Loud Noises, Hearing Conservation, and the Workplace

A Georgia healthcare executive, Leonard Bevill guides Macon Occupational Medicine as president and CEO. Leonard Bevill’s company provides comprehensive services that span drug and alcohol screening and physical therapy, as well as work-related injury and hearing conservation programs that meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance mandates. 

According to OSHA, hearing conservation is particularly serious in roofing operations and the construction industry as saws, power drills, and gas-powered equipment are common. Frequent loud noises impact an auditory system that includes vibrating inner ear bones and the cochlea. 

In the cochlea, liquid movements tied to the bone vibrations move tiny hairs, which in turn transmit sound impulses to the auditory nerves. With repeated loud noise exposure, the hairs begin to lie flat, which creates a constant ringing sound. In addition, loss of hair cells can occur. When this loss is due to exposure to excessive noise, it is not correctable by hearing aids. 

Hearing conservation programs involve a multi-faceted approach that begins with monitoring workers’ exposure to noise and creating a set of controls to limit noise hazards. In addition, employees exposed to noises are fitted with hearing protection and trained to understand the signs and symptoms of noise overexposure. Annual audiograms help identify hearing loss, and allow organizations to take additional steps to prevent the issue from worsening.