Noisy equipment is quite safe, unless you have to work alongside it! This simple but important distinction will help you understand how to safeguard your precious hearing.
Human ears are usually damaged by noise in two ways - either by long periods of exposure to noise levels over 85 decibels, or by very loud and sudden noises. Of course, we all know that everyone's hearing deteriorates as we get older. Unfortunately, once hearing damage occurs, there is nothing that can be done to repair it.
The first step in reducing hearing risk is to measure the amount of noise exposure, or noise dose, people experience. There are three types of formal measurement we can use. Firstly, specific noise sources can be measured by a piece of equipment known as a sound level meter. We can also track the amount of noise someone hears from different noise sources throughout the day using a noise dose badge that clips onto your lapel. Finally, the quality of a person's hearing can be measured using a simple test that involves sitting in a booth and listening to sounds via head phones.
The best way to reduce hearing risk is to eliminate the hazard altogether. There are lots of strategies you can use, such as finding quieter equipment, soundproofing, moving the item away from people, or rescheduling tasks to a quieter time. When all else fails, protective equipment is a must.
Above: This graph is an example of the noise level exposure for a Pilbara Iron water truck driver. Note how the noise dose varies over the course of the day.
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