Irrespective of the industry you are in, you might be exposed to workplace noise and the louder it is, the more damage it will cause. If the noise is consistent, it can cause long-term hearing loss and damage other senses as well such as your sense of touch for instance. If your colleagues have to shout to be heard by you in an excessively noisy work environment, then chances of either of these conditions are imminent.
What are the risks associated with workplace noise?
If you work in an environment that is quite noisy throughout the day, then you might already have some hearing loss. This will be the case if you do not wear safety gear such as noise-cancelling headphones to ward off the sound or if you are not provided with a pair if you work in a factory or with power tools on a regular basis at your job. In fact, even a single incident that involves a loud and sharp noise can affect your hearing almost immediately.
Determining whether noise is the cause of a workplace injury or hearing loss in the workplace is determined by the Noise Directive. This basically refers to requirements that the offending source of the noise must have to be deemed dangerous. If the noise at your workplace makes it hard for others to hear you or masks the sound of approaching danger such as an approaching forklift or a reversing vehicle on premise, then the injuries you sustain from them can also be counted as a noise-induced workplace injury.
Besides obvious hearing related issues, persistent noise in the workplace can also exert psychological stress especially if it reduces productivity, interferes with communication and prevents you from concentrating at work. With time, you might have difficulty understanding normal speech and face difficulty communicating as well.
This is also known as NIHL or Noise-induced hearing loss and the first symptom that points to it is an inability to hear high pitched sounds. Until and unless the cause of the noise is not taken care of or stopped, the condition will keep on getting worse leading to persistent loss of hearing and in the worst case scenario – deafness. This usually occurs in both ears at the same time and once hearing goes completely, regaining it is impossible thus impeding productivity.
Besides noise from workplace sources, certain substances are also ototoxic, which means they are poisonous for the ear. These substances which workers can be exposed to, can induce hearing loss faster than those who are exposed to noise from elsewhere. Some of these include agents used in factories that manufacture plastic items, printing and lacquer manufacturing industries as well.
Hearing loss due to workplace noise? Call Attorney Javier Marcos
If you or someone you know are suffering from hearing loss due to exposure to excessive noise in your workplace, you need an attorney in your corner who can take your side in court. Contact Attorney Javier Marcos today for a free consultation. Call 24 hours 713.999.4444. No payment unless we win.
https://www.attorneyjaviermarcos.com/accidents/accidents-at-work/
