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Recognizing a Noisy Workplace

Everyday Noise Exposure

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Being exposed to noise at work every day increases your risk of occupational deafness. This irreversible condition affects workers’ personal and professional lives, so it’s essential to do everything we can to prevent it. The first step is to determine whether your work environment is noisy.

These questions will help you determine whether there is too much noise in your workplace :

  • Do you hear tinnitus (ringing or buzzing) in your ears at the end of a shift?
  • Do you have to raise your voice to be heard, even if you’re just a metre away?
  • Do you experience a temporary decrease in your hearing after your work day?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your work environment may be noisy enough to damage your hearing.

Getting an Accurate Answer

Sound level meters are the way to accurately measure the noise level of your environment. These instruments determine how much noise people are exposed to in their workplace. It measures the volume in A-weighted decibels, or dB(A). Unlike standard decibels, this unit of measurement takesinto account the way the human ear hears. Prolonged exposure to noises louder than 80 dB(A) (8-hour exposure) is considered to be harmful to hearing.

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If the sound level meter shows that your work environment is noisy, it’s important to try to reduce noise exposure. Hearing protectors become essential, as do measures to reduce noise at the source. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, hearing protection is needed when the noise level reaches 85 dB(A)3 for 8 consecutive hours.

If you work in a noisy environment, consult an audioprosthetist to find out which hearing protector is best for you.

References :

Jacinthe PoitrasAudioprosthetist