3M Health Care unveils hearing protection system

3M Health Care has announced the development of new technology that could help those in the food industry avoid damage to their hearing.

The company states its technology will address the "significant occupational disease" of hearing loss brought about by noise in the workplace – which can lead to a range of conditions including tinnitus.

Citing figures from a Health and Safety Executive study, 3M states an estimated 170,000 people in the UK suffer from such problems and as a result it has launched the Optime Alert System.

The portable sound measuring technology can monitor noise levels in various environments and ascertain what type of protective equipment staff may need.

"A colour coding system enables safety officers to choose the appropriate hearing protection option quickly and easily. This helps compliance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005," it was noted.

This week the firm also displayed its new MicroTouch System DST2270DX system at the Digital Signage Exposition in Las Vegas.