Can You Hear Me Now? Recognizing Workplace Noise Hazards

Guest post by Josh Lee, loss control consultant

Think about the sounds you hear every day: the hum of a computer, the chatter of colleagues, the roar of heavy machinery, or the sharp crack of a tool. We live and work in a noisy world, but how much noise is too much?

With October marking National Protect Your Hearing Month, it is a good time to take a closer look at an often-overlooked workplace hazard: noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Repeated exposure to loud noise can gradually affect your hearing, sometimes without obvious symptoms until permanent hearing loss has occurred.

Why your hearing is at risk

Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the United States. For employees working in industrial, construction, and manufacturing environments, regular exposure to loud equipment, tools, and machinery can put their hearing at risk.

Inside your inner ear are thousands of delicate, microscopic hair cells that help detect sound and send signals to your brain. Unlike many other cells in your body, these hair cells do not repair or replace themselves once damaged. Excessive noise can damage or destroy them, leading to permanent hearing loss.

Because this damage can happen gradually, you may not notice a problem right away. Over time, however, repeated exposure to loud noise can have lasting effects on your hearing.

Is your workplace too loud?

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). For context, a normal conversation measures around 60 dB. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage your hearing, with the risk depending on both the noise level and how long you’re exposed to it.

You may not always have a decibel meter available, but there are some simple signs that a work area may be too loud. Loud noise may be damaging your hearing if:

• You have to shout to communicate with someone standing an arm’s length away
• Your hearing sounds muffled or “stuffy” after leaving a noisy area
• Your ears ring or buzz (tinnitus) after being around loud equipment
• A sudden, loud sound causes physical pain in your ears

Start protecting your hearing today

Protecting your hearing does not have to be complicated. A few simple habits can make a difference:

• Reduce the noise: When feasible, use quieter equipment, perform regular maintenance, or implement engineering controls to reduce workplace noise.
• Wear hearing protection: Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as earplugs or earmuffs, when working around hazardous noise levels. Ensure hearing protection fits properly and is suitable for the noise level.
• Back away: When possible, move farther away from loud equipment or machinery. Increasing your distance from the source can reduce the amount of noise reaching your ears.
• Turn down the volume: When using headphones or earbuds during your commute or downtime, keep the volume at a safe level.

For employers: Under OSHA’s general-industry noise standard, employers must implement a hearing conservation program when employee exposure reaches an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA. Noise monitoring and appropriate protective measures can help identify and reduce hazardous exposure before hearing loss occurs. 

Protect your ears this October and beyond

This month, take a moment to evaluate your workspace and think about the steps you can take to protect your hearing. Whether that means reducing noise at the source, wearing appropriate hearing protection, increasing your distance from loud equipment, or turning down the volume on your headphones, simple precautions can help protect your hearing for years to come.

For more information, please reach out to your loss control consultant.