Winners of OSHA Contest to Design Protective Hearing System Announced

Four inventors saw their ideas to reduce work-related hearing loss recognized during the federal workplace safety agency's "Hear and Now Noise Safety Challenge," held Oct. 27 in Washington, D.C. The challenge called on inventors to design devices to protect workers' ears. Winning inventors were put in touch with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and with product developers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The winners were: First prize: Nick Laperle and Jeremie Voix, "eers." The duo developed a custom-fitted earpiece to provi...