HEARING SAFETY INFO

Each year approximately thirty million people in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous noise in the workplace. For more than twenty five years noise-related hearing loss has been determined to be one of the most prevalent occupational health concerns in the United States. Every year thousands of employees suffer from preventable hearing loss due to high noise levels in the workplace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that since 2004 nearly 125,000 workers have suffered significant, possibly permanent hearing loss.

Exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent hearing loss, especially over a long period of time. Neither hearing aids nor surgery can correct this type of hearing loss. Short term exposure to loud noise can cause temporary change in hearing such as ears that feel stuffed up or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). While these problems may go away within a few minutes or hours after leaving the noisy area, repeated exposure to loud noise can lead to permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss.

Additionally, loud noise can also create psychological and physical stress, interfere with communication and concentration, reduce productivity and contribute to accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals. Noise-induced hearing loss limits ones ability to hear high frequency sounds, understand speech of others, and seriously impairs the ability to communicate. The effects of hearing loss can be profound, as it can interfere with socializing with friends. participating in social activities, playing with children or grandchildren, and can lead to social and psychological isolation.

The sad reality is that most of this devastating impairment CAN be prevented simply by using hearing protection at all times when working in areas of loud noise.

Texas America Safety Company has a wide variety of hearing protection for all types of working environments. Check us out!