The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health estimates that approximately 22 million Americans are exposed to hazardous noise levels while at work. Making occupational noise exposure and hearing loss the leading work place injury. For over 40 years the environmental protection agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as well as many other organizations have been working to implement better and better guidelines to protect workers.
Today companies are required to provide hearing protection to their employees as well as annual hearing tests. The most commonly used ear protector is the ubiquitous disposable polyurethane foam earplug. They are cheap, convenient and effective, or are they?
The average cost of disposable foam earplugs is roughly $0.20 per pair. Considering the average worker removes the earplugs sometime during the work day and replaces them with a clean pair, say after lunch and the average manufacturing facility has around 100 employees, that averages $14,400 literally thrown away every year. Now multiply that by the 22 million workers exposed and it averages at around 2.6 Billion dollars annually in the US, adding approximately 10 Million pounds of non-biodegradable Poly-Urethane foam to landfills every year.
With advances in chemical, digital and printing technologies, we can do much better. Custom-fit molded non-disposable ear-plugs, 2-way radio capable earmuffs, and electronic ear defenders are far more cost effective, convenient and user/environmentally friendly. If half of Americans switched to custom non-disposable hearing protection it would save US companies over $1.39 Billion dollars annually, not including the saving to the environment, environmental clean-up, as well as related medical expenses contributed to occupational hearing loss. The World Health Organization estimates that globally unaddressed hearing loss cost approximately $750-790 Billion annually. 1 in 8 workers in the US have a hearing loss.
Our Solution
NOVA manufactures custom fit ear protection and in the ear audio devices. Our products provide superior comfort and the highest quality sound audio drivers on the market, while offering total occlusion and protection from damaging outside sounds. Our next generation wireless technology, state of the art integrated power matrix, premium high fidelity balanced armatures and uniquely formulated polymer materials consistently outperform and outlast all our competitors. NOVA products are permanent, cost efficient, and multi-functional with the ability to provide noise cancellation and speech isolation.
Our Advantages
We use a soft mold polymer material that is hypo-allergenic and non-toxic, that custom molds to the individuals ear while maintaining a permanent form and softness. This allows consumers to reuse a custom molded plug that does not apply any internal pressure to the ear canal. This makes our products much more comfortable, reusable, and eliminates soreness that many experience from use of other products. This is all accomplished while providing full occlusion of the ear canal resulting in much higher noise attenuation levels.
Our research and development team utilize in-the-field testing and measurements of sound exposure to develop custom hearing protection solutions for industries while reducing corporate bottom line expense on disposable hearing protection and OSHA compliance liability. Our services are performed by our hearing conservation department professionals. NOVA prides itself on exceptional customer service and product satisfaction.
Our permanent, high quality products are guaranteed to be long lasting and maintain efficacy with repeated use. We maintain close contact with our consumer bases to ensure satisfaction and aid in coordinating HCP for corporations that reduce expenditure, waste, and eliminates manufacturers needs for reordering product and warehousing expenditures.