Is your workplace noisy?

Noisy workplaces can be costly, both economically and physically. The total cost of hearing loss claims to businesses in Australia in the 2010/11 financial year was over $54 million and noise-induced hearing loss is not reversible, so all care should be taken to try and prevent hearing loss from happening in the first place.

According to Mark Moskvitch, state coordinator at WorkCover NSW, the human body’s reaction to noise is similar to the one for stress. Hazardous noise can destroy the ability to hear clearly and can also make it more difficult to hear sounds necessary for working safely, such as instructions or warning signals. Conversation can become difficult and can result in tinnitus or ringing in the ears/head and even total loss of hearing.

“Eliminating noise in the early stages of product planning (at the source) is more effective and usually cheaper than making changes after noise hazards are introduced into the workplace,” said Moskvitch.

He said that workers, especially persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), should assess whether the workplace is noisy by consulting a checklist:

• Do you work in a noisy industry such as construction, manufacturing or engineering?
• Do workers use noisy powered tools or machinery?
• Is the noise intrusive?
• Do workers have to raise their voices?

The Australian Exposure Standards state that any noise that exceeds the equivalent of eight hours continuous exposure to 85 dB(A) or a peak of 140 dB(B) is over the noise threshold handled by a worker.

To avoid injury, all PCBUs must ensure that their workers aren’t exposed to noise that exceeds this standard. For example, a handsaw or blender of 85 dB can cause hearing loss after prolonged exposure, whereas a rocket launch at 180 dB can cause death of hearing tissue.

Moskvitch’s top tips for managing noisy environments include:

• Control the risk, by eliminating the hazards, substituting/isolating/reducing the risk of the hazards through engineering controls or reducing the exposure to the hazard by using the correct PPE.
• Attach safety warning signs to noisy equipment to remind workers to use all safety precautions, including using supplied ear protection.
• Ear protection should have attenuation SLC80 rating marked on the equipment.
• All workers frequently exposed to noise should have audiometric testing three months into starting the job and every two years thereafter.
• A risk assessment should be carried out every time the worker’s everyday duties change.

For more information, the code of practice guideline ‘Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work’ is available for workers on the WorkCover website.