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PPE: HEARING PROTECTION Hearing Protection: The Dangers of Non-Compliance Hearing health is more important than you might think. BY SYDNY SHEPARD Many dangers in the workplace are hazards that cannot be seen. For instance, viruses, extreme hot or cold temperatures, toxic vapors and even noise can present issues in the workplace that could lead to minor or severe illness or injury. In this article, we are going to take a look into the widespread impact of noise: how hearing loss can impact an employee and how you can help workers find value in their hearing protection. In the U.S., hearing loss is the third- most common chronic physical condition among adults after hypertension and arthritis, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). About 12 percent of the working population has difficulty hearing, and of those, about 24 percent lost partial or all hearing as a result of occupational exposures. Even worse, about 8 percent of the working population suffers tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears. NIOSH estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise, which they consider as any noise that reaches 85 decibels or higher—or in simpler terms, if a person has to raise his or her voice to speak with someone three feet, or arm’s length, away. The Hearing Loss Impact Let’s first talk about why it is so important for hazardous noises to be addressed in the workplace and the risks that employers and safety professionals should ensure employees are aware of when it comes to their own hearing health. According to the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association, hearing loss can have a negative impact on your health and emotions. The most obvious side effect of hearing loss is the impact it has on a person’s mental health. A 2014 study from the National Council of Aging found that a loss in hearing correlates to an increase in depression in adults. Those who suffer from hearing loss have a tough time communicating with others, and that most likely will account for depression, frustration, anger and anxiety. Hearing loss has also been found to correlate to other physical ailments such as faster atrophy of the brain, gastrointestinal issues and even dementia. One of the most common side effects talked about in relation to hearing loss is social isolation. This is particularly hard to overcome in a work environment, especially when employees have to work together in pairs or teams. Social isolation can often result in disgruntled employees who lose sight of why safe work is so important. It could also lead them to quit their job altogether, decreasing the number of experienced workers in the field. It is important for safety professionals and employers to educate employees on skipper_sr/Shutterstock.com the risks of hearing loss as this will help workers to better understand why their hearing protection is so important. Evaluating Your Workspace If you suspect that you have hazardous noise in your workplace, you’re probably right, but there are some ways to measure and record the workplace noise levels so that you can confidently explain to both the C-suite and employees that hearing protection is needed while they take care of their job duties. According to an article from our December 2021 issue of Occupational Health & Safety titled “Tackling Hearing Protection in the Workplace,” a noise survey will help to determine noise levels in the workplace as it relates to each 14 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 www.ohsonline.com