COSTAIN-Skanska joint venture (CSjv) is unveiling a new hearing protection policy across all of its HS2 enabling works construction sites.
Smart tech company Eave’s hearing conservation solution is described as providing real time noise monitoring on site. CSjv is now mandating this active hearing protection with integrated noise monitoring from September 1 across its HS2 sites.
Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most commonly reported occupational disease in Europe.
Sandra Winters, occupational health lead said, “CSjv aims to support HS2’s mission to eliminate the causes of the top five occupational diseases in construction. Our trial with Eave gave measurable results that radically improved our hearing protection measures on site. We are now implementing this change across all our HS2 sites to ensure a greater level of safety for our operatives. We are immensely proud to bring new innovation to the industry, spearheading major change in health and safety PPE.”
Eave’s active ear defenders use ‘Hear-Through’ technology to allow the wearer to continue to hear environmental sound. Smart headsets monitor and map noise exposure, analysing the data to provide information about each worker’s noise exposure. It is this combination of active hearing protection and integrated noise monitoring that CSjv is mandating on all its HS2 early works sites.
HS2 innovation manager Rob Cairns added, “With this mandate now in place we witness a transformation in the construction sector that innovation projects like this were intended to generate. It’s exciting to see such a success story that will genuinely impact lives, raise industry standards and ultimately protect the hearing of our workers.”
Dr David Greenberg, Eave CEO added, “It has been a great pleasure to work with CSjv, Innovate UK and HS2 to showcase how innovative smart tech solutions can do so much more than conventional hearing protection to manage noise on site. Their support has been fundamental in the development of our products, testing our active ear defenders and noise monitoring equipment. We are now working with all CSjv subcontractors to ensure they are ready for the 1st September deadline, working together to protect the hearing of workers in hazardous noise.”
CSjv subcontractors are invited to join a webinar on July 28 to find out more about the mandate and how to implement active hearing protection with integrated noise monitoring on site. Register here.
