VCAL WORK RELATED SKILLS - SENIOR - Unit 1
Infosheet
5. Noise When someone loses their hearing, it can be devastating for them and annoying for others around them. People with poor hearing are often left out of conversations and social activities. Hearing loss can also cause people to become less efficient at work and study.
Some early warning signs of hearing loss include: •
ringing in the ears after doing something which exposes you to noise
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having trouble understanding what people say
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needing to turn up the volume on the radio or television, even though other people can hear
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not hearing background noises like the telephone or doorbell.
As a general rule, if the noise around you forces you to raise your voice to make yourself heard by someone a meter away, your hearing may be at risk. The scale used to measure noise as it is heard by the human ear is written as dB(A). Normal conversation is about 60 dB(A) to 65 dB(A). 85 dB(A) is the level at which you have to raise your voice, while at 90 dB(A) you will have to shout to make yourself heard. Prolonged exposure to noise above the level of 85 dB(A) significantly damages hearing. This is the level at which noise control measures must be taken by employers. The table below is a guide to some typical noise levels.
Noise Sources Heavy traffic Lawn mower Angle grinder Chainsaw
Noise Level dB(A) (at operator’s ear) 80 90 105 105
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VCAL WORK RELATED SKILLS - SENIOR - Unit 1 Â
Every effort must be made to reduce noise at its source. However, if there is no way to separate people from potentially damaging causes of noise, an employer must provide the correct personal hearing protectors (earmuffs or earplugs). These should be used only as a temporary measure or last resort.
Personal hearing protection should be regularly cleaned and any damaged parts must be replaced. Personal hearing protection should be kept near the area of noisy activity. Listening to music through headphones does not provide protection from noise.
To help reduce the risk of hearing loss you could also spend less time being exposed to noise. It's up to employers to make sure that no employee is exposed to noise for longer than the prescribed exposure standard.
Exposure to noise outside work can also be dangerous to your hearing. Noise in nightclubs and pubs, as well as from personal sound systems, can exceed levels that would be acceptable in the work place.
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VCAL WORK RELATED SKILLS - SENIOR - Unit 1
Worksheet Crossword 1
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Across 4. Power _____________ used in workplaces can be noisy 6. Unit of measuring noise levels 7. If you are unsure, _______ your supervisor 8. One kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) for hearing 9. Of advanced age 11 Loud sound 12. Operating machinery without hearing protection can __________ hearing
Down 1. A noise _________ of 85 dB(A) and above can cause hearing loss. 2. Noise is a constant hazard at a construction ________ 3. The sense by which sound is perceived 5. Hearing ________ can be prevented 7. Once more 10. Abbreviation for “decibel (A-weighted)”
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VCAL WORK RELATED SKILLS - SENIOR - Unit 1
Short Answer Questions TASK: Using the ‘Infosheet’ above and the link below, complete the following ten questions individually: http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/health-and-safety-topics/noise
1. What are three warning signs of hearing loss?
2. What does the abbreviation “dB” stand for and what is measured by “dB”?
3. Normal conversation is about 60 to 65 dB(A). At what level of dB(A) do you have to •
raise your voice? __________________________
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shout?
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4. Prolonged exposure to noise above the level of _____ dB(A) significantly damages hearing. What must employers do if noise is consistently above this level?
5. Describe some of the effects of hearing loss for a person:
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VCAL WORK RELATED SKILLS - SENIOR - Unit 1
6. Describe the circumstances when hearing protection should be worn. (You should explain fully, not just answer “when noise is above 85 dB(A)”.)
7. Who is responsible for providing hearing protection for employees?
8. True or false? Wearing headphones or earplugs and listening to your iPod or radio provides good protection from external noise.
9. True or false? Loud noise outside the workplace such as live music in a nightclub or hotel does not put hearing at risk.
10. What should employees do if they feel their hearing may be at risk because of noise at work?
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