About
The NORA Hearing Loss Prevention Cross-sector Council brings together individuals and organizations with a shared interest in preventing work-related hearing loss. Council members share information, form partnerships, and promote adoption and dissemination of solutions that work. Learn more about the council and its current members.
Outreach
Hearing is Quality of Life Video
Council members collaborated to produce a video, Hearing is Quality of Life, to increase awareness of the risk of occupational hearing loss from loud noise or music on the job and encourage protective behavior. The video includes conversations with noise-exposed workers who have experienced hearing loss and/or tinnitus. It is hosted by the National Hearing Conservation Association.
Cross-sector description
The NORA Hearing Loss Prevention Cross-Sector focuses on prevention of occupational hearing loss due to hazardous noise exposure, ototoxic substances (chemical, pharmaceutical, metals). It also promotes the development of interventions through research in surveillance, engineering noise control, personal protective equipment, and best practices.
The NIOSH Hearing Loss Prevention Program facilitates the work of the Council and coordinates NIOSH research in this cross-sector.
Members
The Council has two co-chairs, one from the NIOSH Hearing Loss Prevention Program and one from a partner organization. The NIOSH program manager and assistant coordinator also help to facilitate the work of the Council. Members attend meetings and participate in workgroups.
Current members
Name
Organization
Laurie Wells
Co-Chair
3M Company
Amanda Azman
Co-Chair, NIOSH HLP Program Co-Coordinator
NIOSH
Elizabeth Masterson
Co-Chair, NIOSH HLP Program Co-Coordinator
NIOSH
Lauralynn McKernan
NIOSH HLP Program Co-Manager
NIOSH
Thais Morata
NIOSH HLP Program Co-Manager
NIOSH
Hannah Echt
HLP Program Assistant Coordinator
NIOSH
Amy Blank
zCore Business Solutions Inc., DoD Hearing Center of Excellence
Ursula (Asha) Brogan
NIOSH
Laura Coco
San Diego State University
David C. Copley
Caterpillar, Inc.
Sharon Curhan
Harvard University
Joe Defibaugh
Komatsu Mining Corp.
Jackie DiFrancesco
Michael & Associates, Inc.
Mark Ellis
Industrial Minerals Association – North America
Melanie Hayes
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
John Johnson
J3 Group, LLC
Walter Jones
Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America
Bradley King
NIOSH
Colleen Le Prell
University of Texas at Dallas
William (Bill) Murphy
Stephenson and Stephenson Research and Consulting (SASRAC)
Minda Nieblas
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Travis Parsons
Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America
Benjamin Roberts
Cardno Chemrisk
Theresa Schulz
Department of Defense, Hearing Center of Excellence
Christina Stalnaker
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Michele Stopper-Hollatz
Milwaukee Tools
Christa Themann
NIOSH
Douglas Trout
NIOSH
Kelly Schnapp
Environmental Protection Agency