It would also be remiss to omit one of the other growing concerns in noise exposure: playing music too loudly through earbuds and headphones. And after exposure to some of these items, we may find ourselves using a 60 dB electric toothbrush or a 94 dB hair dryer. Many of these may run at a distance or in a separate room, but others require us to operate them. Washing machines and air conditioners can range from 50 to 75 dB. Dishwashers can range from 45 dB to 60 dB. Many of the battery-operated machines may be quieter-but depending on the performance needs, may not be adequate for the intended job, requiring longer use time. A leaf blower or snow blower may put out more than 100 dB. Many gas-powered yard tools have very high output levels. Several of the items we use to manage and maintain our homes operate at higher sound levels than we may expect. Our home life and activities expose us to a large variety of sounds. To truly consider our hearing health, we must look at the bigger picture and consider hearing outside of work (see “Ear Care for All, On and Off the Job,” March 2018, on./ldr-0318 ). The guidelines also consider rest periods after the workday. The OSHA and NIOSH guidelines focus specifically on occupational hearing safety, and are intended to prevent hearing loss in the workplace-as well as other non-auditory effects associated with exposure to loud sounds, such as an increase in cardiovascular-related issues (see sources). And because NIHL is a result of repeated exposure to loud sounds, it can progress with continued exposure to these sounds. It results in reduced hearing sensitivity in the high frequencies, compromising audibility and speech understanding. More often, it is the result of repeated exposures to loud sounds. A one-time exposure to an extremely loud sound can cause NIHL. The rationale behind both of these approaches is NIHL prevention. So, a change from an 85 dBA environment to an 88 dBA environment would indicate a change from eight hours to four hours of exposure. NIOSH also differs from the OSHA requirement by adjusting the time of sound exposure when the level changes by 3 dB (see sources). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a bit more strict, limiting exposure to the 85 dBA level for an eight-hour workday ( on./NIOSH-guide ). So, for a 95 dBA level, the maximum allowable exposure time is four hours. And for every 5 dB increase in the sound level, the exposure time for the employee must be reduced by half (see sources). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employees not be exposed to more than 90 dB onĪn A-weighted scaled (dBA) throughout the course of the eight-hour day to prevent hearing loss ( on./OSHA-guide ). What is important to consider in any of these workplaces is how the intensity levels of the sound affect employees. Certainly, levels vary in meetings and other work gatherings, typical of most any we orkplace. Truck drivers may be exposed to similar levels while traversing the country in the cabs of their trucks (see sources)-a stark contrast to my 51 dB office environment. What to Know About Firearm Suppressors and Hearing Lossįor someone working in a factory, loudness levels can range anywhere from 80 to 90 dB (see sources). Roar Aboard: Protecting Service Members' Ears on Aircraft Carriers Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Possibly More Damaging Than Age-Related Loss Downloading a sound level meter app and monitoring noise levels is a good place to start. The best we can do in the short term is increase our awareness of noise levels throughout our day and to make adjustments if those levels become risky. There’s also no consensus on when exposure at various levels can result in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Meanwhile, guidelines and rationales differ regarding safe listening levels: Debate continues over the exact point that noise levels threaten hearing, with some pegging it as high as 85 dB and others as low as 70 dB. But for people who work in louder environments, or who are also surrounded by loud noises at home, their noise exposure is a lot different-and can put them at risk for hearing loss. At least, this is my typical day involving work and home, and this is similar for many who work in an office. This is a pretty typical day in the world of sound level exposure. Evening in the house with family has levels that vary around 55 dB and up to 65 dB when my 1-year old starts getting vocal. The day continues similarly to that, followed by the drive home again, at 68 dB. When I get to the office, it measures at 51 dB while I sit at my desk. Sitting inside my car, the drive to work is about 68 dB. The shower runs at about a surprising 76 dB. My morning starts with the mobile phone alarm at 55 dB waking me up from sleeping in a 50 dB room.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |