Everyday, we will experience exposure to different sounds depending on the environment we find ourselves in. Such examples can be from the television, when you are driving or when walking in the park.
These type of sounds that we hear everyday are considered safe levels that don’t cause any long term damage to our hearing.
However, there are also certain sounds that are considered harmful when they are too loud and also if we are exposed to sounds that are deemed as excessive and for a significant length of time. For instance, working with noisy tools such as angle grinders for the purposes of carrying out your job role.
These unsafe levels of sounds can damage the sensitive structures to our ears and ultimately cause noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Or alternatively, you can be exposed to significantly excessive levels of sounds over a brief time and this can still cause us to suffer NIHL.
Who is affected by NIHL?
NIHL can happen to anyone and anytime by being exposed to excessive levels of noise. The Health and Safety Executive provides that in 2019/20 to 2021/22 there has been 11,000 estimated number of workers with work-related hearing problems.
What causes NIHL?
As mentioned above, NIHL can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense and sudden sound such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time, such as noise generated in a woodworking shop.
Even activities and hobbies can put anyone at risk unknowingly, to NIHL. For instance, target shooting and hunting, listening to music at high volume through earbuds or headphones, playing in a band for years, and the list can go on.
These sounds are measured in units called decibels (dBA).
Example sound levels:
- Whispering – 20dBA – 30dBA
- Normal Conversations – 60dBA – 70dBA
- Vacuum cleaner and noisy restaurants – 70dBA – 80dBA.
However, it becomes a different situation when we become exposed to a certain level of sounds.
An example of harmful levels of sounds:
- Music through headphones at maximum volume, angle grinders, chain saws jack hammers – 90dBA to 110+ dBA.
A more comprehensive list can be read here.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 provides to employers that such sound levels above 87dBA is considered harmful to a person’s hearing and therefore sufficient protection and awareness will need to be stressed to people exposed or are working in conditions where the sound levels are above the threshold.
Ever wondered if you suffering from hearing loss? Try this useful simulator.
Further reading
Noise-induced hearing loss – Oakwood Solicitors
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Karinel Ellazar joined Oakwood Solicitors Ltd in 2021 as a Legal Assistant in the Industrial Disease Department.
Prior to joining us, Karinel worked for the Civil Service for over 2 years namely the …
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