2011 Winners

The 2011 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards™ were presented at the 36th Annual Hearing Conservation Conference on February 25, 2011 in Mesa, Arizona.

“Noise-induced hearing loss can affect workers in any sector of the workforce,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “This year’s winners show us the power of teamwork and ingenuity in developing innovative solutions to protect workers from the home front to the front lines.” 

The 2011 recipient for Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention in the Manufacturing Sector is:

Shaw Industries Group, Fibers Division,  Plant WM, GA.  Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider. The Division Fibers is responsible for producing the yarn needed for carpet manufacturing, an inherently noisy process. The Division Fibers was recognized for the demonstrated results in noise control, hearing loss prevention and their continuous effort to improve the quality of implementation of several of their hearing loss prevention program components:  noise measurement, engineering and administrative noise control initiatives, provision of a wider selection of hearing protection devices, fit-test verification of the attenuation provided by the devices, audiometric testing, training and program evaluation, and facilitating the adoption of their strategies by other Shaw facilities.
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Shaw Industries Group Presentation (Adobe Flash Required)

Kenny Dillard (Shaw), Dr. John Howard (NIOSH) presenting SIS Award Photo courtesy of Rick Neitzel

The 2011 recipients for Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention in the Service Sector are:

CPT Leanne Cleveland and the Fort Carson (FC) Army Hearing Program in Colorado Springs, CO. Fort Carson is one of the largest Army Forces Command bases.  As a nation currently at war, over 26,000 Army , National Guard and Reserve soldiers were activated and demobilized from their deployments throughout the United States, Europe, and the middle east via Fort Carson in 2010.The noise hazards of war are extreme and inherently challenging to manage in terms of hearing loss prevention. Beginning in 2007, a pilot program was implemented at Ft. Carson designed to recognize the critical value of functional hearing for soldier readiness, effectiveness and safety. 

CPT Cleveland (from the Army Medical Department) and the FC Hearing Program team were recognized for their innovative efforts to implement the far-reaching programatic changes outlined in Army Hearing Program (Special Text 4-02.501, 2008).  The elements of this program include timely hearing testing, multi-level educational programs, hearing program officer integration, expanded hearing protection options,appropriate amplification matched to a soldier’s work-related hearing demands and an ardent commitment to each individual at risk of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus (civilian or soldier).Their organizational teamwork and flexibility is especially noteworthy in this high volume, time-critical work environment.  The FC Hearing Program has had a direct impact on the hearing status of individual soldiers and their ability to continue to perform military duties. The pilot program outcomes have significant implications for system-wide advances in both civilian and military hearing loss prevention programs.
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(FC) Army Hearing Program Presentation (Adobe Flash Required)




CPT Cleveland, Dr. John Howard (NIOSH) presenting SIS Award. Photo courtesy of Rick Neitzel



Left to Right back row: Scott Schneider (SiS),  Thomas Hunterbrinker (Shaw), Lee Hager (SiS), John Howard (NIOSH) and Tim Bates (Shaw).Front row: Thais Morata (NIOSH), Kenny Dillard (Shaw), Deanna Meinke (SiS), James Lankford (SiS), Photo courtesy of Rick Neitzel