Noise: The Insidious Hazard That’s Often Missed

Sarah Knight, CHST, Safety Advisor

Some hazards in the workplace are fairly obvious. A sharp edge on a tool, a flame from a torch, and an open unprotected trench are all easily recognizable as potential dangers, and our safety training helps us avoid them.

One of the most potentially damaging hazards is one that most employees may not even notice. This insidious hazard sneaks up on them slowly, and by the time they become aware of the injuries they’ve suffered, it’s too late to reverse the damage. That hazard is workplace noise.

One thing that makes workplace noise so dangerous is that our ears become accustom to the noise level around us. Have you ever climbed into your car or truck in the morning and wondered why is the radio volume up so high – and then realized you had done it on the way home the day before? As you tried to block out the road noise or the sound of the air rushing through your window, you increased the volume to a level that seemed painful the next day, but because the volume grew gradually, you adapted to it and didn’t realize how loud it really was.

The same thing can happen when employees are around noisy machinery. Over time, they become acclimated to the noise, and it no longer bothers them. Even though they may feel content, their hearing still suffers damage from the exposure. It may even take some time before they notice the loss of hearing. The damage from loud constant noises is often not acute; it is chronic and may take years to develop in a hearing loss.

Hearing losses create work and safety related concerns. Employees must be able to hear one another to ensure proper communication. An employee with impaired hearing might miss or misunderstand an important instruction. This can lead to an incident or an improper action that creates the need for rework or repair. Many types of audible warning devices may be used in a workplace, from back-up signals on equipment to fire and weather alarms. If an employee cannot hear those devices, he or she won’t receive the full benefit of the protection.

Impaired hearing can also have a profound influence on an individual’s life outside work. It can impact personal relationships, erode a worker’s self-confidence, and create increased stress. All of those things can spill over to the workplace, reducing productivity and even leading to lost time.

While steps can be taken to suppress or reduce some workplace noise, it isn’t always that easy. In some cases, equipment can be modified or engineered to lessen the amount of noise that’s generated. When such modifications aren’t possible or feasible, it’s important to find other ways to protect employees.

For example, one client’s process requires the use of a large tunnel washer to clean equipment. When the washer is operating, it creates a great deal of noise. The noise levels have been monitored and a schedule has been created to manage the amount of time personnel spend in the loudest areas. One step that reduces individual exposure is to rotate the tasks that personnel are doing, so they aren’t exposed to a constant barrage of noise. Although OSHA regulations do not call for a hearing conservation program until employee noise exposures equals or exceeds an 8 hour time weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels, the company wanted to be proactive. So they decided to have personnel wear hearing protection whenever they are working next to the tunnel wash.

In many cases, employees (and their supervisors) may be unaware of the potential damage that can be caused by the equipment they use. While our personal cars and trucks are well-soundproofed, industrial vehicles generally offer less protection from engine and other operating noise. Even something as small as the blowers used by landscape contractors expose individuals to significantly high noise levels.

When noise-producing hazards cannot be eliminated and employee exposure cannot be reduced, the best practice is to require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as earplugs, earmuffs, and other devices. Supervisors and safety professionals should verify that the devices are being used properly.

OSHA requires employers to protect their employees from hazards. Employees should be trained on the hazards of their work and their work environment. Employees should also be trained on the proper use of personal protective equipment. Safety is everyone’s responsibility, even outside of work. It’s a good idea to remind employees about the potential hazards they may face away from the jobsite – and excess noise is one of them. Listening to loud music on earphones for a long period of time can impair their hearing, which once again can impact work performance. Making personnel aware of safety in all aspects of their lives protects both their health and their job performance.