Page 24 - OHS, October 2024

P P E : H E A R I N G P R O T E C T I O N
Hearing and Seeing Better Workplace Outcomes: Why Audiometry
and Vision Health Are Critical for Worksite Safety
Proper auditory and visual health are essential components of workplace safety, impacting
not just individual workers but the entire workforce’s well-being and effi ciency.
BY CHRISTOPHER SINTIC, PA-C AND JON HANSEN, PA-C
and more eff ective workforce. However, most preventa-
On the jobsite, a healthy workforce is a safer, more effi cient
tive measures for workplace safety and health usually fo-
cus on reducing musculoskeletal injuries and improving
long-term health. Few consider the impact that proper visual and
audio acuity can have on the safety of not just the individual but
the entire workforce. And the costs of ignoring these critical safety
components are becoming increasingly dire.
For the most part, workers and supervisors understand the im-
portance of visual health. Wearing glasses is common, and wearing
safety goggles or glasses on most job sites is a standard practice.
Th ough many people may still be hesitant to wear prescription
eyeglasses or safety goggles, the cost of not protecting one’s eyes
is generally clear to see. No one wants to risk their vision when
there are countless dangers to the eye on the jobsite. Unfortunately,
what’s not as clear are the impacts that poor vision can have on fel-
low coworkers and the dangers of poor hearing for individuals and
those around them.
Unseen and Unheard Impacts of Poor Audio-Visual Health
On a jobsite, workers rely on each other to keep the entire team
safe. Wearing protective equipment, properly preparing with
stretching routines, and calling out safety hazards are all part of ev-
eryone’s responsibility to ensure the safety of themselves and those
around them. Yet, without being able to see properly, workers are
not only putting their own safety at risk, but it reduces their ability
to protect others. Imagine a machine operator who is unable to
judge depth and puts his colleague in harm’s way. It’s an issue that
can oft en be easily solved by using proper eyewear.
When it comes to hearing protection, the risks are just as se-
vere, but signifi cantly fewer people are taking the proper measures
to keep themselves and those around them safe. While protective
and corrective eyeglasses are common in the workplace just as they
are at home, there is still substantial stigma around wearing ear pro-
tection. Th ough manufactured earplugs have been around in some
cases for more than 100 years, wearing them on the jobsite — or
even at home when operating noisy machinery — has been seen as
“uncool.” Sadly, the “uncool” perception surrounding ear protection
has cost countless workers at least some portion of their hearing.
Not only do hearing aids have a negative perception in the public
eye, but those who have poor hearing oft en tend to isolate and see
higher levels of depression as they age.1 Whether or not many people
are aware of it, once hearing is lost, it cannot come back.
Just like with eye protection, proper ear protection serves a dual
role. While earplugs or earmuff s help the individual wearing them
stay safer, they also can keep those around them a bit safer as well.
With hearing loss, spatial awareness can be reduced and gives in-
New Africar/stock.adobe.com
dividuals less time to react to a potential hazard. In fact, a study
from 20122 found a positive association between hearing loss and
fall risk. It’s up to leaders to ensure that their workforce is taking all
the steps necessary to protect their own vision and hearing as well
as the safety of those around them.
7 Strategies for Improving Worker Audio-Visual Health
1. Follow All OSHA Testing Guidelines
It’s a simple strategy but one that bears repeating. Following
through with annual OSHA vision and audio testing guidelines not
only keeps your workplace compliant but helps identify any vision
or hearing issues your workforce may have. From there, you can
provide them with direction on how to correct their vision and/or
hearing challenges and reinforce guidance on proper protection.
2. Conduct Th orough Pre-Employment Physicals
Pre-employment physicals serve multiple purposes, and vision
and audio testing should typically be included. Th ey can identify
if, for example, someone experiences color blindness and may have
diffi culty performing the required job duties. Secondarily, they set
a baseline from which future tests are measured. If annual vision or
audio tests show that an individual is worsening in either or both
areas, medical professionals can discuss the risk of not wearing
proper protection and develop a plan for correction or improved
protection.
3. Explain the Risks
As mentioned, not wearing proper eye and ear protection not
only puts the individual’s health at risk, but it puts their fellow
workers’ safety at risk too. Sharing with the workforce the dan-
gers of not wearing protection or corrective lenses/hearing aids lets
24 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2024 www.ohsonline.com