Page 20 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2018

HEARING PROTECTION
Safe Sounding Workplaces
Using sound mapping software rather than measurements means you can predict future noise levels and take pre-emptive steps to control it. BY ARNE BERNDT
While financial reward is the primary reason for going to work, people have a variety of motivations from personal fulfillment to simply wanting to get out of the house. One thing every worker anywhere in the world should have in common is the right, and expec- tation, that they can go home in one piece at the end of their working day.
Companies spend millions on personal protective equipment and jump through hoops to meet a variety of stringent health and safety regulations, yet, unfor- tunately, too many people are still killed or made ill by their occupation.
A significant, but unseen, danger is exposure to excessive noise. This can have an immediate effect or a
pernicious, long-term impact on health. Hearing loss is one of the most significant occupational health is- sues across the world, which should come as little sur- prise given the range of jobs using noisy equipment or taking place in loud environments.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the United States’ federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommenda- tions for the prevention of work-related injury and ill- ness, recommends the noise exposure limit of 85 deci- bels (dB). That is quieter than a hand drill, so imagine the effect on hearing of exposure to a hammer drill (114dB) or the even louder pneumatic drill (119dB). It’s also worth remembering that most people perceive a sound to be twice as loud for each increase of 10dB. A pneumatic drill is therefore more than three times as loud as the recommended exposure level.
This is a noteworthy issue; for example, NIOSH estimates that 84 percent of carpenters, 77 percent of operating engineers, and 73 percent of construction workers are exposed to noise levels over the recom- mended limit.
Sudden or Gradual Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be immediate on exposure to a par- ticularly loud or sudden noise. But gradual hearing loss that may go undetected for years is no less devas- tating. We often take our hearing for granted, but its loss is truly life changing. Even a temporary loss can have significant consequences, especially on our abil- ity to communicate.
As momentous as hearing loss can be, it is not the only health impact to be concerned about. Excessive noise can cause a variety of physical and psychologi- cal impairments, including sleep disturbance, car- diovascular disease, and stress. It can also increase the chance of workplace accidents and lead to com- munications issues.
The risks are not just to workers’ health. Busi- nesses’ productivity, reputation, and legal standing also can be dramatically impeded if proper mitigation measures aren’t put in place to protect people from ex- cessive noise. This is not a matter to be taken lightly, and noise should be part of the risk analysis and plan- ning processes for every business.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
While it may never be possible to eradicate all noise from occupational situations, accurate mapping us- ing noise-mapping software can ensure that every-
18 Occupational Health & Safety | MARCH 2018
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