NOISE FACT SHEET
Noise causes hearing loss, causes increase in blood pressure, isolates people working side by side by preventing conversation and drowning out other cues to the environment. Noise causes stress that is intensified by the lack of control over the environment.
While we all tend to lose hearing with age, more rapid hearing loss due to exposure to noise on the job may go unnoticed because the development is gradual. Noise can cause ringing in the ears and may start with difficulties hearing conversation when background noise is present, or localizing noise sources. It may first be noticed by family members due to fights about TV volume, or finding that the radio is on too loud in the car.
What is the problem with noise?
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Noise can be continuous or impulse. It is usually measured in decibels (dB). The scale is logarithmic, so noise levels that are only 3-5 decibels higher may be twice as loud. Noise beats down the sensory hair cells within the ear. At first, hearing loss may be temporary; this is known as temporary threshold shift, which can last for several hours. But continued noise exposure, and repeated temporary hearing loss results in damage that may not be reversible, the hearing loss becomes permanent. If you have to shout to talk to someone who is an arm’s length away from you at work, then the noise levels may be over 85 decibels.
Being in a noisy environment adds to stress, causing increases in blood pressure and digestive problems in some. Inability to communicate with co-workers adds to the stress.
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WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT NOISE?
HEARING LOSS CANNOT BE REVERSED.
It is very important to prevent hearing loss before the damage is permanent. Also, working in a noisy environment can be very tiring and make it difficult to respond to other hazards and cues in the workplace.
The Best way to prevent hearing loss is to make sure that noise caused by unbalanced, broken or poorly maintained equipment gets reported to management. Reducing noise at the source protects everyone in the area from unwanted noise. Ask for noise monitoring to help pinpoint the sources of noise and the sound level. Request repair and consider filing a health and safety grievance if needed repairs to dampen noise are not implemented.
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Use hearing protection when necessary. Look at the NRR or Noise Reduction Rating of the various hearing protection devices that should be made available. If it is really noisy, the best protection may be to select both insert able, soft foam ear plugs and ear muffs over those. The NRR numbers overestimate the protection afforded, but they allow comparisons. Pick the most comfortable and use them.
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You probably had a HEARING TEST when you started.
If the noise levels are high in your work area (over the action level of 85 dBA average over an 8-hour day),then management should provide regular hearing evaluations to ensure that you are not losing hearing capacity. Ask for a copy of the test, so you can keep a record of your hearing ability. One alternative used by some management is to limit how many hours you spend in a noisy environment and rotate who gets exposed to noise. Management must provide training to everyone exposed to high levels of noise, that should cover the OSHA requirements, how to use your hearing protectors, checking for proper fit. They must provide a copy of the standard if you want it.
ADDITIONAL LINKS TO KEY RESOURCES:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/index.html
http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/workplacesolutions/hearingchecklist.html
Click Here to download a printable copy of the Noise Hazards Fact Sheet
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