Hearing Protection: Is your job making you deaf?
Hearing protection in the workplace is a must. An estimated 1 million Australian employees (almost 12% of the workforce) may be exposed to dangerous levels of noise at work, which over time can lead to hearing loss and impairment. Occupational noise is also associated with tinnitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, fatigue, decreased production output and performance, increased stress, increased absenteeism, and increased risk of workplace injuries and accidents.
Who is most at risk of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (ONIHL)?
Personal protective equipment (PPE) including personal hearing protection in the workplace is a must. Damage to hearing can occur from exposure to very loud noise for a short time, or prolonged exposure to moderate noise levels. Risk of hearing impairment in the workplace may also occur through exposure to occupational ototoxins (including solvents, fuels, metals, fertilisers, herbicides and pharmaceuticals), with hearing loss being more likely if a person is exposed to a combination of substances and noise.
The sectors most affected by ONIHL are the manufacturing, construction, transport and storage industries, with the highest incidence rates in mining, construction, and electricity, gas and water supply. The agricultural sector also reports high levels of hearing loss, particularly amongst farmers, as does the entertainment/nightlife industry and the military.
Here is a closer look at 4 of the most at-risk industry sectors.
Manufacturing
The loud machinery, compressed air, and reverberation of manufactured goods all combine to make hearing loss the most common occupational illness in the manufacturing industry. The majority of hearing loss occurs within the first 10-15 years of employment in manufacturing, and since noise related hearing loss is gradual, the damage isn’t noticed until it’s too late. Many companies do provide PHPs, but some workers choose not to wear them or only wear them sporadically.
Construction
The tools used in the construction industry tend to be well over the recommended limit of 85 decibels (dB), with equipment such as the hammer drill sometimes reaching levels as high as 115 dB. Due to the overall lack of hearing protection governance, the large number of contract employees, and the seasonal nature of employees, the construction industry in particular has had trouble putting any meaningful hearing conservation practices into place.
Agriculture / Farming
In the agricultural industry exposure to excess noise starts at a young age with the sounds of livestock, chainsaws, and other noisy machinery, the operation of workshop equipment or firearms, and tractors and other vehicles that don’t have an enclosed cabin over a sustained period. The 2009 Rural Noise Injury Program assessment found that only 1/3 of farmers reported adoption of higher order noise reduction strategies such as upgrading to quieter equipment, and that farmers aged 35-44 years had significantly worse hearing in their left ears (i.e., the ear closest to the tractor engine when the farmer is turned around watching behind him).
Entertainment / Nightlife
Employees in the entertainment or nightlife sector including DJs, musicians, bartenders, and wait and security staff, are regularly exposed to noise far in excess of the recommended levels. Exposure to thumping bass and live music night after night ⎯ often at levels reaching over 100 dB ⎯ can wreak havoc on hearing, causing noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Further, most nightclubs regularly exceed the level at which employers are required to provide hearing protection for their employees and yet very rarely are PHPs provided or worn in this industry.
Hearing loss is permanent. Therefore, workers as well as operations, factory and OH&S managers must be proactive and take the necessary actions to limit the risk of workplace noise-induced hearing loss.
The preferred solution to excessive noise exposure is to completely eliminate the source of the loud noise. When this is not possible or practical, the legal requirement is to minimise exposure through a hierarchy of controls:
For example:
Substitute the noise source with quieter machinery or processes
Isolate the noise source from workers
Apply engineering solutions (e.g. fit mufflers, redesign the noise source, install noise guards or enclosures/soundproof the workplace)
Apply administrative solutions (e.g. schedule noisy work for when fewest workers are present, provide signs and quiet areas for breaks), and when none of the above are reasonably practicable
Provide high grade PHPs that enhance sounds workers want/need to hear while blocking harmful decibels levels.
NEED A HEARING PROTECTION QUOTE?
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