Your hearing is one of those things you don’t appreciate until it’s gone. In fact, 24% of hearing loss cases in the U.S. are related to occupational hearing loss. That’s why it’s important to take steps to keep your hearing safe while on the job…
Occupational Hearing Loss
The causes
The causes of occupational hearing loss seem to be pretty straightforward. Excessive noise exposure is the most common and direct cause. Constant exposure to loud noises can cause violent vibrations in the ear, causing hearing damage.
There are other, less common causes that are also important to watch for. Head injuries from blows to the head or falling debris can also cause hearing loss. There is also chemically-based hearing loss. Constant exposure to certain solvents, heavy metals, and gasses like carbon monoxide can cause hearing loss through contact or ingestion.
The effects
The effects of occupational hearing loss can be both obvious and subtle. For example, your ears might start to feel “stuffed up”. This makes it harder to hear things around you. Your ears also might start to ring due to tinnitus.
These effects can be temporary at first, and may go away in a few hours or days. However, they can become permanent the more you expose yourself to loud noises. Eventually, your hearing quality will deteriorate, making it harder to hear softer noises, and eventually hear at all.
Prevention
There are steps you can take to prevent occupational hearing loss. The most effective way is to limit your noise exposure. Sounds that are above 80 decibels can lead to permanent hearing damage. Therefore, OSHA limits the average 8 hour workday noise limit to just 90 decibels. The higher the decibels, the less time a worker is allowed to work around these noises.
You can also make sure any machinery is kept clean and up-to-date. Many times, machines become louder than usual due to dirt and grime buildup and worn-down parts. You can also use equipment like earplugs or earmuffs. However, these might have a certain limit on how much noise they can block out.
Occupational hearing loss is a serious risk in many different workplaces. Hearing loss can not only have negative impacts on your work, but also on your life outside of work as well. That’s why it’s important to take the right steps to protect your hearing.