Law enforcement officer wins NIOSH Safe-in-Sound award

Washington – An innovative sheriff’s deputy has been named the winner of NIOSH’s Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award.

Ryan Lee Scott, deputy sheriff with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, was honored for his work that examined noise exposure among law enforcement officers and sought solutions to protect their hearing.

Scott’s efforts include developing an educational workshop, titled “Firearms Training and Hearing Loss,” tailored for law enforcement officers. He also has contributed to studies regarding high-level impulse sounds from firearms and intervention strategies that can help reduce the risk of hearing loss.

“Hearing is a critical sense for a police officer, who uses it to communicate and monitor the safety of community members, fellow officers, and themselves,” NIOSH Director John Howard said in a press release. “Deputy Sheriff Scott is a pioneer, examining the noise exposure problem among his colleagues and developing an innovative approach to bring solutions to the law enforcement community.”

The Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award honors people who have “contributed to the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus through effective practices or innovations directed to those who are exposed to noise at work,” the press release states.