Is your job bad for your hearing?
The career you choose can have a huge impact on your hearing. In some jobs, you are constantly exposed to high noise levels, and even if you think you are used to the noise, your ears could be taking strain.“High levels of noise damage the sensitive structures of the inner ear, and over time, it can lead to noise-induced hearing loss,” says Dr Marinda Uys, senior audiologist and head of the Eduplex Training Institute in South Africa.
According to Uys, noise levels are measured in decibels using a sound level metre. If the sounds are below 75 dB, they are considered safe. Sounds above 85 dB are harmful and can cause noise-induced hearing loss. “The louder the sound, the shorter amount of time it takes for a hearing loss to occur.”
Noisy jobs include air traffic controller, preschool teacher, hairdresser, carpenter, motorcycle courier, gardener, construction worker, miner, DJ and musician, and formula one driver.
“Using the example of the air traffic controller, the noise from planes landing and taking off can measure up to a loud 140 dB. It is even louder than underground mining, which measures at 135 dB.”
“If occupational health and safety officers are equipped and trained to do hearing screenings in noisy environments such as mines and factories, hearing loss could be determined early and something can be done to assist workers with, for example, bespoke hearing protectors.
At the Eduplex Training Institute, we have developed a short competency course in audiometry. It is for people who are responsible for monitoring the hearing of employees working in high-noise zones. Upon completion, attendees will be able to conduct, interpret, record, and report an audiometric screening test.
“We would like to encourage health and safety officers to sign up for this course to upskill themselves and help their colleagues look after their hearing health,” Uys concludes.