Health Risks in Construction This toolbox talk looks at the hazards and risks associated with exposure to noise and how it can affect your hearing Toolbox Talk Noise Health Risks in Construction This project has been delivered with support from the CITB Growth Fund, which aims to ensure that the construction industry has the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time and is equipped to meet the future skills demands of the industry.

Ear and Hearing Hazards General Estimates of Work-Related Noises dB (decibels) Rocket launch 180 Jet engine at take off 140 Pneumatic percussion drill 119 Chain saw 110 Bulldozer, Spray painter 105 Hand drill 98 Belt sander 93 Weakest sound heard by the average ear 0 194 Loudest tone possible 165 12-Gauge shotgun 120 Ambulance siren 114 Hammer drill 103 Impact wrench 96 Tractor 90 Hair dryer/power lawn mower 80 Ringing telephone 30 Whisper The chart shown here gives an idea of some of the noise levels that we work with, for example: A hammer drill is about 114 decibels A hand drill around 98 and A ringing telephone around 80 decibels The law states that at 80 decibels if you request hearing protection it must be provided and that at 85 decibels it must be worn. Which if you think about it is not very loud Of course no one is expecting anyone here to be walking around site with a noise monitor, but an easy way to judge is that if it’s so noisy that you need to shout to be heard by another person, who is standing about a metre away from you, then hearing protection is needed Exposures ≥ 85 may cause hearing loss

Ear and Hearing Hazards When should you worry? Constant noise from tools and equipment Sudden loud noises There are two different types of noise which can cause problems on site: The first is the constant background noise, such as: The forklift running around Generators Radios playing and so on Then there are the sudden bursts of loud noises, for example: Nail guns and Disk cutters In general if you remember that, the louder the noise and the longer it lasts the more likely it is that damage will occur

Warning signs What are the warning signs? The sounds of P’s and B’s are first to become difficult to hear You have to turn the radio down when you get in the car in the morning and turn it up when leaving work The only way to tell if you have damaged your hearing is to have a hearing test, however there are a number of things which may act as early warning signs that you have a problem including: Tinnitus which can be a ringing in your ears Having trouble understanding what people say, especially in crowded rooms Needing to turn the TV sound up - although others will usually point this out to you!!! Having to ask people to repeat what they just said to you, and then giving up because its embarrassing Not being able to hear high-pitched sounds, like a baby crying or a telephone ringing in another room It may be that some letters disappear, p’s and b’s tend to go first You may find that someone calls your name and you look one way but find that they are standing the other side of you, as it becomes difficult to work out which direction noises are coming from You may also may find that you can’t hear what someone is saying unless they are looking directly at you. We all lip read but generally we use the noises that we hear to back things up Sometimes your hearing reacts to loud noise and results in temporary loss, one way to tell if this is the case, suggesting that where you are working is too loud, is if you have to turn the radio up when you get in the car to go home and down again the next morning when it then seems loud Gradually hearing loss will get worse and you may be unable to make out what people are saying at all. You may have disturbed sleep and feel under stress

Risks Why worry…? Once you have damaged your hearing, it cannot be fixed Even with a hearing aid it won’t be perfect The problem with noise induced hearing loss is that once you have damaged your hearing, that’s it , you don’t get it back You may be able to wear a hearing aid but I am sure that it is not a fashion accessory that any of us want to wear

Prevention Try to reduce any noise coming from machinery or equipment by: Closing covers Maintain equipment Move to another job in a quieter area Wear hearing protection Use localised noise abatement So what can you do to prevent noise induced hearing loss? There are a number of things you can do to reduce the problems including: Tying to reduce the noise from any machinery. This can be done by: Using a stack of block or a sheet of ply wood to form a barrier Some times it is as simple as shutting a door If you are hiring in machinery, genies etc , try to get ones which have had dampers fitted. Ensure that equipment is well maintained - reducing rattles etc If it is someone else making the noise, could you go and work elsewhere on site for a while, or take your break earlier? If you have done everything possible to reduce the noise levels then you need to wear hearing protection When selecting hearing protection, try different types until you find something which is comfortable to wear. Keep it clean, as ear infections can lead to deafness If wearing disposable earplugs, remember that they are just that, disposable, throw them away at the end of the day and get a new pair Remember to wear them at all times in noisy environments, for example when using power tools. Taking off your hearing protection – even for a short period of time – can contribute to hearing problems

ANY QUESTIONS? www.cbhscheme.com If you have any questions speak to your Manager, you can also phone CBH on 0845 873 7726 for impartial confidential advice If you have any symptoms or worries about your hearing make an appointment to see your GP Thank you for listening www.cbhscheme.com