Noise exposure can lead to hearing loss as well as other conditions such as tinnitus. Often by the time an employee is aware of the damage being done to their hearing by this noise, it is too late.
Early signs of hearing loss
- It becomes more difficult to make out what people are saying in conversations,
- Family or friends complain about the television or radio being too loud,
- Trouble having telephone conversations.
- You struggle to make out words people are saying and often think they have said a similar-sounding word.
Examples of when you might be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss:
- Using tools such as a chainsaw or woodchipper,
- Carrying out work such as forest harvesting or felling,
- Where you are unable to have a conversation with someone 2 metres apart from you
- without raising your voice,
- Using powered tools or machinery often.
- Where the noise is invasive such as working in a crowded restaurant.
- If the noise is due to impacts such as using a hammer or due to explosives such as using detonators.
- If you find that when you have finished work, you have issues hearing even if it is restored in a relatively short amount of time. (This is a sign of damage to your hearing and can eventually lead to permanent hearing loss.)
Occupations:
Occupations where noise-induced hearing loss is most likely to occur:
- Construction
- Demolition or road works
- Woodworking
- Processing plastics
- Engineering
- Foundries
- Canning or bottling
- Paper or board making
- Textile manufacturing
- Forging
Equipment
Equipment that is most likely to cause noise-induced hearing loss:
- Hammering
- Drop Forging
- Pneumatic impact tools
- Chainsaws
- Explosives
What an employer is required to do:
- Do their best to eliminate the noise or if that is not reasonably practicable reduce the noise to as low a level as possible,
- Talk to workers or their union about any noise-related issues,
- Send employees for regular hearing checks,
- Issue hearing protection, along with warnings of the dangers of the noise and instructions on how to use the equipment,
- Carry out a risk assessment of the noise to the health and safety of his employees.
A failure to do any of the above by an employer may allow an employee who suffered hearing damage due to their work environment to claim compensation from their employer.
What an employee should do to protect themselves from noise-induced hearing loss
- Assist your employer with protecting your hearing by wearing the protection they provide and carrying out the work in the system they say. Then raising any concerns or issues you have with how either the system or the protection is working.
- Wear any hearing protection you are given and ensure you look after it to make sure it is doing what it is supposed to. Your employer should tell you how to look after and maintain the equipment provided.
- Tell your employer of any issues with the equipment whether you are concerned it is not working or that the equipment you have provided is starting to become less effective and it needs to be replaced.
Employers duty:
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 an employer who carries out work that is liable to expose an employee to a noise risk have certain duties they must fulfil to comply with their legal obligations these include:
- Assessing the risk to health and safety posed by the noise. The assessment should be reviewed regularly.
- Eliminate the noise as far as practicable or reduce the employee’s interaction with noise.
- Provide personal hearing protectors to any employee who is exposed to noise.
- The employer should ensure as far as is practicable ensure the maintenance and use of the equipment.
- If the risk assessment shows that any employees are at risk to ensure that they are placed under suitable health surveillance.
- Provide information, instruction, and training to the employees on how to protect themselves.
Please see www.legislation.gov.uk for further information.
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