People who work in noisy conditions, including factories, roadsides and similar conditions, are at risk of hearing loss. It’s up to each employer to ensure they provide their employees with the safety protocol and tools they need to minimize that risk.
It’s easy to underestimate how consistent noise will impact the delicate structures of the inner ear. The risk of hearing loss starts with noise that’s at 70 decibels. Exposure to noise that’s 85 decibels, which is the equivalent of a food blender, can cause damage if the person is exposed for eight hours. By the time noise hits 100 decibels, which is the equivalent of a hand dryer, damage can occur in just 15 minutes.
Symptoms show up slowly
Most on-the-job hearing loss isn’t caused by a sudden noise event that causes immediate hearing loss. Instead, the problem creeps up slowly and is often unnoticeable by the worker. They may slowly have to turn the television volume up and may have difficulty hearing on the phone.
In some cases, the person won’t realize that their hearing is affected until a friend or loved one tells them about what they notice. In some cases, the hearing loss may be unearthed by periodic hearing tests that employers should conduct if the workers are exposed to noise levels that can damage hearing.
A worker who has hearing loss should be able to turn to workers’ compensation to get their medical care covered. Other benefits, such as partial wage replacement or vocational rehabilitation, may be possible if the person isn’t able to return to their previous job duties. These cases can be complex, so it may behoove employees to work with someone who can help them seek the benefits due to them.
