Working at a theme park? A construction or landscaping job? In the general population, approximately 15% of young people between the ages of 6 and 19 show signs of impaired hearing1 possibly caused by loud noise.

Life can be loud, noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the number one sensory disability in the world – commonly caused by exposure to excessive one off noise, or noise levels louder than 85 decibels (dBA) over eight hours. Simply put, 60 dBA is approximately the noise level of normal conversation and 90 dBA is approximately the sound of a lawnmower. But there are four steps any worker can take to understand and protect themselves. Hearing loss doesn’t always happen immediately and exposures over a long period will eventually become noticeable and by then it is too late.

Step One: Recognise the Hazard

If you have to shout for someone to hear you − and they’re only an arm’s length away – the noise could be hazardous. Even heavy city traffic can be louder than 85 dBA, loud enough to cause damage.

Step Two: Know the Facts

Once acquired, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible. The damage to hearing due to noise exposure is fastest during the first 10 years of exposure, making hearing conservation efforts especially important for workers newly exposed to noise. A ringing in the ears or needing to turn the volume up on the tv or radio after a day at work is a sign that you have been exposed to damaging noise levels.

Step Three: Know Your Rights

Employers are obliged to provide appropriate hearing protection to workers in loud or hazardous noise environments. Workplaces must supply a variety of hearing protection to enable workers to select the hearing protection that fits and is comfortable. Talk to your employer about the right hearing protection for the environment you work in.

Step Four: Take Action

Always wear hearing protection. Even inexpensive foam earplugs can help provide noise reduction and can be comfortable to wear if used correctly. The science of hearing protection is robust − so don’t be afraid to understand and use it.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PROTECT YOUR HEARING