Hearing loss can occur on the job in many instances and occasions. However, jobs that involve high levels of noise exposure or exposure to certain types of noise can threaten a person’s hearing to an even greater degree.
Whether from vibrations, industrial machines, construction zone blasting or more, it is important to understand potential sources of hearing loss due to work and how to respond.
Hearing loss and work safety
OH&S discusses the loss of hearing on certain jobs due to noise levels and pollution. First, they discuss the way in which hearing loss can impact a victim’s life.
Needless to say, daily life and activities will change drastically based on how much hearing a person loses. However, it can even affect a victim’s ability to work.
For example, many tasks and warning systems in a construction zone rely on a worker’s sense of hearing. Alarms will go off to alert a worker to potential danger, and if they cannot hear the alarm, they may end up injured.
Verbal communication can also suffer, leading to a breakdown of communication between employees. Again, this leads to an increase in potential accidents.
Issues related to hearing loss
Loud noise can also destroy the nerves of the inner ear. Not only can this affect hearing forever, but it can sometimes even impact balance, reducing a worker’s ability to work in physically demanding or dangerous positions.
Depression, cognitive decline and issues like high blood pressure also have ties to hearing loss experienced by workers. In short, losing one’s hearing can have long-lasting and even surprising repercussions on the overall health and well-being of the worker experiencing it.
