers shirking their audiometry testing is the human impact. Noise exposure is a cumulative effect, which means that the longer an individual works in an area with detrimental noise levels, the more their hearing will suffer. As a result, long term employees may suffer hearing loss prematurely.

Although this does show a lack of responsibility on the employer’s part, it can also lead to financial penalties if negligence can be proved. Did you know that offences related to safety violations are the only offences in Canada where offenders are guilty until they prove their innocence?

Legislative Fines

One of the biggest hidden costs of audiometry testing is the potential for heavy administrative fines from OH&S. Although there is a relatively small precedent for awarding large fines, employers need to remember what they may be on the hook for. Indeed, for a first-time offence, the fine is up to $500,000! With potential increases to the fine amount of up to $30,000 per day for continuing the offence, these fines carry a hefty burden.

Cumulative Problems

There are also cumulative costs to consider when employers ignore the importance of audiometric tests. In this way, starting late can lead to significant grandfather costs. A good example would be a compressor room built without considering potential noise exposure. Implementing noise reduction materials or controls at a later date may cause significant downtime for staff and operations.

Larger Startup Costs

In a similar vein to the cumulative problems that affect worksites where noise exposure is not reduced, larger startup costs also play a role. Again, we can use our earlier example of a compressor room that needs modification. If the sound levels cannot be reduced around the worksite, it might be necessary to replace the compressor unit with a quieter version. Alternatively, it might be necessary to move the worksite away from the compressor to reduce workers’ exposure. Considering that these only refer to engineered controls, and not the administrative and PPE requirements, it is easy to imagine how these changes could quickly get out of hand.

To learn more about employer responsibilities in Alberta, consider the OH&S Safety Code. This resource provides information and guidance about all employer responsibilities to their worksite, employees, contractors and themselves. For fines, penalties and legal information, the OH&S Safety Act is the perfect resource.

Custom-molded earplugs are a recent innovation that has far-reaching benefits. For instance, when you use them in conjunction with audiometry tests, they can provide substantial protection for your hearing that pays off in the long term. Today we will look at the basics of custom-molded earplugs, such as where to get them, how to store them, and, of course, how to clean them.

The Basics of Custom-Molded Ear Plugs

How to Find Your Custom Ear Protection

The first step in finding your custom earplugs is to make sure you do your research. We offer a selection of high-quality custom earplugs that work great for busy job sites, but you should be wary of inferior imitators. One of the most effective ways of ensuring the earplugs you purchase are of sufficient quality is to inquire about their noise reduction rating.

Typically, with hearing protection, you need to divide the rating in half so that you can ascertain the number of decibels reduced by the hearing protection. However, the benefit of custom earplugs is that this is not necessary.

How to Store Your Ear Protection

A lot of people overlook the importance of proper protective equipment storage, but it is an essential part of caring for your equipment. Ears are a delicate part of the body, and putting dirty or contaminated material in them can cause infection or hearing problems. Therefore, you should store them in their accompanying pouch at all times when they are not in use.

How to Clean Your Custom Ear Plugs

Cleaning your earplugs is a relatively simple process. You should begin with a gentle solution of soap and water. Then, use a cloth and gently wipe all surfaces of your earplugs including the connection cord (if applicable). Ensure the use of sufficient pressure for optimal results. Afterwards, you should make sure that you dry them thoroughly so that they do not retain any moisture.

Custom-Molded Ear Plug Tips

These are the necessary steps to remember for your custom earplug cleaning activities. But, keep in mind a few tips and tricks for the best results. Avoid soaking your earplugs as this can cause unnecessary damage and provides little benefit, and, set a cleaning schedule. Ideally, you should inspect and wash them every 3-6 months and replace them every four years.

Audiometry testing is required in Alberta when workers will be exposed to detrimental levels of noise. This goes hand-in-hand with providing adequate and appropriate hearing protection. For an employer to determine whether or not they require hearing protection and audiometric testing, they are required to complete a site survey.

This process involves going to each area that has the potential for high levels of noise and testing the decibel level with calibrated and working equipment. It must also be performed by certified technicians who can interpret the results and prepare a report based on the testing performed. But, once this step is completed, how do they determine appropriate hearing protection?

How Did We End Up with Audiometry Testing?

What is an Occupational Exposure Limit?

An occupational exposure limit (OEL) is a limit set by the Alberta or Federal government to determine the acceptable level of exposure for a worker in a typical shift. These OEL’s exist for all sorts of hazardous materials, including chemicals, airborne contaminants, and noise. During the site testing, described above, the ultimate result is a report stating the amount of exposure, measured in decibels, a worker will receive when working in a noisy area.

It is then an employer’s responsibility to select and implement hearing protection that lowers their exposure below the OEL. Employer’s typically complete this task by speaking with their safety equipment providers, but how do the providers know how much the noise is reduced?

What is a Noise Reduction Rating?

A noise reduction rating (NRR) is the measure of hearing protection an individual item will offer. It can be a little strange to measure, but essentially, if you halve the NRR you will have the number of decibels it reduces from the total. For example, earplugs typically have an NRR of 30-40 which means the decibels are reduced by 15-20.

Proper safety equipment and policies must be put in place to reduce the total amount of decibels a worker is subjected to in an 8-hour shift.

As an example of this, industrial sandblasting equipment typically operates between 100-120 decibels. A sandblaster who will be exposed to this level of noise will be required to wear well-fitted, disposable earplugs, reducing their exposure to roughly 80-100 decibels. As the OEL for noise in Alberta sits at 88 decibels, this is almost sufficient. But then, they must wear insulated blasting hoods to protect their heads and lungs from the sandblasting dust, which carry their own NRR of 30-40. This further reduces their exposure to 60-80 decibels, and they are now no longer exposed to the detrimental effects of noise.

Audiometry Testing Ensures Protective Equipment Works

So now that we know how employer’s responsibilities to their workers are determined, why do we need audiometric testing? We need it because it establishes a baseline, and tests workers hearing year over year to ensure their hearing does not worsen, which would be a sign their hearing protection is not adequate.

There are many different types of respirators, and in the wake of the global pandemic involving COVID-19, it is important to know how each of them works, and what they protect against. For instance, if you are working in an area with oily particulate matter, an n95-designated mask will not protect you. As well, most disposable respirators are not acceptable for work where organic vapours are present, such as H2S exposures in oilfield operations.

Respirators are specially designed facemasks, that either cover the nose and mouth or the entire face. Each of them has different filtering capabilities, and they are used in many applications to protect human life.

The three most common types of respirators are disposable, reusable, and air-supplied.

Disposable respirators are what most people think of when they think of respirators and are typically made to filter particulate matter. There are several certifications that this type of mask can carry, including n95 and p95. Masks with an n95 designation are not suitable for environments where oily particles are present, whereas p95, and r95, masks are.

Mask Fit Testing is Required For Reusable and Air-Supplied

Reusable face masks are used in many settings as well, including industrial paint application and carpentry. They differ from disposable masks in that they are made with more resistant and higher-quality materials, like nylon straps and soft plastic shells. They often require mask fit testing to make sure the face seal is complete, but that is common with all respirators listed here.

Furthermore, the filter portion of reusable masks is typically removable which means different filters can be applied for different situations. Commonly, a charcoal filter cartridge is combined with a fabric “pre-filter” to ensure adequate protection from particulate and chemical exposure. Charcoal filters are certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for a variety of uses, including formaldehyde and organic vapour protection.

Finally, air-supplied respirators are expensive but reliable pieces of respiratory equipment. Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) use a fan to deliver filtered air to the individual which is usually mounted on their waist. Conversely, supplied-air systems are attached to an air compressor, or more commonly, a compressed air bottle.

These devices limit a persons’ exposure to the utmost by removing the need to gather air from their immediate surroundings. The filtering process is completed before the air enters the line to the individual which means different types of filters are used, compared to reusable respirators. In most circumstances, this type of respirator requires a full-face connection in order to function properly, which means mask fit testing of a quantitative nature will be required.

Mobile hearing testing is a great way for employers to ensure they comply with occupational health and safety legislation. It allows them to test their employees without having to send them off-site, or spend their personal time on business affairs. It is also important to remember that mobile hearing testing is only required if there are detrimental levels of sound present at the workplace. However, the question remains: how often should you receive mobile hearing testing?

Legislatively, mobile hearing testing is only required annually. The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, when hearing testing is done annually, it allows new employees to establish a base-line average for their hearing. Secondly, it allows returning employees to compare the results of their hearing test year-over-year, so that they can see if there are any differences or degradations since their last appointment.

However, sometimes annual mobile hearing tests are insufficient. Circumstances can arise that would require mobile hearing testing to occur at a frequency of every six months. These would include new processes or machinery that increases workers’ potential exposure to high levels of noise. As well, if there was a workplace incident or an employee had an incident where they were exposed to high levels of noise exceeding the occupational exposure limit (OEL) there could be sufficient cause to increase their hearing testing, to see if a change has occurred.

Mobile Hearing Testing Helps Keep Your Employees Protected

In closing, annual hearing testing is an important requirement for employers who have high volumes of sound present at their workplace. Industrial and commercial industries are often the employers required to do this testing, but if you are unsure if mobile hearing testing is required in your workplace, it is important to do a test of the audio levels in your workplace. This will remove the guesswork, and make it easy to know whether you should consult certified and mobile audiometric testing professionals.

In these troubling times, one of the most effective methods we have to “flatten the curve” is proper respiratory protection. Although many methods are currently being deployed to create effective respiratory protectors, there is no replacement for a certified N95 respirator or better.

N95 Respirator- Defined

An N95 respirator is defined as a NIOSH certified respiratory protection device that filters 95% of particulate matter but does not guard against oils.

Along with this N95 respirator comes a responsibility to ensure proper fit testing is performed. N95 Fit testing is essential because it measures the ability of the respiratory equipment to prevent contaminants or dangerous inhalants from entering into an individual’s airways. However, this can be a complicated process, so it is best to look at the relevant factors concerning respiratory equipment qualitative fit testing.

Qualitative vs Quantitative Fit Testing

Two types of testing generally apply to all types of testing. The first is qualitative fit testing which, essentially, gives a yes or no answer for acceptability. In the case of fit testing for N95 respirators, this means that an individual being tested will properly don their mask, and then be exposed to a harmless odor or chemical. If the seal of the N95 respirator is secure, they will be unable to detect this odor and the test will be considered acceptable.

Conversely, quantitative testing is a broad form of testing that will produce a measurable result. Again, using the example of N95 fit testing, a subject would don their mask and appropriately fit it to their face, and then be exposed to a similar odor or chemical. However, the difference in this circumstance is that the interior of the mask would be tested with a porta count machine (or equivalent) and a measurable result would be available from the testing equipment. This reduces individual bias for fit testing.

Options for Respirator Fit Testing

N95 masks are an ideal choice for those who don’t wish to repeatedly don the same respirator, but they are currently in high demand and may not be readily available. If respiratory equipment is required for work being performed, it is better to upgrade then downgrade. This means switching to a half-face or full-face respirator.

While these respirators are used repeatedly, they are also made out of materials that reduce the ability of bacteria to collect on their surfaces. Often, these materials include silicone which is beneficial for its relative ease of maintenance and cleaning. Furthermore, the actual filters on half or full-face respirators can be changed regularly meaning their longevity is further increased.

Mask fit testing is one of the most important precautionary steps that management must take to protect their employees. Unfortunately, despite the Alberta OH&S Guidelines, plenty of managers and employers do not conduct the necessary testing to protect their workers. Here is why they should do it:

What Is Mask Fit Testing?

Mask fit testing is the process of testing whether an employee’s respirator is correctly fitted to their face, ensuring that they are not exposed to any hazardous airborne conditions. The test verifies whether employees are using the right make, model and size of respirator, and assessing if they are comfortable in doing so.

It should be noted that there are two types of mask fit tests: Qualitative and Quantitative.

A quantitative test measures how much the respirator might leak with the use of a quantifit machine. Using state of the art Controlled Negative Pressure, the Quantifit pulls a negative pressure inside the mask, and to keep the pressure constant, it must pull out any additional air that leaks into the respirator. The measurement indicates how much air has leaked into the respirator, and this is converted into a fit factor.

A qualitative test is based entirely on an employee’s ability to smell and taste a spray solution. Their reactions will indicate if the masks are correctly fitted. Getting both tests conducted is necessary for the safety of employees.

Employees who wear a tight-fitting respirator during a typical workday, such as those in heavy-duty jobs and industries, or require a respirator to perform emergency response activities should take the tests.

Why Is A Mask Fit Testing Important?

In industries, such as construction and oil and gas, employees are exposed to airborne hazards, such as dust and chemicals. Exposure to these airborne hazards can make the employees severely sick (in some cases, fatally), resulting in them missing out on work, and putting them on workers’ compensation. As such, this can severely damage the morale of workers, as well as delay projects.

Worksafe Alberta determines that employers must adhere to the Alberta OH&S Guidelines for fit testing if employees are work in areas where they are exposed to such airborne hazardous. Employers must conduct mask fitting tests when:

when the employee is first issued a respirator and then at least every two years after
if the respirator mask changes
if conditions at the workplace change
if the worker has suffered facial features that might change the tightness of the respirator

The above guide highlights the importance that comes with conducting mask fit testing. Do not risk the lives and safety of your employees by not getting these tests organized at your workplace.