Information provided by OSHA
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 22 million workers face potentially harmful noise exposure each year. Hearing loss is a serious concern in many workplaces - whether you work at a sports venue, on an airport tarmac, or operate a jackhammer, excessive noise can lead to permanent damage.
Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses, and it is permanent. Hearing loss can lead to communication difficulties, making it challenging to maintain relationships with others. It can also raise concerns for personal safety and the safety of others, and contribute to other health problems like tinnitus (ringing in the ears), heart issues, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and poor mental health.
The good news is that occupational hearing loss from noise is 100% preventable. Construction jobs often expose workers to unsafe noise levels that can permanently damage hearing. Noise as loud as 85 decibels (dBA) over an 8-hour day can cause hearing loss. Even shorter exposures to very loud noises, like 100 dBA from a jackhammer, can quickly damage hearing.
To prevent hearing loss, employers should prioritize engineering controls like quieter tools and equipment, or administrative controls like rotating workers between hazardous tasks. When those aren't feasible, workers should wear proper hearing protection like earplugs, earmuffs, or canal caps. Hearing protectors need to be selected, fitted, and used correctly to be effective. Workers exposed to very loud noises may need to use double hearing protection.
If you need to raise your voice to speak with someone just 3 feet away, the noise level is likely over 85 decibels - the threshold where hearing protection is recommended. Fortunately, there are several tools available to measure workspace noise, including sound level meters, noise dosimeters, and octave band analyzers.
Signs that noise may be a problem in your workplace include ringing or humming in your ears after your shift, needing to shout to be heard by a nearby coworker, or experiencing temporary hearing loss when leaving work. The free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app for iOS can help you assess noise levels and take steps to reduce occupational hearing loss.
OSHA requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program when workers are exposed to average noise levels of 85 decibels or higher over an 8-hour workday. These programs aim to prevent initial hearing loss, preserve remaining hearing, and equip workers with the knowledge and protective equipment needed to safeguard their hearing.
There are several ways to control worker exposure to excessive noise and prevent hearing loss. These include using quieter machinery, isolating noise sources, limiting worker exposure time, and providing effective personal protective equipment. Exposure to loud noise can irreversibly damage the nerve endings in the inner ear, leading to permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected through surgery or medication.
Noise-induced hearing loss impairs the ability to hear high-frequency sounds and understand speech, which seriously compromises communication. While hearing aids may provide some assistance, they cannot fully restore normal hearing. Under OSHA's Noise Standard, employers must reduce noise exposure through engineering controls, administrative controls, or hearing protection devices to keep levels within the limits specified in the regulation.
Loud noises at work or during leisure time can all contribute to hearing loss. If you notice any signs or symptoms of hearing damage from work activities, let your supervisor know right away.
The good news is that occupational hearing loss from noise is 100% preventable. Construction jobs often expose workers to unsafe noise levels that can permanently damage hearing. Noise as loud as 85 decibels (dBA) over an 8-hour day can cause hearing loss. Even shorter exposures to very loud noises, like 100 dBA from a jackhammer, can quickly damage hearing.
To prevent hearing loss, employers should prioritize engineering controls like quieter tools and equipment, or administrative controls like rotating workers between hazardous tasks. When those aren't feasible, workers should wear proper hearing protection like earplugs, earmuffs, or canal caps. Hearing protectors need to be selected, fitted, and used correctly to be effective. Workers exposed to very loud noises may need to use double hearing protection.
If you need to raise your voice to speak with someone just 3 feet away, the noise level is likely over 85 decibels - the threshold where hearing protection is recommended. Fortunately, there are several tools available to measure workspace noise, including sound level meters, noise dosimeters, and octave band analyzers.
Signs that noise may be a problem in your workplace include ringing or humming in your ears after your shift, needing to shout to be heard by a nearby coworker, or experiencing temporary hearing loss when leaving work. The free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app for iOS can help you assess noise levels and take steps to reduce occupational hearing loss.
OSHA requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program when workers are exposed to average noise levels of 85 decibels or higher over an 8-hour workday. These programs aim to prevent initial hearing loss, preserve remaining hearing, and equip workers with the knowledge and protective equipment needed to safeguard their hearing.
There are several ways to control worker exposure to excessive noise and prevent hearing loss. These include using quieter machinery, isolating noise sources, limiting worker exposure time, and providing effective personal protective equipment. Exposure to loud noise can irreversibly damage the nerve endings in the inner ear, leading to permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected through surgery or medication.
Noise-induced hearing loss impairs the ability to hear high-frequency sounds and understand speech, which seriously compromises communication. While hearing aids may provide some assistance, they cannot fully restore normal hearing. Under OSHA's Noise Standard, employers must reduce noise exposure through engineering controls, administrative controls, or hearing protection devices to keep levels within the limits specified in the regulation.
Loud noises at work or during leisure time can all contribute to hearing loss. If you notice any signs or symptoms of hearing damage from work activities, let your supervisor know right away.
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