When most people think about workplace injuries, they imagine falls, heavy lifting accidents, or slips on wet floors. However, one of the most common and often overlooked hazards is hearing damage, a problem that employers can begin to address by conducting audiometric testing for their employees.
Workplace hearing issues affect thousands of workers every year, and unlike a cut or bruise, the effects can sneak up slowly and become permanent. The good news? With the right steps, hearing loss prevention is possible and easy to implement.
Know the Risks of Workplace Noise
The key to hearing loss prevention is understanding what you’re up against. Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels, which is similar to the volume of heavy traffic or a lawnmower, can permanently damage your hearing.
This level of noise exposure is prevalent in many workplaces. It’s not just warehouses where pallet jacks are constantly clanging on the floor or factories with constantly running machinery that can hurt your hearing. Anywhere you have to raise your voice to talk to someone three feet away, the sound levels are likely high enough to cause damage over time.
Unfortunately, most workers don’t notice the impact of excessive noise right away. By the time ringing in the ears or muffled sounds kick in, it may already be too late.
Use Proper Hearing Protection
The easiest way to fight back? Hearing protection. Earplugs and earmuffs may not be glamorous, but they work.
Earplugs are comfortable and portable. Disposable foam versions expand inside your ear canal, while reusable models can be custom-fitted for maximum effectiveness. Earmuffs cover the whole ear and are often more effective in extremely loud environments.
In some cases, the best solution is the double protection of earplugs and earmuffs. You just need to wear them whenever you’re around high workplace noise levels, not just when it feels unbearably loud.
Keep an Eye (and Ear) on Workplace Noise Levels
Measuring noise levels is a proactive step toward preventing workplace hearing loss. Sound level meters are inexpensive tools that provide accurate decibel readings. If noise exposure is consistently above safe limits, it’s time to make changes.
Options that help reduce noise include:
- Installing sound barriers or acoustic panels
- Regularly maintaining equipment so it runs quietly
- Rotating employees between loud and quiet tasks to minimize individual exposure
Controlling workplace noise levels demonstrates to your team that occupational safety is a top priority.
Train Employees on Hearing Loss Prevention
Even the best protective equipment won’t help if workers don’t know how to use it. Hearing protection training helps employees understand how to protect their hearing and reinforces good habits. Training could also cover the proper fitting of earplugs, recognizing signs of hearing damage, and reporting unsafe noise conditions.
Employers should promote a culture of safety by encouraging open conversations about concerns. Workers who feel comfortable speaking up about loud environments are more likely to take action before long-term damage sets in.
Schedule Regular Hearing Tests
Workplace hearing protection also requires monitoring hearing health over time. Audiometric testing is a smart way to identify signs of hearing loss before it becomes irreversible. Many occupational safety programs recommend baseline testing at the time of hire, followed by annual check-ups.
For workers, these tests provide peace of mind and valuable information about occupational hearing loss. For business owners, they help track the effectiveness of hearing protection programs and keep everyone accountable.
Encourage Safe Habits Outside of Work
Ever notice how your ears ring after going to a concert or mowing the lawn? That’s a red flag that your hearing is in jeopardy.
Employers should remind workers that hearing protection doesn’t end when they clock out. Providing tips on good habits to keep at home shows employees you care about their overall well-being.
Get Help With Your Team From WorkSafe
Hearing damage is an injury that can be corrected with a quick visit to the doctor. Once hearing is gone, it’s gone. That’s why workplace hearing protection should be taken seriously in every industry, especially in occupations leading to hearing loss.
WorkSafe in Wichita specializes in helping workers and business owners prevent hearing loss with practical, effective strategies. From noise level testing to protective equipment and training programs, we’re here to make occupational safety simple and effective.
Don’t wait until the damage takes hold. Call WorkSafe today at 316-262-8800 to learn how we can help protect your team’s hearing for years to come.