High levels of harmful noise are prevalent in several workplaces. Workers in the construction industry are often the most likely to lose their hearing due to excessive exposure to harmful noise.
According to the Building Safety Group's (BSG) report on several of work sites in the first half of 2019, about 17,000 workers in the UK suffer from deafness and other ear-related conditions due to excessive noise.
BSG highlights the importance of investing in the right tools (e.g. ear defenders) and coming up with strategies to protect workers' ears from high noise levels.
Without proper hearing, miscommunication among colleagues could become frequent. This could lead to accidents or other issues that can interfere with workflow.
How does hearing loss occur in the first place?
Hearing loss becomes apparent when a person starts failing to comprehend speech or other sounds.
In normal conditions, cells, and membranes in the cochlea (inner ear) bend to receive incoming sound waves. The sounds are then transmitted to the brain, where it is processed to come up with actionable information.
When sounds become excessive, the pressure becomes too much to handle for these hearing receptors in the cochlea. As a result, these tiny hair cells and membranes become damaged.
Sounds coming from construction tools, like a scabbler and pneumatic breaker, often produce high noise levels which can damage ears. For instance, the scabbler emits approximately 100 dBA, which is equivalent to the sound coming from a helicopter. Rotohammers and hand power saws can reach well over 110 dBA.
Some ways to reduce hearing loss at work
Given the prevalence of heavy machinery and tools that can inflict hearing damage or loss, it's important for employers and safety managers to conduct necessary precautions.
There are several ways to help construction employees avoid hearing damage or loss.
A good start is to invest in ear muffs specially designed for construction workers. Bryson supplies a variety of high-quality products geared towards ear protection. Many are sourced from esteemed brands such as Sonis and Uvex.
Next, workers should also be subject to routine health check-ups. Health professionals can contribute towards ensuring proper hearing and recommend next steps if there are issues. Employees could also be referred to ear specialists if there are concerns for their hearing.
Construction workers should also be properly trained on using equipment and tools. Workers must know what the acceptable noise levels are. They should take note of specific settings that must be followed to avoid noise breaches.
Additionally, it's crucial to vet machinery in terms of noise level production. As much as possible, employers must select equipment that pose the lowest hearing hazard. If there is any dated equipment that is a constant source of excessive noise, it may be time to invest in a new machine.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provide clear guidance around ear protection and the measures that must be taken in a workplace including ‘hearing protection zones’, which are areas in which ear defence must be worn, often these areas are signed to highlight the importance of ear protection.
Protect workers from hearing damage with Bryson
At Bryson, we offer a number of top quality personal protective equipment that helps people work safely. We serve the PPE needs of several industries and comply with the highest safety standards.
Don't hesitate to call us on 020 8660 9119 or email us at sales@bryson.co.uk for more information on our products.