Workplace Noise And Hearing By David A. Kolman, Editor Exposure to environmental noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss throughout the world. Every day, we are flooded with all kinds of noises. The excessive noise in the workplace, like a vehicle repair shop, poses an added hazard of a construction site. The constant exposure to noise “wears down the delicate nerve hairs in the inner ear in the same way toothbrush bristles wear down over time,” says Tom Buske, vice president, brand strategy for ToughTested (www.toughtested.com), a leading provider of mobile power accessories that devotes special attention » Every “scrap” tire needs to be inspected before disposal. This, along with tire usage date gathered over time, can help evaluate the casing management program. Photo courtesy of DWS Fleet Management Services 34 Fleet Maintenance | APRIL 2017 to hearing protection in a variety of industries. “That damage is irreparable,” Buske says. “When it comes to hearing, once it’s gone, it’s gone.” How can we protect our hearing and preserve it, regardless of environmental noise? Buske says hearing loss can be prevented by simply wearing good quality noise protection. “If you are one of the 30 million workers exposed to hazardous levels of noise on the job, hearing loss is likely already happening,” he says. “While you can’t always control the noise, you can control how you protect yourself. Protective ear buds, plugs or earmuffs that provide Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 20 or more can block out a significant percentage of damaging noise.” SOUND INTENSITY To best understand what damaging noise is, Buske says it’s important to understand decibels (dB), which is how sound intensity is measured. 0 dB is barely audible sound. A normal conversation hovers around 55 to 65 dB. Here are some other sound intensities: • Highway traffic noise, around 75 dB. • A typical hairdryer, 85 dB. • A lawnmower, 95dB. • Jackhammers, around 130 dB. • Firearms or a jet engine, up to 140 dB. TOO LOUD? How loud is too loud? “If you are exposed to levels at or over 85 dB, particularly for a prolonged time or on a regular basis, you’re at a high risk of hearing loss,” says Buske. He recommends using audio lines audio that incorporate noise control technology that offer benefits to keep one’s hearing safe. Most importantly, he notes that this technology can help to protect against hearing loss, tinnitus and the daily stress of excessive noise by dampening loud environmental noise vibrations before they can damage a person’s hearing. Forget about doing daily and weekly inventories as these are a waste of productive time. 39. Change tires and replace them at PM time for both power units and trailers. If the tires cannot make it to the next PM, change them in the shop, not on the road. It is about minimizing road calls and enroute tire replacements. Do not let vehicle utilization be compromised by running tires too thin. Th is is the same theory for brakes and drums. As noted previously, keep the vehicles productive and out of shops and truck stops for unscheduled maintenance and repair. Th e name of the game is uptime. 40. Scrap analysis. Each and every tire needs to be inspected before disposal. Evaluate your casing management. If the casing life is set for seven years, it could be that at seven-and-a-half years there may still be some additional life left . Such decisions need to be determined from inspection, as well as using tire usage date. Chose the right tire for the fl eet and application. Get support from a strong local tire dealer. In Sum Clearly, this is not a complete list. Th ere are so many simple things that can be done to lower cost in any vehicle maintenance operation. Th e key is to take a hard look at your operation and determine where changes and adjustment can increase effi ciencies and productivity. At the same time, look for ways to improve on vehicle maintenance with the goal being to reduce road calls, reworks and unnecessary and unscheduled shop visits. Th ese all involve downtime, in addition to unplanned labor and parts costs. Th e parts department is the police of parts replacement and should always be challenging the replacement of parts. Th ere are many parts replacement that are not needed. We have become a replacement society of parts changers as opposed to properly diagnosing to determine what parts truly need to be replaced. But, it is unwise to spend hours to save pennies. A fi nal thought: Manage all the details of your maintenance operation each and every day, and operate as if you are on the threshold of “Chapter 11”. Measuring and evaluating data is okay, but when the costs hit the reports, it is too late and the damage has been done. Practice MBWA. Look for ways to eliminate waste and to reduce costs. Th ey will be right in front of your eyes, provided you look for them carefully enough. DARRY W. STUART is president and CEO of DWS Fleet Management Services (www.darrystuart. com), an independent “Limited Time Executive” in transportation and fleet management businesses. Established in 1998, he and his team work to supplement leadership capabilities with companies to lower operating costs, maximize productivity and drive change through individually tailored programs. DWS coaches and motivates people to establish and maintain effective programs and practices at their companies to help ensure continued growth and success, and provides suppliers and dealers with training programs. Stuart has more than 50 years of expertise in a range of roles within the transportation industry and is actively involved with the Technology & Maintenance Council and other industry associations.
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