You might find it bothersome when a jackhammer starts its “magic”. The sounds, on the other hand, are more than bothersome for the worker operating the jackhammer, and, without adequate hearing protection, they can be hazardous.
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Occupational Hearing Loss
The most frequent work-related ailment in the United States is occupational hearing loss. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which conducts research for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 million employees are exposed to harmful noise each year (CDC).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of Labor conducts monthly evaluations to detect harmful noise levels, however, the equipment used by OSHA must be calibrated on a regular basis to ensure that it is operating properly.
According to OSHA, millions of workers are exposed to noise in the workplace every day, and when unmanaged, noise exposure may cause lifelong hearing damage, and employers are responsible for ensuring safe and healthy workplaces for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
What Factors Contribute to Occupational Hearing Loss?
At work, a person with this type of hearing loss is frequently subjected to loud noise, which affects the highly sensitive mechanisms of the ears.
Consider what it would be like to wake up every morning to the sound of a jackhammer, only this one is only one meter away from you. At that distance, the noise intensity is roughly 120 decibels.
The decibel scale takes into account more than just how loud something is, they also take into account sound pressure and intensity.
Why Do We Ignore Vibrations?
The fundamental issues with the ear-damaging jackhammer are vibrations. Sound enters the ear in the form of vibrating waves, and anything beyond 80 dB is potentially harmful.
If you are standing close to the guy using the jackhammer, you will most likely experience some temporary hearing loss at first. The person operating the jackhammer, on the other hand, will suffer irreversible hearing impairment as a result of frequent exposure to this high decibel sound.
This sort of auditory harm is not restricted to prolonged exposure – a single loud noise might also cause harm.
What Are the Symptoms of Occupational Hearing Loss?
Unfortunately, the primary symptom is the loss of hearing, and this is a serious problem for workers since the harm occurs without their knowledge.
If you notice even a little ringing in your ears, especially after work, it’s important to obtain ear protection, such as ear plugs or muffs, to use while working. Also, make an appointment for a hearing test if you feel you have any occupational hearing loss.
- Free hearing test: https://www.johnsonlawoffices.net/hearingtest/
Some sectors demand checkups on a regular basis because they want their employees to guarantee they are not losing their hearing. It is fairly frequent for bartenders and waiters who work in clubs where ear protection would be inconvenient.
What Should You Do If You Are Suffering From Occupational Hearing Loss?
If you suspect you have occupational hearing loss, take quick steps to safeguard your ears. Some employees will have to change employment as a result of this. In most situations, occupational hearing loss progresses. You can lessen the harm in the future by avoiding loud noises.
The following step is to make an appointment with a hearing expert. If your hearing loss is conductive, which means the nerves in your inner ear are still intact, wearing hearing aids will allow you to hear again.
When it comes to occupational hearing loss, the best tool at your disposal is prevention. Wear ear protection if your profession requires it, but also take measures at home. Protect your ears during leisure activities such as shooting at the gun range by not using headphones for extended periods of time.
What you do now will be important later in life when your hearing gradually fades.
Hearing Loss Workers Compensation Benefits
The Workers Compensation Program was established in 1911 to encourage employers to make the workplace safer by requiring safety programs and the use of safety devices.
Since 1911, there have been over 2.5 million workers’ compensation claims filed. Hearing loss workers’ compensation claims now rank #3 in the number of occupational diseases claims filed.
Hearing loss workers’ compensation benefits are largely undiscovered benefits covering hearing health care, which is often uninsured. Many health insurance policies and programs like Medicare do not cover hearing aid purchases but workers’ compensation can.
It also pays for the disability of hearing loss just as it does for the loss of eyesight or other injuries.
Aging populations, advances in technology, and greater sensitivity to hearing loss are bringing more attention to financing hearing health care. For the most part, those who qualify for hearing loss workers’ compensation benefits are retired hearing-impaired workers who live on fixed incomes.
Always feel free to ask Johnson Law Offices about the process, the law, or an individual case. The legal, medical, and audio-metric questions that come into play in a hearing loss workers’ compensation claim can be complicated.
The claims require attention to detail mixed with an ability to work well with hearing-impaired retirees and their families, especially spouses, and their hearing health care professionals.
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If you, or anyone you know, worked in noise and suffers from hearing loss, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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