Sound is a form\nof energy. This energy is transmitted through the air as pressure waves. The\near then detects these pressure waves and they are perceived as a sound, or\nnoise. When sound waves enter the outer ear, the vibrations impact the ear drum\nand are transmitted to the middle and inner ears. The middle ear has three\nsmall bones inside and they amplify and transmit the vibrations generated by\nthe sound to the inner ear. The inner ear contains a snail like structure\ncalled the cochlea, which is filled with fluid and lined with tiny hairs. These\nhairs are microscopic and move with the vibrations, and convert the sound waves\ninto nerve impulses. The result is that the sound is heard. Constant exposure\nto loud noise can destroy these hair cells, which will then cause hearing loss.\nThe hair cells will not grow back and hearing will not be restored, leaving\npermanent hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A decibel is a\nlogarithmic measure of the ratio between numbers and is measured on a\nlogarithmic scale, which means that small changes in the number of decibels\nresults in a huge change in the amount of noise, and the potential damage to a\nperson\u2019s hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The loudness of\nthe noise is measured in units of sound pressure levels. These are known as\ndecibels and are abbreviated to dB. A-weighting is a measurement scale that\napproximates the \u201cloudness\u201d of tones, and is normally used to evaluate\nenvironmental noise. This is measured as dB (A).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common\nsounds <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Noise can cause a number of negative health effects including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Noise sources, their Db level and health effects are presented\nbelow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ntechnical angles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many\nterms within health and safety, such as directives, regulations, legislations,\ncodes of practice and standards. A directive is binding in its entirety and\nobliges member states to transpose it into national law within set deadlines. A\ndirective enters into force once it is published in the official journal of the\nEU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The directive that has been set for\nnoise at work in Europe is the 1986 EEC Directive of Occupational Noise\nExposure. This exists to provide protection to all workers from harm caused by\nexposure to noise. It was originally the 1986 EE Directive, which was altered\nin 2002 as it was decided by the European Union that a new directive would be\nreleased covering the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the\nexposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents like vibration.\n<\/em>According to the new PPE Regulation (EU) 2016\/425,noise has moved to category III \u2013 Very\nserious consequences, exclusive list, in terms of personal protective equipment\nrequirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In\nfigures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many\nhealth problems that can develop due to noise at work. Acoustic trauma or\nacoustic shock is caused by short bursts of extremely loud noises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tinnitus is\ncaused by exposure to excessive noise, which can be caused by using machinery\nincluding chain saws, or even from music at a concert if you are working in the\nentertainment sector. This condition is a constant ringing and buzzing in your\nears and occurs when the hairs within the ears are destroyed due to loud noise\nover long periods of time. Once the hairs within the ears are destroyed they\nwill not be repaired, causing a lifetime of unpleasant constant noises in the\nears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Temporary hearing\nloss is known as a temporary threshold shift, which may occur immediately after\nexposure to a high level of noise. This could be recovered after spending time\nin a quiet place. Over time, this will result in permanent hearing damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also\nevidence of several non-auditory health effects associated with medium levels\nof noise. This includes voice problems, stress, cardiovascular diseases and\nneurological issues. Noise below the levels usually associated with hearing\ndamage can cause regular and predictable changes in the body. Even \u2018ear safe\u2019\nsound levels can lead to these health effects if they chronically interfere\nwith recreational activities such as sleep and relaxation; if they disturb\ncommunication and speech intelligibility; or if they interfere with mental\ntasks that require a high degree of attention and concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employers\u2019\nrole<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to the high\nrisk nature of noise, employers are required to control risks at the source of\nnoise and eliminate or reduce them. Personal hearing protection is not to be\nused as the only source of protection \u2013 prevention control measures must be in\nplace to control or reduce the risk of noise. The use of controls within the\nworkplace should aim to reduce the hazardous exposures, so the risk to loss of\nhearing is eliminated or reduced. Administration controls and training can\nalter the way work is done including the timing of work, policies and other rules.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n All hearing\nprotection should come with a SNR, or single number rating. This number\nprovides the simple estimate of protection and it will give the wearer an\napproximate protection of 38dB. Protection will only be provided if the PPE is\nworking correctly, so provide training to employees on how and when to wear\nprotection to ensure it is effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing protection may be used for people who are already suffering with hearing damage but is not the only source of protection against noise. Procedures could also be implemented within the workplace to reduce or illuminate the hazards, including health surveillance and regular noise assessments. Noise at work remains a significant hazard at work and it should be addressed by employers as such in order to ensure all necessary measures are carried out within their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/corporate.stop.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/noise-en.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n