Free Seminars for Employers in Chicago, Cincinnati, Davenport, Indianapolis Will Focus on Occupational Hearing Loss Prevention, Hearing Protector Label Changes

Online, July 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - "The 'HearForever™: Best Practices in Hearing Conservation' seminars will address an expanding range of need-to-know topics for employers ranging from implementing an effective occupational Hearing Conservation Program to impact of the changes to the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to enact in September," said Dr. Theresa Y. Schulz, Lt. Col. USAF (retired), Hearing Conservation Manager, Sperian Hearing Protection, LLC/Howard Leight.

Dr. Schulz will present the free three hour, 9 a.m. to Noon seminars. They're scheduled as follows:
• Cincinnati, OH, Sept. 13, Monday, at the Hilton Garden Inn / Mason
• Indianapolis, IN, Sept. 14, Tuesday, at the Marriott Indianapolis North
• Chicago, IL, Sept. 15, Wednesday, at the Hilton Garden Inn / Chicago O'Hare Airport
• Davenport, IA, Sept. 16, Thursday, at the Radisson Quad City Plaza

To register, visit http://www.hearforever.org/hf2010midwest.

Employers attending the seminars will receive practical information on noise-induced hearing loss, and the latest research and technology on hearing loss prevention. They will also explore the impact of the EPA's imminent rule changing the Noise Reduction Rating labels on hearing protection devices. Topics will include:
• Basics of Hearing Conservation and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
• Key Elements of an Occupational Hearing Conservation Program
• Impending Changes to the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) and How They Affect You
• Reducing Costs for Occupational Hearing Loss
• Selection and Fitting of Hearing Protectors
• Employee Motivation and Training
• New Hearing Conservation Innovations and Technologies (In-Ear Dosimetry, Intelligent Protection, etc.)

Industrial hygienists, occupational health and safety professionals, safety managers, audiologists, and liability and risk management professionals are all encouraged to attend.

Continuing Education Units (CEU) will be available for members of AIHA and ASSE.

"Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common, permanent occupational injury in the world - yet it's also most preventable form of on-the-job injury," she said. "We're providing safety professionals with the knowledge and confidence to effectively manage their Hearing Conservation programs for the benefit of their workers -- and their own bottom line."

Attendees will receive free Hearing Conservation training materials, posters, and literature, as well as samples of Howard Leight and other Sperian products. Following the seminar, attendees can participate in hands-on demonstrations of Howard Leight's new VeriPRO® ear plug fit testing system and QuietDose™ in-ear dosimetry.

Dr. Schulz, who will present the seminars, is a past president of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and also past chair of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). During her 20+ year career in the United States Air Force, she was twice recognized as USAF Outstanding Audiologist of the Year. Most recently, she served as a senior service fellow at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Hearing Loss Prevention Program. Dr. Schulz holds a Ph.D. in hearing science from Ohio State University.

Howard Leight Hearing Conservation seminars have been presented to over 3,000 safety professionals on five continents over the past five years. They're part of Howard Leight's industry-leading HearForever™ initiative to raise awareness of the dangers, risks and consequences of noise-induced hearing loss.

To register, visit http://www.hearforever.org/hf2010midwest.

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