Employee Training And Education For Noise
Excessive noise levels over a long period of time will damage your hearing. This may happen so gradually and painlessly that you may not notice the minor deterioration from one day to the next. Excessive noise in the workplace presents a risk of hearing damage and other health problems.
The parts of the ear that process high-frequency sounds are usually the first to be affected. The degree of hearing loss depends on the loudness of the noise and how long you are exposed to it. Sudden explosive sounds, such as gunshots, can cause immediate damage.
Some people exposed to excessive noise develop tinnitus, which is described as a constant ringing sound. For most cases of noise-induced hearing loss, there is no cure. Hearing aids only amplify sounds and can’t replace normal hearing.
Associated effects of constant noise pollution
Apart from damage to hearing, exposure to constant and excessive noise can cause other health problems including:
- headache
- elevated blood pressure
- fatigue
- irritability
- digestive disorders
- increased susceptibility to colds and other minor infections.
Employee Training and Education
The employer must institute a training program for all employees with noise exposures at or above the action level and ensure employee participation.
- Training must be repeated annually for each employee in the hearing conservation program.
- Information must be updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes.
Cultivate a vigilant attitude about hearing protection: Employees should expect their hearing protectors to slip or work loose over a period of time. Throughout their work shift, employees must periodically check to see if they need to readjust or refit their protector in order to maintain a reliable fit.
Guard against acquiring a false sense of safety: As the discussion and figures in this section have illustrated, it is easy to misuse hearing protectors and greatly reduce their effectiveness. Employees can be effectively protected from hearing health hazards if they:
- properly wear their hearing protectors,
- exercise a commitment to wear their hearing protectors consistently, and
- maintain their hearing protectors by repairing or replacing them when necessary.
Hearing protectors break and become worn: Employees also need to check their protectors regularly and to seek repair or replacement whenever necessary. Lastly, they can help each other by encouraging their co-workers to use hearing protectors and to seek help when they have problems.