Tag Archives: Hearing loss

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

U.K. Hearing Loss Statistics (Guest Post)

Our thanks again to Thomas Fairclough for sending this guest post  from Asons Solicitors. If you would like to learn more about industrial deafness,or the hearing loss claims process information is available at www.asons.co.uk

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An alarming 1/6 of the UK population suffer from some form of hearing loss. Of those suffering from hearing loss around 6.4 million are over the age of 65+ and about 3.7 million are of working age. Surprising about 3.7 million people aged 16 – 65 have hearing loss, and around 135,000 of them are severely or profoundly deaf.

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Of the 10 million who suffer from hearing loss, more than 800,000 people are severely or profoundly deaf.

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About two million people in the UK need hearing aids, but only 1.4 million decide to use them regularly. Of those who suffer from hearing loss more than six million would benefit from the use of hearing aids.

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About 10% of adults in the UK suffer from constant tinnitus. 1% of adults have tinnitus that affects their quality of life. Similar to hearing loss, the risk of developing tinnitus increases with age. Up to 30% of over 70s experience tinnitus, compared to 12% of people in their 60s and just 1% of people aged under 45.

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Due to the increasing age of the UK population, there will be an estimated 14.0 million people with hearing loss by 2031. The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2031 adult onset hearing loss will b one of the top ten diseases in the UK, more common than diabetes and cataracts.

On average it takes people ten years to finally address their hearing loss. Even when they do decide to take action, 45% of people with hearing aids say that initially their GP failed to refer them directly to an audiologist when they first mentioned that they felt they were suffering from hearing loss.

Note: Hearing loss can be prevented if those exposed to loud environments will wear earplugs or earmuffs that are designed to protect their hearing.  Once the damage is done, it is permanent.  pb

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

WHAT IS NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS? (GUEST POST)

The occurrence of noise induced hearing loss is on the increase in the Western world, including Australia.  This increase is generally occurring from exposure to long periods of loud noises, and in some instances short loud noises such as an explosion.  While there are treatment options available, prevention is better than cure.  In order to prevent noise induced hearing loss, it must first be understood how it actually occurs.

How the human ear works

Every day we experience a large range of sounds via sound waves through our ears.  The Middle Ear amplifies the sound and hairs in the inner ear convert the sound waves into electrical signals so that our brains can understand what it is that we are hearing.  All pretty amazing when you think about it.

How does noise induced hearing loss occur?

While most noises we hear throughout the day are at safe levels, if we are exposed to an exceptionally loud sound (such as standing next to fireworks when they go off) or we are exposed to a loud sound for a prolonged period of time (for example working in a mechanical shop) then we can damage the hairs that convert sound in our inner ear.  This causes noise induced hearing loss.

Tips to avoid hearing damage in the workplace

First of all, it is necessary to understand what is meant by the term ‘too loud’. Any noise from 85 dB up can cause hearing loss. To put this figure into perspective, a lawn mower is between 85 and 90 dB. The louder the noise is,  the more quickly the hearing loss will occur. So follow these steps to protect your hearing.

  • Take note of how long you have been exposed to loud noise and try and have a break of 15 minutes or so to give your ears a rest.
  • Avoid noisy situations. If you have to  raise your voice to be heard then it is likely you are in a situation that is hazardous for your hearing.
  • If you can’t avoid a noisy situation, protect your hearing with either foam ear plugs or head phones.
  • If you regularly attend concerts, it may be worth investing in some custom fit musician ear plugs. Always avoid standing directly in front of speakers or amplifiers.
  • Have your hearing tested every two years particularly if you have noticed a change in your hearing. Your clinician will be able to give you further advice about protecting your hearing. 

When does noise induced hearing loss occur?

There are several ways that noise induced hearing loss can occur:

  • Prolonged exposure to noise:  If you are exposed to noise about 85 decibels for a prolonged period of time, then you can start damaging your hearing.
  • Short bursts of sounds:  Sounds above 120 decibels in short bursts can also cause hearing damage.

What are the symptoms?

Immediately after exposure to loud noise you may hear a ringing in your ears and have trouble hearing other people talk.  The length of time this lasts depends on how loud the noise you were exposed to was, and the length of period exposed.  Temporary hearing loss can also occur and for between 16 and 48 hours after an exposure to loud noise (eg., a rock concert).   Temporary hearing loss generally doesn’t have any long term effects.

The longer term symptoms of noise induced hearing loss can be difficult to diagnose at first.  The person may not notice slight changes in their hearing until it reaches a level that is unacceptable to them.  It is for this reason that regular hearing checks are needed. 

What are the treatment options?

As a first step you should make an appointment with a hearing centre.  After your assessment your audiologist will be able to discuss possible treatment options such as avoiding prolonged exposure to loud or the use of hearing aids.  Hearing aids can be very effective for noise induced hearing loss.

Noise induced hearing loss is a condition that is increasing in society.  As cities develop there are more and more opportunities for loud noises, and more chances of being exposed to loud noises for a prolonged period of time.  Both of these can cause noise induced hearing loss.

If you are experiencing noise induced hearing loss – or think you are – then it is imperative that you make an appointment to visit an audiologist to test your hearing today.  The sooner you address the problem the more opportunities you will have to limit the damage and improve your hearing.

BIO – Tanya Wilson

Tanya has over 7 years’ experience working in the hearing healthcare sector and writes hearing health care articles for Connect HearingAustralia.

Tanya’s hearing expertise enables her to focus on a range of hearing topics, including tackling common hearing issues, treatment options and new hearing technology.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Hearing Protection, Uncategorized

WORKPLACE NOISE MAY DAMAGE YOUR HEART

It is a proven fact that persons who work in loud places for long periods of time can suffer loss of hearing, but researchers are now saying that they may also risk developing heart disease.  Can you imagine spending eight or ten hours per day working in an atmosphere where you have to yell at each other to be heard?  More than twenty million Americans work in noisy industrial settings. 

A new finding from animal research also shows evidence that too much noise can be bad for the heart; however, some scientists suggest that the changes may be no more than part of the body’s general response to stress.  Research over the past twenty years suggests that noise exposure contributes to high blood pressure, which has been apparent in studies.  It makes sense that the excessive noise can be as stressful to the body as extreme physical exercise or high-anxiety. Noise increases the body’s level of adrenaline and cortisol, (stress hormones), meaning that your heart could be affected.  Whether at the factory or on a construction site, noise at work is a known health hazard, with studies showing it increases hearing loss, sleep problems and psychological stress, but what about the heart? 

Currently, researchers have analyzed data on more than 6,0000 working adults, age 20 and older, to see if those working in a loud environment for at least three months have a higher risk of heart disease and related problems.  Data was taken from a large ongoing study called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included interviews of participants about their health and lifestyle, as well as work situation.  They were given medical exams, as well.  The findings were striking – after taking into account several factors that are known to increase the risk of heart problems, (age, smoking, and overweight), researchers discovered that workers in loud environments were twice as likely to have heart disease compared with those in quieter settings.  They were almost three times as likely to have chest pain (angina).  The link was particularly strong for people under 50, who were between three and four times more likely to have angina or heart disease.  These workers’ “bad” cholesterol levels were not particularly high, nor were their overall blood pressure readings.  However, they were twice as likely to have high diastolic blood pressure (the lower number on a blood pressure reading).  Raised diastolic pressure has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. 

Workplace noise is an occupational hazard that managers and employers should be concerned about.  It should be discussed by workers with their managers for prompt corrective measures, not only because it could possibly lead to heart disease, but more importantly, it can cause hearing impairment.  There are not too many options to reduce noise hazards in the industrial setting.  The most straightforward is wearing of earplugs, which can lower noise intensity by 20-30 decibels.  Finding the connection between industrial noise and heart disease is perplexing; some researchers think that noise is the stressor, so maybe that is where it all starts.  More research is being done on this important subject, but in the meantime, this study provides extra incentive to take precautions, such as wearing earplugs or safety earmuffs, to minimize noise exposure.

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection, Uncategorized

HAVE YOU HEARD THE LATEST?

Chances are you haven’t, if you are among the 22 million U.S. workers who are exposed to hazardous noise on the job, with about 9 million suffering from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).  Did you know that NIHL is the most common, permanent, and preventable occupational injury in the U.S?  Occupational hearing loss costs an estimated $242.4 million per year in disability extended across the workforce of our nation, according to NIOSH.

It is up to the employer to make the workplace quieter.  Prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels can cause permanent hearing loss.  They must know the levels of the noise that workers are exposed to and the risk to their hearing.  Employees who are exposed to a rate of 90 decibels or more an eight hour shift should have the noise level in their workplace reduced, or wear protective gear.  Sometime you have probably had tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or your ears felt stuffed up, when you walked away from a noisy area.  If this continues, you may have some hearing loss.

There are noise control devices that employees may wear, but require proper training on their use, as well as how to care for them. 

  • Industrial Earmuffs.  They totally cover the ears and should fit tightly, with no hair or other object to interfere with the seal.  The seals and inside of the earmuffs should be kept clean, and the headband should furnish good tension.
  • Hearing Protection Earplugs.  There are many types of earplugs that also should fit properly.  Workers should never share them, and have clean hands before inserting them.  The ear canal is 1 1/4″ long, and most earplugs are only 1/2″ to 3/4″ long.  They are premolded or have stems with which to insert them.

Hearing protection lowers the noise level of equipment, but does not eliminate it.  Workers are still able to hear the equipment and voices of co-workers.  A good sign that you need hearing protection is if you have to raise your voice to talk to someone an arms’ length away, or if you experience ringing or dull sounds after leaving a noisy place.

Work isn’t the only place that we are exposed to too much noise.  You might consider buying earplugs to wear in large crowds, concerts, car races, or sporting events.  I’ve been to some very loud football games, and the World Cup Soccer event proved that noise even interferes with the players’ concentration.  If you enjoy using power tools, earplugs will help protect your hearing.

There’s just one pair of ears to a customer, so take care of yours.  If you heed our warning, you won’t miss out on the latest news or juicy gossip!

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

LISTEN UP: SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT HEARING LOSS

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It could take only a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for hearing loss to occur.  Data compiled from the CDC/NIOSH website contains the following information in regard to hearing protection numbers:

  • Each year, 30 million people are exposed to harmful noise at work.
  • Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most-often reported occupational injury.
  • It only takes a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for damage to occur.
  • Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.

Here are some scary statistics:  a newspaper press (97dB) can cause permanent hearing damage in just 30 minutes.  A chain saw (110 dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 2 minutes.  A simple hand drill (98 dB) or a tractor (96dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 30 minutes.

Noise Reduction Rating is a number that appears on the labels of all hearing protection products sold in the U.S.  In theory, the NRR equals the level of noise reduction (in decibels) provided by the earplug or earmuff, in laboratory conditions.  These conditions can be very different from actual working conditions.  Earplugs may be inserted incorrectly or earmuffs may not completely cover ears of workers, therefore the products may not furnish the level of protection listed on the package.

NIOSH has recommended that NRR data be adjusted to account for these differences.  For real world working conditions, NIOSH recommends that the NRR for earmuffs should be reduced by 25%, the NRR for formable earplugs reduced by 50%, and for all other earplugs should be reduced by 70%.  For example, a pair of earplugs with an NRR of 29 would be adjusted according to the NIOSH recommendations to 14.5 (29 dB x 50% = 14.5 dB).

Whenever the time-weighted average noise is greater than 85dB, OSHA requires the use of hearing protection.  By adjusting the NRR of a hearing protector according to NIOSH’s recommendations, and subtracting that number from the actual time-weighted noise level, it is possible to get an idea of how much noise is actually entering the ear.

An example is: a worker in a factory who experiences a time-weighted average noise level of 97 dB would need a hearing protector that provides at least 12 dB of protection.  That worker would need earmuffs with an NRR of at least 16 or formable earplugs with an NRR of at least 24, based on the ratings on the packaging.

NRR data can be misleading without a proper understanding of its usefulness as a tool.  If it is used correctly, however, it can provide valuable information to help workers choose the correct hearing protection device.

Source:
Gateway Safety

Hearing Protection

HEARING LOSS

It could take only a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for hearing loss to occur.  Data compiled from the CDC/NIOSH website contains the following information in regard to hearing protection numbers:

  • Each year, 30 million people are exposed to harmful noise at work.
  • Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most-often reported occupational injury.
  • It only takes a few minutes of exposure to certain sounds for damage to occur.
  • Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.

Here are some scary statistics:

  1. a newspaper press (97dB) can cause permanent hearing damage in just 30 minutes.
  2. A chain saw (110 dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 2 minutes.
  3. A simple hand drill (98 dB) or a tractor (96dB) can cause permanent damage in less than 30 minutes.

Noise Reduction Rating is a number that appears on the labels of all hearing protection products sold in the U.S.  In theory, the NRR equals the level of noise reduction (in decibels) provided by the earplug or earmuff, in laboratory conditions.  These conditions can be very different from actual working conditions.  Earplugs may be inserted incorrectly or earmuffs may not completely cover ears of workers, therefore the products may not furnish the level of protection listed on the package.

NIOSH has recommended that NRR data be adjusted to account for these differences.  For real world working conditions, NIOSH recommends that the NRR for earmuffs should be reduced by 25%, the NRR for formable earplugs reduced by 50%, and for all other earplugs should be reduced by 70%.  For example, a pair of hearing safety earplugs with an NRR of 30 would be adjusted according to the NIOSH recommendations to 15 (30 dB x 50% = 15 dB).

Whenever the time-weighted average noise is greater than 85dB, OSHA requires the use of hearing protection.  By adjusting the NRR of a hearing protector according to NIOSH’s recommendations, and subtracting that number from the actual time-weighted noise level, it is possible to get an idea of how much noise is actually entering the ear.

An example is: a worker in a factory who experiences a time-weighted average noise level of 97 dB would need a hearing protector that provides at least 12 dB of protection.  That worker would need earmuffs with an NRR of at least 16 or formable earplugs with an NRR of at least 24, based on the ratings on the packaging.

NRR data can be misleading without a proper understanding of its usefulness as a tool.  If it is used correctly, however, it can provide valuable information to help workers choose the correct hearing protection device.

Information courtesy of
Gateway Safety

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

WORK RELATED HEARING LOSS

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, (NIOSH), work-related hearing loss continues to be a serious workplace issue for safety and health.  Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable, but once it happens, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.  Employers and workers must take precautions to protect workers’ hearing.
One of the most common occupational diseases is hearing loss.  High numbers of exposed workers in the following industries include:

  • Military
  • Mining
  • Agriculture
  • Transportation
  • Construction
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing

The most effective way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is through controls, such as building an acoustic barrier or muffler in the workplace.  Earplugs and earmuffs should be used when a safe level of noise cannot be attained otherwise.
This is not a new danger; it has always been a threat.  Repeated exposures to loud noise can cause permanent, incurable hearing loss or tinnitus, (buzzing, ringing, or other sounds in ear caused by defect or damage to the auditory nerve).  Employers need to provide hearing protectors in situations where dangerous exposures are not eliminated.
Worker education, along with employers’ assessments of noise situations, need to be consistently enforced.

Source: NIOSH
Gateway Safety