The cost of health claims related to hearing loss among members of Canada's military is rising, due in part to the reluctance of members to wear protective equipment and because the most suitable devices aren't always provided.
Explosions, gunfire, engine noise and alarms all contribute to hearing loss among military members. Almost a third of them have chronic hearing problems by the time they retire, according to surveys by Veterans Affairs.
A 2016 study obtained by Radio-Canada looked at how to better protect the hearing of members with pre-existing hearing loss, and found that military personnel were reluctant to wear hearing protection.
Some of the reasons were:
But the biggest reason was that earplugs or whatever other protection device used would impair situational awareness, safety and "interfere with successful completion of the mission," wrote Dr. Sharon Abel, a senior scientist at Defence Research and Development Canada.
That has led to increased health costs for the military. The Canadian Forces Health Services Group spent about $890,000 in 2013-14 on health costs related to hearing loss, followed by $937,000 in 2014-2015. In 2015-16, the last year for which data is available, it was close to $1.1 million.
Richard Blanchette, a retired major-general who suffered hearing loss during his years of service, said the Department of National Defence does everything in its power to protect members and it's the responsibility of the members to do their part.
Nobody else can do it for them, he told Radio-Canada.
Different military members, however, have different issues.
Abel's study found while earplugs may reduce the risk of hearing loss for people with normal hearing, they would increase impairment for people with pre-existing hearing loss.
Those people would be better served by more specialized protection, she wrote.
"Insufficient consideration is given to the selection of devices that will support the auditory tasks being carried out or suit the hearing status of the user."
The military has set up an awareness program for its members about hearing loss, said Pierre Lamontagne with Canadian Forces Health Services.
But soldiers remain reluctant to use some of the equipment they may need because it adds to the considerable weight they may already be carrying in the field, he said.
Lamontagne said he makes recommendations to commanders of the units, but it's the commanders who make the purchases.
While about one in five soldiers needs specialized protection for hearing loss, the devices may be purchased based on general rather than individual needs, he said.
The consequences of hearing problems are not always recognized because they are invisible, according to Chantal Laroche, a professor of audiology at the University of Ottawa.
However, the side-effects — persistent ringing in the ear, for example, or an inability to communicate with others — can cause other serious health problems, including mental health issues, she said.
Laroche said that in general, specialized hearing protections can be expensive, but the military should weigh those costs against the amount they are spending on health costs and disability claims.
October 1, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
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November 8, 2018 | Local, Naval
OTTAWA, Nov. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is making our oceans healthier, cleaner and safer than ever, thanks to the $1.5 billion Oceans Protections Plan. The Canadian Coast Guard's two new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CSSVs) will support the ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of mariners in Canada as they serve as the platform for the Canadian Hydrographic Service's Channel Survey Program. The program collects information about channel conditions and water depth of the St. Lawrence waterway to assist in safe navigation. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard has accepted two new CSSVs, called the CCGS Jean Bourdon and CCGS Helen Irene Battle, into the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. Under the Coast Guard's ship-naming policy, Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels are named after Canadian scientists, hydrographers, and explorers who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. In this case, Jean Bourdon carried out the first hydrographic studies of the St. Lawrence River, and Helen Irene Battle was an award-winning scientist and first woman in Canada to earn a PhD in marine biology. Both were important citizens whose contributions helped shape Canada. These new CSSVs were made in Canada by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas, Ontario, as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. These vessels will enhance the capability of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as other departments and agencies, to monitor and observe marine and environmental conditions. In addition, the new CSSVs will be able to assist with a number of activities related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement, emergency response, and natural disasters, as well as supporting ecosystems and fisheries science in the region. Quote "This investment by the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy is a priority of the federal government. The new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels will enable the Canadian Hydrographic Service to collect important data, while contributing to the safety of mariners through safe and efficient navigation on the St. Lawrence." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick Facts The Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CSSV), built by Kanter Marine of St. Thomas, ON, are a catamaran design of 11.95m in length. They will have a maximum speed in excess of 20kts and have a crew of four. The home port for the new CSSVs will be in Mont-Joli, Quebec; however, they will operate within the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Isle-aux-Coudres. The new CSSV class reflects the advancements and new standards existing in the field of hydrographic surveys, such as multi-beam sonars, highly accurate positioning systems and modern data acquisition and processing technologies. The new CSSVs will allow hydrographic surveys to be conducted with better accuracy while reducing data gathering time. They will also be able to assist with a number of activities related to search and rescue, aids to navigation, law enforcement, emergency response, natural disasters as well as supporting ecosystems and fisheries science in the region. These two new vessels will replace the two current Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels (CCGS F.C.G. Smith and CCGS GC 03) operational in the St. Lawrence waterway, which have been in operation for an average of 37.5 years and are nearing the end of their lifespan. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-accepts-new-vessels-for-the-canadian-coast-guard-700059911.html
May 20, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
English follows French Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec vous invite à une séance de réseautage en marge de CANSEC. Cette activité est organisée en collaboration avec Investissement Québec InternationaI. C'est une occasion unique de rencontrer les donneurs d'ordres et les principaux partenaires impliqués dans le processus d'acquisition dans le secteur de la défense. L'événement aura lieu au : Manège militaire de Salaberry - Mess de Salaberry 188, boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Gatineau (Régiment de Hull) Le mercredi 1er juin 2022 de 18 h à 20 h Veuillez confirmer votre présence en vous inscrivant ici avant le vendredi 27 mai prochain. (Comme le nombre de places est limité, seules les personnes inscrites seront admises). Note : Afin de respecter les mesures sanitaires en vigueur dans les édifices fédéraux, le port du masque sera exigé. Un stationnement gratuit est disponible à l'extérieur. Nous vous encourageons à nous suivre sur Twitter et LinkedIn et à consulter notre site web. Vous pouvez également communiquer avec nous. Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec 800, boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, bureau 500, Montréal (Québec) H3B 1X9 Canada Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions invites you to a networking session as a side event of CANSEC. This event is organized in collaboration with Investissement Québec International. This is a unique opportunity to meet the defence contractors and partners involved in the defence acquisition process. The event will take place at: Manège militaire de Salaberry - Mess de Salaberry 188 boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Gatineau (Régiment de Hull) Wednesday June 1, 2022, from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Please RSVP by registering here by Friday May 27, 2022. (Space is limited, and only those registered in advance will be admitted). Note: In order to respect the sanitary measures in place in federal buildings, masks are required. Free parking is available at the rear of the building.