MORE than 1.1 million workers in Australia are exposed to harmful levels of noise in their workplace. And as National Safe Work month kicks off this October, Hearing Australia is urging workers across all industries to protect their ears from dangerously loud sounds.
According to the World Health Organisation, noise exposure contributes to 22% of workplace-related health issues.
In Australia, hearing loss due to excessive noise from machinery and power tools is one of the most widespread, yet preventable, workplace injuries.
“The workplace is one of the most common sources of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, this is by far the most preventable kind of hearing loss,” Karen Hirschausen, Hearing Australia Principal Audiologist, said.
“Workplace noise can and should be managed by implementing a range of control methods – and that can be as simple as limiting time spent in noisy environments, using quiet equipment and ensuring you wear appropriate hearing protection.
“People often ask ‘what’s too loud?’ Essentially, if you’re in a situation where you need to raise your voice to be understood at conversational distance (one to two metres), then the noise is probably too loud.”
