Page 60 - IOSH JanFeb24_Full LR

THE BUSINESS NOISE EXPOSURE

Exposure to noise at work is
commonplace in many sectors,
but what can be done to
protect personnel?

WORDS JAMIE HAILSTONE

hearing at work because of the loud sirens
used to alert the public.
Meanwhile, night club and hospitality
oise exposure presents many workers were at risk of exposure to loud
challenges for those working in music. Construction-related jobs such as
the world of OSH, particularly in site workers, tree surgeons, iron workers
terms of how best to measure and and welders also featured as some of the
monitor the situation, protect The EU Commission estimates that jobs most likely to have a negative impact
N workers and mitigate any impact. 57.3 million people in Europe are living with on hearing, as these workers operate loud
Nearly 2.5 billion people around the ‘disabling hearing loss’ and that untreated machinery (Boots Hearingcare, 2023).
globe are projected to have some degree hearing loss costs Europe €213bn annually Nick Higginson CMIOSH, chief executive
of hearing loss by 2050, and at least 700 – €49bn more than the total EU budget for of Phoenix Health & Safety, says UK-based
million – around one in 10 people – will 2021 (European Parliament, 2022). In the OSH professionals should be aware of the
require hearing rehabilitation (World UK, one in five adults (12 million) are deaf or Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.

Health Organization (WHO), 2023). have hearing loss or tinnitus. This equates to He says these regulations require employers
Hearing loss impacts adversely on roughly 10.1 million people in England, one to assess risk, take action to reduce the noise
mental health and general wellbeing, as million people in Scotland, 61,0000 people exposure that creates the risk and, if that’s
well as creating the potential need for in Wales and 32,0000 people in Northern not possible, to provide hearing protection.
career changes. Ireland (Royal National Institute for Deaf ‘The risk to employees’ hearing depends
In its 2018 environmental noise guidance, People, 2023). on the frequency of exposure, and the sound
WHO also states that, after poor air quality, A recent study by Boots Hearingcare level in decibels [dB],’ he explains. ‘A sound
exposure to noise presents the largest health (2023) found that emergency service level of 80dB can be harmful if exposure is
risk to the population of Western Europe. workers were at high risk of damaging their regular, and that’s not much noisier than

60 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IOSHMAGAZINE.COM

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