The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Did you know that more than 20% of hearing difficulty among U.S. workers is caused by occupational exposure? Occupational hearing loss is quickly becoming one of the most common work injuries, and it’s important that all employers learn how to take preventative action to protect their employees’ well-being.
Hearing Protection is one of the most overlooked concepts when it comes to workplace safety. Over time, loud noise can damage the acoustic nerve. Unfortunately, once the nerve is damaged, it can’t ever be fixed, and that’s why it’s so important to remind employees to wear hearing proactive devices when working in loud environments. Though purchasing personal protective equipment for all employees can be a significant amount of investment, it will be worth it in the long run.
Excessive machine noise is a serious problem in construction or industrial environments. Employees who work in these industries are highly susceptible to occupational hearing loss due to the loud noises they are exposed to on a daily basis. As employers, it is important to ensure the proper maintenance and inspection of machinery to ensure the noise level doesn’t exceed 85dB. If it does, make sure to replace it or invest in vibration dampers and silencers to reduce noise hazards in the workplace.
Minimize Employees’ Time Spent in Noisy Areas
Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss and other long-term hearing problems. To minimize the risk of irreversible acoustic trauma, employers should limit the amount of time employees spend in noisy work environments. For example, allowing employees to take frequent breaks to distance themselves from high-decibel noises.
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