With baseball season in full swing, sports analogies can hit the mark. Whether the baseball diamond, football field, golf course, pickle ball court or hockey rink, each Operating Environment is uniquely prepared. Personally, we all experience Operating Environments at home, work and play, every day. Each features different facets including place, space, people density, décor, lighting and acoustics. Truly, peaceful walks in the woods stand in stark contrast to work settings or noisy restaurants.
It is crucial to know how to safely interact with various environments we are exposed to. Case in point, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. Whether you work at a sports venue, on a tarmac, or operate a jackhammer—hearing loss is preventable.”
Noise is measured in decibels (dB), which is the relative loudness of sounds in the air as perceived by the human ear. NIHL may be caused by how loud noise is and for how long you hear it. Avoiding excessive noise and staying out of the danger zone will be music to your ears.
At a workplace level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration describes:
“Noise and vibration are both fluctuations in the pressure of air (or other media) which affect the human body. Vibrations that are detected by the human ear are classified as sound. We use the term ‘noise’ to indicate unwanted sound. Noise and vibration can harm workers when they occur at high levels, or continue for a long time.”
Did You Know?
- “About 51% of all workers in Construction have been exposed to hazardous noise.
- 52% of noise-exposed Construction workers report not wearing hearing protection.
- About 25% of noise-exposed tested Construction workers have a material hearing impairment.
- 16% of noise-exposed tested Construction workers have hearing impairment in both ears.”
With Better Hearing, Better Community ambitions to prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, helpful hints hitting closer to home include:
- Being aware which environmental noises may be hazardous, then telling family and friends
- Wearing higher quality and properly fit protective devices when participating in loud activities
- Quickly distancing yourself from loud noises which are unavoidable
- Protecting the ears of children in vulnerable scenarios, beginning at early ages
- Consistently getting evidence-based hearing exams to assess your type and degree of loss
Please see us for periodic exams which provide essential status reports on your hearing acuities and measurable changes which require tracking. Count on us to provide trusted advice on how to avoid irreversible hair cell damage and hearing conservation for life.
While fireworks are once a year, preserving healthy hearing should be your daily pursuit. Now that you know, lead by positive example, not just when fireworks are going off, but during all times when a sense of safety will serve you and your loved ones well.
