Australasian Mine Safety is the leading voice for all key decision makers within Mining company's and major contractors. Delivering the latest industry news as it breaks.
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116 The Australasian Mine Safety Journal Summer 2011/12 The Australasian Mine Safety Journal Summer 2011/12 HEARING PROTECTION, COMMUNICATION AND SAFETY The CavCom solution: When clear communication is critical Clear communication in high-noise or HAZMAT environments can mean the difference between life and death. Often, companies boast that "Our employees are our greatest asset", however would you equip your greatest asset with an inferior two-way communication system? Accurate operations call for accurate communications and industry calls on CavCom. T raditional communications equipment such as bone mics, throat mics, mask mics and lapel mics have been plagued with problems which, in turn create a potentially dangerous situation for those needing to communicate to do their job accurately. CavCom offers a true solution for communication in high noise and with respirator/powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) devices. "I recommend CavCom nationwide any time because the quality is phenomenal." — Kent Harmon, Industrial Consultants. Communication: The vital link Ineffective communication is often a key factor in responding to workplace incidents and subsequent investigations, according to John Henshaw, former assistant secretary of labour for OSHA. "In a majority of the cases, communication has been a contributing factor in an unsuccessful response. Either the method of communicating wasn't easy to use, or the language used wasn't consistent or understood clearly," he explained. "Proper communication is the only way" Henshaw said. "That is, making sure the words being spoken are clear to properly understand and that the words being used are encoded and translated properly by the receiver". "You have no hope of getting the first part of that equation right unless you have the right equipment to make that happen — a system that won't create barriers to communication, or alter the way in which people do their everyday work." Each system consists of a control unit, radio adapter, ear set and handheld two-way radio. CavCom's system is totally adaptable to all PPE, enabling clear communication even while wearing respiratory protection. "As we perfect our emergency response and deal with threats of terrorism, chemical exposures and other hazards, PPE and full containment will become more commonplace. The technology around communication systems is going to be more critical" Henshaw explained. "Responders will need to use more effective devices for communications during these events, and that is why I think CavCom's technology deserves a lot of attention." Easy to fit and comfortable to wear, the device provides excellent hearing protection — NRR 29 — for the highest noise environments. 'All In the Ear' CavCom's "All in the Ear" two-way radio communication was designed for very high-noise environments and for use with head and face protection. Each system consists of a control unit, radio adapter, ear set and hand-held two-way radio. Features include an intrinsic safety rating and remote PTT buttons for "hands-free" use. CavCom's system adapts to any two-way radio system, which means you do not have to replace your existing radios. A refreshing alternative to cumbersome, bulky old- fashioned head gear, CavCom's ear sets weigh less than 56 grams and fit entirely into the operator's ears. Easy to fit and comfortable to wear, the device provides excellent hearing protection — NRR 29 — for the highest noise environments and no headset or boom microphone is required. For extremely loud environments, double hearing protection is possible as ear muff devices can be worn over the ear set without breaking the ear seal. Additionally, the device features noise filtering to enhance speech in noise, muting background sound. Kent Harmon, managing partner of Industrial Consultants, has been doing business with CavCom for about 10 years. His company conducts HazMat training, so communication equipment is essential to his business. Harmon appreciates the reliability and quality of CavCom's systems. "The failure rate is super low," he said. "The only time that anything fails on the radios is generally when it is our problem — like a dead battery. With our old systems, anything would go wrong, but CavCom's systems are rugged. You can buy cheaper stuff, but it won't be anywhere near the quality." 'CavCom … the best thing that I found' Jim Thomas, corporate safety specialist at Leprino Foods Co., was looking for communications equipment that was effective in the loud engine room environment at Leprino. After researching five different types of communications equipment offered by large manufacturers, he turned to CavCom. "Nothing out there provides better communication in a loud noise environment," Thomas said. "CavCom was the best thing that I found." Leprino has been using CavCom's equipment for a couple of years now. "We have had no trouble with CavCom's system," Thomas said. "The universal ear pods make it seamless. It works for everyone. To enable clear communication in any challenging environment, "talk through your ears" technology is the answer. For more information or a free demonstration, contact your nearest Blackwoods branch on 13 73 23 or visit the website at www.blackwoods.com.au.