Safe-in-Sound Award Recognizes Innovations in Hearing Loss Prevention

Abstract

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), has announced the 10th Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award™ winner. The award honors those who have contributed to the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus through effective practices or innovations that will benefit people exposed to noise at work. The initiative was launched to discover and share successful hearing loss prevention programs and public health practices. By disseminating evidence-based strategies, Safe-in-Sound™ aims to enable other groups to effectively advance proven approaches in hearing loss prevention.hearing protectionThe Safe-in-Sound Award is presented at the NHCA annual conference, where the winners get to share their stories. For the Excellence Award, nominees are evaluated against key performance indicators for hearing loss prevention programs in the workplace. The Innovation Award recognizes individuals or organizations for their dedication in creating, fostering, and implementing innovative and evidence-based solutions for hearing-related challenges at work. These advances can include policy development, program development and implementation, advocacy and outreach efforts, as well as unique product applications with proven success. This award is not intended to endorse any commercial product. Over the past 10 years, the Excellence Awards have resulted in the acquisition of high-quality field data on different components of hearing conservation programs, including noise exposure monitoring, use of new technologies like fit testing for hearing protection, new approaches in training and hazard communication, and successful noise control outcomes that lead to the elimination of the need for a hearing conservation program or the reduction of workers enrolled in the program due to fewer noise exposures (Int J Audiol. 2012 Feb;51 Suppl 1:S63; Acoust Aust. 2016 Apr; 44(1):67). The Innovation Awards have facilitated the extension of successful hearing loss prevention activities for workers who are not traditionally considered in most hearing protection programs (such as those for musicians, military personnel, and construction workers). The award has been able to identify successful strategies that can be translated to other venues or work arrangements. 2018 EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER The 2018 Excellence award was given to the U.S. Army's Tactical Communications and Protective System (TCAPS) program. Since the launch of the TCAPS program, nearly 30,000 commercially-available hearing protective systems have been evaluated, procured, and fielded to 15 brigade combat teams of infantry soldiers in the U.S. Army. Collin Drennen, the program's system engineer, accepted the award. TCAPS are primarily issued to combat infantry soldiers who use tactical radios. Beyond prevention of hearing injury, this system provides soldiers with enhanced ability to identify and locate opposing forces while wearing hearing protection, and seamless integration into existing communication equipment. The TCAPS program developed new and innovative procedures to procure, test, deliver, and train users on hearing protection devices. The success of this program represents the army's recognition of the importance of hearing protection and communication. One of the program's primary objectives is to field devices that enable simultaneous maintenance of auditory situation awareness and protection from noise-induced hearing loss. Another objective—and key to its success—is to restore the soldiers’ confidence in hearing protection devices; that is, to restore the confidence that hearing protective devices are an asset and not a liability in training or on the battlefield. These devices are potential combat force multipliers providing soldiers with advanced and active hearing protection. Go online to see the previous award winners and to send nominations for the next Safe-in-Sound Awards.Thais C. Morata, PhDKristen L. Casto, PhD