Talk to a Hearing Center About Your Occupational Risks

A hearing center can be your go-to location for help with your ear health. If you work in a situation where there is a lot of loud sound on a regular basis, or you have to deal with louder sounds on a constant basis, it is imperative that you wear protective devices over your ears to prevent risk factors including permanent damage to your inner ear structures. Individuals that work in these situations should carefully monitor their overall ability to hear by visiting one of these centers on a regular basis. Doing so could help save your ability to hear. When Is There Risk? For many people, there are real risk factors in dealing with loud sounds in the workplace. It is a good idea to carefully monitor your ear health by visiting a hearing center, but do you know when you are at risk? The Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration provide guidelines about these sounds. Your employer may be required to instruct you to wear protection devices over your ears as a way to prevent problems. Many people avoid them and this can be dangerous. Consider, for example, the risks in some situations. The point at which there is a risk for injury from sound to the ears occurs at about 85 decibels, which is about the sound of heavy city traffic. The injury range occurs at about 120 decibels, which is the sound an ambulance's siren makes. At 140 decibels, sounds become painful. -Individuals exposed to sounds at 90 decibels should not endure more than 8 hours of that sound or they may face injury. -At 92 decibels, no more than 6 hours should occur to avoid risk. -At 95 decibels, no more than 4 hours should occur. -At 97 decibels, no more than 3 hours should occur. -At 100 decibels, no more than 2 hours should occur. -At 102 decibels, more than 1.5 hours can put you at serious risk. -At 105 decibels, no more than 1 hour is feasible to protect hearing. -At 110 decibels, do not become exposed for more than 30 minutes. -At 115 decibels, you are at risk in just 15 minutes or less. The risk factors are present in many work locations, but for those who take actions to protect their hearing, it may be possible to see significant improvement. Follow the OSHA guidelines and your employer's warnings in protecting your hearing. Additionally, seek out a hearing center at least one time a year to check on the condition of your hearing. Some people are more sensitive than others are and those exposed on a regular basis could be at even a higher risk. Do protect your ability to hear, monitor your health.