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Noise is one
of the most common occupational health hazards;
businesses need to identify areas or operations where
excessive exposure to noise occurs.
Your workplace could be too noisy if:
-
people have to raise their voices to be understood
-
workers have ringing in their ears at the end of a
workday
-
employees find they have to turn their radio up on the
drive home (versus the volume used in the morning
drive)
-
workers who have been employed in the same place for
years, have difficulty understanding conversations at
parties or restaurants.
If
you answered yes to any of the above statements, then a
noise assessment should be undertaken by an outside
specialist or a trained person on staff. This
assessment identifies potential hazards in the workplace
and makes recommendations using the
source-path-human strategies.
Reducing the noise at ‘source’ employs
engineering controls and can be as simple as adding
noise absorbing materials to the machine, placing
vibration absorbing padding under it and tightening all
bolts and screws. While more expensive methods would
include: redesigning the machine so it performs
differently, placing the machine in a separate room or a
sound deadening enclosure or replacing it with a new
one.
Path
strategies involve moving workers away from the source or erecting sound
barriers between the workers and the source or even
both.
Human
strategies engage the use of personal protective
equipment. Ear muffs (worn over the ear) and plugs
(inserted in the ear) are the two basic classes of
hearing protection. The Canadian Standards Association
has developed CAN/CSA-Z94.2-02 (R2007) - Hearing
Protection Devices, Performance, Selection, Care and Use
standard. Specifically, Appendix A discusses
the fit, care and use of Hearing Protectors.
From leisure activities to occupations, a
loud world challenges our auditory senses.
Protecting our hearing can be accomplished by increasing
our awareness through education and the implementation
of work-related hearing programs.
Source:
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/noise_basic.html
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