Prevent Hearing Loss at Work: Essential Tips for Protection

When you think of work-related injuries or illnesses, you might picture severe accidents or cancers from dangerous chemicals like asbestos. While these do happen, hearing loss is actually one of the most common health problems caused by the workplace. Unlike sudden accidents, hearing loss develops gradually over time and was often attributed to ageing. However, a lot of work-related hearing loss results from constant exposure to loud noise.

Hearing loss can start from exposure to sounds as low as 85 decibels (dB). The louder the noise, the less time it takes to cause damage. You might assume it takes something drastic like an explosion to affect your hearing, but even a vacuum cleaner, which is around 85dB, can damage your hearing with prolonged exposure. An extreme noise, like an explosion, can cause immediate hearing loss.

Loud noises damage the small hairs inside your ear that detect vibrations and convert them into sounds. When these hairs get damaged, they can’t pick up sounds as well, leading to hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss often affects your ability to hear high-frequency sounds, distinguishing it from age-related hearing loss, which usually impacts lower frequencies. This means you might have trouble hearing the TV or understanding female voices.

Many jobs expose workers to harmful noise levels, and employers are legally required to protect their employees’ hearing. If you’ve developed hearing loss due to your job, you may be eligible to file a hearing loss claim. When exposed to noise over 85dB, you should be provided with hearing protection like ear muffs or earplugs. If you aren’t given these protections, raise the issue with your employer, as your hearing could be at risk. Since hearing damage is often permanent, it’s crucial to address the problem as soon as possible.