Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Page? Hearing Tests Set The ability to hear is a precious gift, and yet is one frequently taken for granted. Much of the learning process is gained through listening, and people communicate with others through the spoken word. Also, many warning systems depend on hearing. Much pleasure is derived from hearing music, the sound of nature and the fun sounds of sports and hobby activities. Ears are delicate instruments which help everyone enjoy life, perform their jobs properly, and even protect them from danger. With proper care, ears will last a lifetime, and the company's Hearing Conservation Program is designed to help ensure that lifetime guarantee. Hearing Program Clinton's Hearing Conservation Program has been in effect for a number of years. This program includes a pre-employment audiometric test, instructions concerning the proper use of hearing protection and annual testing programs. Noise regulations established by the Occupational Safetyand Health Administration (OSHA) have accentuated the effort Clinton is already making to protect each em ployee's hearing while at work. What Causes Hearing Loss? Some peole are more sensitive than others to noise, but no one is immune to the long-term effects of noise. Everyone is affected by excess noise to some degree. There are various causes of hearing loss, including birth injury, viruses, physical damages, diseases, aging, medicines and loud noise. Long-term exposure to con tinuous loud noise without ear protection is only one of several causes, but it is the one most likely to affect Clinton employees. Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise without ear protection will gradually damage the hearing organ deep within the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss. How Does Someone Protect Their Hearing Abilities? Preventing hearing loss is mainly a personal responsibility, but the company encour ages employees to follow good health practices for taking care of their ears, and to wear required ear protection. Clinton Mills provides each new employee with hearing protectors which must be worn at all times when working in high-noise areas, but each employee must also be alert to danger signals such as ringing in the ears or changes in hearing. Additionally, it is best to avoid loud noises at home and on the job. Clinton Mills Role in Noise Monitoring In order to assist in protecting each employee’s hearing from excessive noise exposure, Clinton has the following programs in operation.- NOISE MONITORING—The company will monitor noise levels and identify high noise level areas. Employees will be told what noise level they are exposed to. NOISE CONTROLS—Through updated equipment and machinery modifications, the company is making every possible effort to reduce noise below permissible levels as estblished by federal health regulations. HEARING PROTECTION—Clinton provides and requires the use of hearing protec tion in all areas exceeding permissible noise levels. HEARING TESTING—Annual audiometric hearing exams are conducted for em ployees who work in areas of high noise levels. These are free of charge to employees. TRAINING PROGRAM—Each new employee is instructed in good hearing conserva tion and proper use of hearing protection. Additionally, the company continues to coordinate inplant training programs for employees to ensure that hearing protection is worn properly, and to answer questions concerning standards and regulations. Medical Surveillance The company is concerned about the health and welfare of each employee, and thus keeps a medical history on each employee from the date of employment. This medical history includes the results of preemployment and audiometric tests and yearly tests, which will be studied and compared in order to detect any change in hearingability. If a change is indicated, appropriate recommendations will be made concerning how each employee might best protect his or her hearing. This medical surveillance is important not only to the company, but also to em ployees and their families and friends. No one can function to the best of their ability without good hearing. A hearing loss may severely handicap an employee's communi cations not only with coworkers, but also with loved ones. Clinton Mills registered nurses will be pleased to answer any questions emloyees may have about the effects of noise on hearing abilities. Hearing Protection A selection of scientifically designed hearing protectors is provided for employees. Trained personnel issues each new employee a set of ear plugs, and instructs them in the proper use of the protective devices. If an employee experiences difficulty with his or her ear protection, the supervisor will gladly contact the nurses for assistance with the problem. After the initial fitting and adjustment of ear protection, employees are required to pay a small fee to replace lost ear plugs. Hearing protectors worn out through normal use are replaced free of charge, according to company policy. Properly fitted protectors must be worn at all times in designated areas. Cotton, tissue or paper towels are not effective as hearing protection and are never acceptable substitutes. Employees with medical problems which prohibit wearing ear protection, snould bring the situation to their supervisor’s attention immediately. It is to everyone’s advantage to take care of their hearing—and with care, they will last a lifetime! Hamilton Named To Committee Josh Hamilton, Clinton Mills, Inc. market ing planning manager, has been apointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to the Industry Sector Advisory Committee on Tex tiles and Apparel for Trade Policy Matters. This committee is a major advisory body of the Industry Consultations Program on Trade Policy Matters jointly sponsored by the Department of Commerce and the office of the United States Trade Representative. The program was established under the Trade Act of 1974 to provide private sector advice to the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative on trade negotiations and the administration of U.S. trade policy. The Clinton executive’s work with this program will enhance the ability of the U.S. government to pursue trade objectives which reflect the concerns and interest of the private sector which is critical to im plementing the Tokyo Round trade agree ments, negotiating new agreements, review ing export policies, enforcing U.S. rights and managing serious trade problems Josh Hamilton Hamilton will work very closely with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldridge and United States Trade Representative Bill Brock on important trade matters. He brings to the advisory committee a wide range of knowledge and expertise on numerous trade, industry and political issues which will be beneficial to a multitude of trade groups. Textile Unemployment High Employment in the textile industry dipped to 727,000 in January 1985, nearly equal to the all-time low set in early 1983 and 5 percent lower than one year ago. This was the 10th consecutive month of decline. The textie mill unemployment rate shot up to 13.1 percent in January, the highest since October 1982. This rate, however, tends to move erratically. Apparel employment was reported at 1,181,000 in January, about equal to the average of the past few months and 2 per cent under one year ago. The apparel unem ployment rate of 8.8 percent for January was well below the 1984 average of 10.8 per cent. Nationally, unemployment rose to 7.4 percent, equalling the September 1984 level. National employment (non- agricultural) reached a record of 96 million persons in January. All figures above are adjusted for usual seasonal variations. Dust Monitoring Underway Clinton Mills conducts semi-annual dust monitoring to assure compliance with the Occup- tional Safety and Health Act. The company retains Texcon, Inc. of Greenville to perform the actual dust monitoring. A team of trained technicians visits each plant every six months and utilizes space age looking devices called vertical elutriators to collect particles of cotton dust which measure 15 microns or smaller that may be present in a work area. The company, in most every manufacturing area, is within the OSHA permissible exposure limits that have been set for the industry. In yarn manufacturing, (opening to slashing), OSHA has set the P.E.L. (Permissible Exposure Limits) at .2 milligrms per cubic meter of air; slashing and weaving, .75 milligrams per cubic meter of air, and warehouse, wastehouse, and other areas, .50 milligrams percubic meter of air. It is almost impossible to understand the small amount of dust acceptable under the standard. For instance, think about two grains of salt in a large refrigerator. This will illustrate what the “standard" would look like in yarn manufacturing areas. Texcon technicians, using their air sampling techniques and equipment, operate the elutriators for a minimum of six hours on each shift. The elutriators are located in strategic spots throughout the designated work areas. The equipment is designed to collect the smallest particles which are to be respirable. The elutriators also capture other harmless substances which may be present in the air during the sampling process. Each cone-shaped cylinder is attached to a support which places the end of the elutriator cone at the approximate height of the average employee. The machine’s vacuum pump draws air through the bottom of the device the same level that an employee breathes. As air is pulled through the elutriator, it passes through a special cassette attached at the top of the cylinder. A filter in the cassette picks up only those particles of dust which are 15 microns or smaller, and the larger particles, fall out before they move up the cylinder to the filters. At the end of the testing cycle, the filters are removed, collected in a series, and taken to a laboratory where sensitive electronic measuring devices weigh the particles which cling to the filters. Once the filter weights are determined and averaged, a special mathemtical formula is used to calculate individual exposure limits. Individuals are then apprised of their exposure levels. Various work practices and protective equipment are utilized to assure employee health and safety and compliance with the cotton dust standard. Over the years, Clinton Mills has spent and continues to spend huge sums of money to assure employees of a clean, healthy and safe environment. This year’s testing will begin on Feb. 11 at the Lydia Plant, followed by Clinton No. 1 & 2, and Geneva. Bailey Plant tests will be conducted when construction and machine installation permits.