UniFirst and Soundtrace Collaborate to Enhance Workplace Hearing Safety and Reduce Costs
In a groundbreaking move towards enhancing workplace safety, UniFirst First Aid + Safety, a prominent leader in workplace safety and first aid services, has joined forces with Soundtrace, a pioneer in digital hearing conservation technology. This partnership aims to provide revolutionary on-site audiometric testing services, enabling employers to meet the stringent requirements set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect their employees from preventable hearing loss.
Understanding the Importance of Hearing Conservation
Every year, millions of workers in various industries are exposed to hazardous noise levels that can lead to irreversible damage to their hearing. To combat this threat, OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1910.95 mandates employers to implement comprehensive hearing conservation programs, which include conducting annual audiometric tests for employees subjected to noise exposure at levels of 85 decibels or higher over an 8-hour period. These measures are critical; however, for many employers maintaining compliance often poses unique challenges, particularly in coordinating testing across various shifts while keeping production schedules intact and minimizing operational downtime.
Traditional methods used to manage hearing tests, such as mobile testing vans or contracting with third-party clinics, have proven to be less effective in fulfilling the nuanced needs of modern companies. Unfortunately, these conventional approaches can lead to missed testing opportunities, inefficient scheduling processes, increased administrative workloads, and inadequate visibility into the health trends of workers' hearing. Consequently, even when testing is performed, organizations frequently rely on static reports that provide inadequate actionable insights, complicating the ability to recognize early shifts in hearing capabilities and respond in a timely manner. Left unaddressed, such issues heighten safety risks and can increase employee turnover rates.
The Smart Solution:
In an emphatic response to these challenges, the collaboration between UniFirst and Soundtrace offers a state-of-the-art solution empowering employers to fulfill their legal obligations effortlessly. UniFirst's First Aid + Safety team will deliver white glove, on-site audiometric testing services powered by Soundtrace’s AI-driven technology platform. This service allows employers to conduct OSHA-mandated annual hearing tests conveniently at their facilities, greatly reducing the administrative load and the time workers spend away from their regular tasks.
Key Advantages:
1. Convenience: By providing on-site testing during working hours, the partnership minimizes downtime which is essential for operational efficiency.
2. Compliance Confidence: The technology ensures all recordkeeping is automated and in accordance with OSHA regulations, providing peace of mind to employers.
3. Early Detection: Leveraging AI technology, early shifts in hearing can be identified before they progress into permanent issues, allowing for proactive measures.
4. Trustworthy Providers: The program is delivered by UniFirst's experienced team, ensuring quality service staffing across their nationwide operation.
David Stover from UniFirst emphasizes the critical nature of OSHA's hearing conservation requirements for worker health and the operational hurdles many employers face in maintaining compliance efficiently. He asserts that "with this partnership, we're making compliance easier than ever—bringing trusted audiometric testing directly to the job site."
Jeff Wilson, CEO of Soundtrace, echoes this sentiment, affirming that the combined efforts of UniFirst’s service reach with Soundtrace's technology are set to redefine effective hearing conservation standards.
About the Companies
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, UniFirst First Aid + Safety is a subsidiary of UniFirst Corporation (NYSE UNF), which prides itself on manufacturing its own branded workwear and safety products, catering to over 300,000 locations across the nation with a robust workforce.
Soundtrace operates as a key player in the hearing conservation technology sphere, focusing on preventing occupational hearing loss through innovative digital testing methodologies, compliance tools, and predictive insights.
With this powerful alliance, both UniFirst and Soundtrace not only enhance workplace safety but also pave the way to a future where effective hearing conservation becomes an integral part of occupational health and safety culture.