Have you ever considered the impact of loud noise at work? If this is part of your daily routine there is a chance that it can damage your hearing over time, therefore noise management at work is crucial to minimising the impact on your hearing in later life.
Health and safety audits help to identify risk areas, such as noise, that may otherwise be ignored.
The Effects of Loud Noise
Workers can develop tinnitus; a distressing condition that feels like there is a faint buzzing or whistling in the ears. This is often the first indication that something is wrong with your hearing and that person may have been subjected to loud noises over a long period of time. Of course, tinnitus can also start quite early on and affect people in loud noise situations sooner than you might think.
When your hearing starts to become damaged, day to day things suddenly become more difficult, such as understanding someone’s speech or even being able to use the phone.
How To Minimise The Impact
Ear plugs at work are the most widely used loud noise prevention technique, however they don’t always do the job properly.
If the ear plug is not positioned correctly in the ear then loud noise can still cause hearing loss over time. Experts recommend that a hearing protector is used that filters the loud noises out and yet still allow the person to hear the sounds that are important to their job. Essentially, it’s more important to control hazardous noise levels as opposed to blocking out all sound.
Visit the HSE.gov.uk website for advice or please contact us for more information.