"with head injuries, they automatically go to (hospital)...."

Hearing protection is sometimes overlooked by the workers in our industry. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents were worker's hearing was injured during an accident. Here is a story where proper hearing protection may have prevented an injury:

One employee was taken to a local hospital following an equipment accident during the week of November 3, 2013 at a rolling mill in the United States.

The accident was called in at 9:10 AM as a personal injury accident, according to the local 911 logs.

The local fire department and local ambulance service responded.

The employee who was not identified by name, was taken to a local hospital "purely as a precaution," said company spokesperson.

"There was not an explosion," spokesperson said. "The packaging on a hydraulic cylinder ruptured. The employee had some ringing in his ears because it was a loud noise."

"He is absolutely fine," company spokesperson said.

Adding that the employee had been released from the hospital before noon.

"Anytime there is an issue with head injuries, they automatically go to (hospital)," company spokesperson explained. "The (closest hospital) doesn't have the wherewithal to treat head traumas."

"He was not hit in the head. He just had ringing in his ears," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said the cylinder is used in conjunction with rolling mills.

"I think they were changing out the cylinder when the packaging ruptured," said the spokesperson. "It made a fairly loud noise, no explosion, like a balloon popping."

"And there was no fire," spokesperson added.

Transporting the employee to hospital is "the squad's call, not our call," spokesperson said.

The employee has been with the aluminum company for a year and a half, spokesperson said.

Spokesperson added that all employees are fully rigged in safety gear: hard hats, safety goggles, hearing protection and protective suit, "in case there's a chemical spill during the course of work."

It is unknown from the newspaper article if the injured worker was wearing proper hearing protection. The APSB hopes that the injured worker will suffer no long term hearing loss because of this incident. 

Nevertheless, hearing protection should always be worn when in our plants. In most cases hearing protection in is the form of earplugs. Proper fitting and use of ear plugs is important. 



The Occupational Safety & Health Administration information on hearing conversation can be found here.

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