Noise is all around us. While some people are more tolerant of noise than others, it poses a threat to our hearing health and wellbeing. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), even a short exposure to loud noise can cause changes in hearing and tinnitus. Distressingly, it was found that longer exposure to loud noise may lead to permanent hearing loss, stress, communication difficulties and sleep disruption; all of which increases the chance of workplace accidents and injuries.

The problem is, many people are working in noisy environments. Those in the field of manufacturing, construction, mining, service and military are at a higher risk of noise exposure due to the machinery and equipment present in those places. Even while noise might be disregarded as a normal aspect of the workplace, if ignored, it can cause debilitating problems later in life. This is why education and awareness amongst workers is vital, and the role of employers in implementing appropriate hearing conservation programs is essential.

Employers play a critical role in making sure that any potential job hazards don't endanger the hearing of their staff. They are held accountable for establishing a secure working environment and for adhering to the necessary safety regulations to reduce workplace accidents. To avoid occupational hearing loss, employers must assess how much noise exposure their employees are experiencing and put in place the required monitoring and hearing conservation programmes. These programs include but are not limited to education regarding noise and hearing loss, provision of hearing protection devices such as earmuffs or earplugs, ensuring employees undergo a baseline hearing assessment and annual hearing monitoring as well as rotating staff away from noisy locations of the workplace. They must make it a priority for all of their employees to be aware of the value of safeguarding their hearing and regularly train them on how to wear and maintain hearing protection devices. This not only ensures the company has a healthy and productive workforce; it also protects employers from potential litigation.

On the other hand, audiologists are essential professionals responsible for industrial hearing screening. To keep track of employees' hearing health and create a successful hearing conservation programme that complies with OSHA rules, they offer hearing assessments and evaluations. Employers whose staff were found to have occupational hearing loss are notified and their respective employees will be given counselling and treatment to help them manage their condition.

In addition to what companies and audiologists should be doing, employees themselves must also take the appropriate precautions to protect their hearing. They can begin by putting on hearing protection gear when working in noisy environment. Hearing protection can only help if worn at all times. Employees who remove hearing protection devices in noisy places are immediately at risk of acquiring hearing loss, acoustic trauma and tinnitus. They must abide by the hearing conservation program set by their employer and attend regular hearing tests to monitor their auditory health. Additionally, staff members should consult their audiologist or manager at once if they experience any unexpected symptoms of hearing loss such as difficulty keeping up with conversations, ringing in the ears and a sudden drop in hearing.

In order to prevent occupational hearing loss and tinnitus, all stakeholders must take the required steps to ensure the success of hearing conservation in the workplace. To guarantee a secure and healthy workplace, employers, audiologists, and workers must work together. The importance of hearing health cannot be overstated, and investing in it will undoubtedly pay dividends in the long run.

Contact us now to learn more about industrial hearing screening. Alternatively, you may browse our selection of Crescendo earplugs to protect your hearing.

Patrick Seow, Clinical Audiologist at 20dB Hearing