Safety Meeting Toolbox Topics and Tailgate Talks
Noise-induced (sensory) hearing loss is a permanent type of injury. It can affect you not only at work but in all aspects of your life. Losing your hearing is a gradual process and permanent. It is less noticeable than other types of workplace injuries.
Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is defined as "all clothing and other work accessories designed to create a barrier against workplace hazards." PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering, work practice, and/or administrative controls.
In every worksite there is some level of noise. Whether it be the monotonous hum of the mainframe or the incessant clatter of heavy industrial machinery, repeated exposure to noise levels above 85 dBA may lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Noise, or undesired sound, is one of the most widespread occupational health problems.