Loud Workplace Noises Can Cause Permanent Damage

     According to OSHA, every year approximately 30 million people in the United States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise. Noise and vibrations can harm workers when they occur at a high level or continue for a long time. Loud noise can also create physical and psychological stress, reduce productivity, interfere with communication and concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals. Noise-induced hearing loss limits your ability to hear high frequency sounds, understand speech, and seriously impairs your ability to communicate. (Source: osha.gov)

     OSHA has implemented limits on the noise exposure in the workplace to protect workers from hearing damage.  The limits are based on a weighted average of an 8 hour day with a 5 dBA exchange rate. The maximum exposure limit is 90 dBA for all workers in an 8 hour day. There are several warning signs that you workplace may be too noisy such as hearing ringing or humming in your ears when you leave work, you have to shout to be heard by a coworker arm’s length away or you experience temporary hearing loss when leaving work.

     SafetySkills™ addresses the OSHA standards of hearing conservation, the cause of hearing loss in the workplace and the different options of personal hearing protection. To view the course on hearing conservation, visit us at http://www.safetyskills.com/occupational-health-and-safety-series/hearing-conservation.The course is intended for general industry employees who may come in contact with noise levels high enough to cause hearing impairment. For more information on all the courses in the SafetySkills™ library, go to www.safetyskills.com.