Making a noise about hearing damage

Hearing damage caused by exposure to noise at work is permanent, disabling and irreversible. Research estimates that over 2 million people are exposed to noise levels at work that may be harmful, with industries such as manufacturing, construction, energy and water supply claiming the largest number of Noise Induced Hearing Loss disablement benefits. Industrial hearing loss also remains the occupational disease with the highest number of civil reports, accounting for about 75% of all occupational disease claims.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss  can be temporary (e.g. occurring after leaving a music concert) or permanent (resulting from prolonged exposure or sudden, extremely loud noises). When we are exposed to harmful noise, the sensitive structures in our inner ear become damaged and the hair cells that transmit sound waves and vibrations cease to function. Sounds will become muffled and it will be increasingly difficult to understand other people when they talk. As well as hearing loss, people exposed to noise may develop tinnitus which has distressing symptoms such as ringing, buzzing, whistling or humming in the ears. 

While NIHL can sometimes be irreversible, it is the only type of hearing loss that is preventable. It is vital then that employers and their staff understand the hazards associated with noise exposure, adhere to safety regulations and practice hearing conservation in the workplace. 

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work, so far as is reasonably practicable. This involves:

• Assessing the noise risk to workers from plant, machinery and tools;

• Eliminating and reducing noise at source by modifying working methods, choice of equipment, and by technical means; and

• Providing hearing protection to deal with any risk from noise after you have taken steps to eliminate and reduce risk by other means.

If full compliance is achieved, the regulations should eliminate all new cases of hearing damage caused by work by 2030.

The employer must ensure that risk from the exposure of noise is either eliminated at the source or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low a level as possible. A formal risk assessment will help achieve this as it will classify where there may be a risk from noise and who is likely to be affected. It will also identify further action that needs to be taken, for example whether noise-control measures and/or personal hearing protection are needed or whether regular health surveillance is necessary. 

The noise regulations, define daily ‘exposure action values’ – levels of noise exposure that, if exceeded, require specific action to take place. The HSE advises that if the noise is intrusive but normal conversation possible, the sound level is likely to be 80dB. The regulations set the Lower Exposure Action Value at 80dB and at this sound level the employer must provide training for their staff and make hearing protection available. 

If workers have to shout to be understood by someone two metres away, the ambient noise levels are at around 85dB. The Upper Exposure Action Value is set to 85dB and if sound reaches this level the employer is required to take reasonable, practicable measures such as engineering controls or other technical or organisational measures to reduce noise exposure. If levels are still at or above 85dB then the use of hearing protection is mandatory. 

Hearing protection should only be issued to employees where extra protection is needed above what has been achieved using noise control or as a short-term measure while other methods of controlling noise are being developed. Employers need to ensure that employees are trained in how to fit and maintain the device correctly, as well as ensuring that their hearing protection is fit for purpose, comfortable and hygienic. They also need to consider when selecting hearing protection compatibility with other personal protective equipment such as hard hats, masks and eye protection. 

Working in noisy environments makes communicating with others difficult and workers often need to remove their hearing protection device to hold a conversation with someone. The accumulative impact of this could reduce the overall attenuation of the hearing protection during the working day. In fact removing your hearing protection device to aid communication for just 30 minutes over an eight hour shift reduces the effectiveness of your hearing protection by half. 

New developments in hearing protection that combine communication technology now enable users to stay protected and communicate effectively in noisy environments without the need for removing their hearing protection. Sound Management Technology and other innovative solutions, such as radio or Bluetooth systems integrated into the ear defender cup, allows workers to hear warning signals, communicate effectively and maintain a safe level of situational awareness. 

Sally Clayton is hearing product and procurement manager at Arco.