About two million workplace injuries are reported every year. Usually, we think of a hand caught in a piece of machinery or a flying projectile when we consider work-related injuries.
But the most common workplace injury is much more insidious and frequently goes unreported. It sneaks up on people really slowly over several years. The injury goes undetected until the symptoms become impossible to ignore. People typically make excuses. “It’s just part of growing older” or “It’s a temporary problem”. This is normal.
And it’s unusual for people to even recognize that their workplace is responsible for this injury.
The insidious injury is hearing damage. There are several warning signs you should recognize, and there are important steps you need to take if you suspect the damage is already done.
How Loud is Too Loud?
Continual exposure to sounds louder than 85 decibels (dB) can trigger long-term damage to your hearing. Seventy-five dB, for example, is the average volume of a vacuum. A lawnmower generates 85 dB. A chainsaw or leaf blower produces over 100 dB. And the volume of a gunshot logs in at 140 dB.
Are you at risk when you’re at work? Is the most common workplace injury a problem for you? Over time, your hearing can be damaged if you’re regularly exposed to sound as loud as a lawnmower, even if it’s not constant.
Symptoms of Hearing Injury
You’re definitely damaging your hearing if you work in a noisy environment without hearing protection.
What follows is are early warning signs that you’re dealing with hearing loss:
- You can’t understand the person speaking if there’s background sound.
- Loud noises cause pain in your ears.
- You tend to disengage when people are talking.
- People are always complaining about the loud volume of your media devices.
- Conversations sound muffled.
- When you speak with people you constantly believe they are mumbling
- You hear ringing, hissing, or whistling even when it’s quiet.
- You confuse consonants – “Todd” sounds like “Dodd,” for example.
- You often ask people to repeat themselves.
How is Hearing Damage Being Tackled by Employers?
In settings that are really loud, technology is being used by businesses or organizations to reduce workplace noise. Workplace noise will be reduced as new guidelines are being put in place by governments to protect workers.
Employees are coming forward as they become aware of the chronic damage that workplace noise is causing. Further change will come as their voices are heard.
Preventing Further Damage
If you work in a loud environment, the best thing you can do is protect your ears before any damage takes place. Potential damage will be reduced by using protective earplugs or earmuffs.
Make an appointment for a hearing examination as soon as possible if you suspect a noisy workplace has caused injury to your hearing. You will discover how to avoid added damage when you determine how much hearing damage you’re dealing with. We can help you formulate strategies to prevent additional hearing loss and deal with the damage you’ve already experienced.