Across the U.S., every year 22 million employees are at risk of losing their hearing while at work. Employers pay an estimated $242 million annually in workers' compensation cases, according to OSHA. Additionally, in 2015, companies in the U.S. paid more than $1.5 million in penalties for not protecting workers' ears from noise hazards.
To help combat this national problem, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is summoning the help of inventors and entrepreneurs by introducing a national competition for ideas. The mission is simple: help to develop a technological solution to hearing loss in the workplace. Together with the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), DOL and OSHA have launched "Hear and Now ? Noise Safety Challenge," which attempts to inspire creative ideas, while raising occupational awareness for workplace safety innovation.
If you've got a tech idea or invention related to occupational hearing loss that you're hoping to shop out there, this may be your chance. OSHA and partners have put out a call for entries on a new technology that overcomes barriers of preventing work-induced hearing loss. The competition is open to all ideas related to occupational hearing protection. See the DOL's Hear and Now website for competition format, a link to submit competition ideas, and more information.
In submitting an idea, participants in the competition will first need to describe the problem they're solving. Second, they'll need to submit a design concept that addresses the problem,
The competition is open to the general public, including OSHA contractors and special government employees and idea submissions are due by September 30. Ten finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges on October 27 in Washington D.C. The event will feature investors, representatives of the NIOSH Research to Practice Program and representatives of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
According to the DOL, people can't rely on hearing aids for their hearing needs. In fact, as written on the DOL's hearing site: "hearing aids may help, but they do not restore your hearing to normal." Additionally:
Keeping employees and guests informed of noise hazards is always a good idea, and Graphic Products has premade signage to do the trick. As well as hearing PPE signs & labels, we also carry a large selection of essential protective gear for the workplace, including eye protection, footwear, protective clothing, and more.