Masonry Magazine March 2007 Page. 52
HEARING PROTECTION
Employers should instill a sense of responsibility for protecting their hearing both on and off the job, rather than just viewing hearing protectors as a workplace compliance issue.
Witt said there are three ways to instill the level of risk awareness that motivates workers to take proper defensive action by wearing their hearing protectors.
"First, is to dispel their illusion of invulnerability," Witt said. When it comes to ignoring hazardous noise, it's not only the young who feel invulnerable. Even seasoned workers will claim that the loud noise does not bother them because they are "accustomed" to the noise. While the brain may grow accustomed to constant noise, anatomically, the ears can never "toughen up" against hazardous noise. Ears respond by losing hearing.
Dispelling the invulnerable illusion can be done in several ways, Witt explained. One of the most effective is to show workers exactly how noise affects them. "Several studies have found that the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss drops significantly when workers are provided a copy of their annual audiometric tests, with an explanation of the results. It is hard to argue with an objective test that historically shows the progression of hearing loss from year to year."
Demonstrating "future risk" is the second method Witt suggested for bringing home the need for hearing protection. "We live in a culture of the 'here and now, but noise-induced hearing loss displays no visible signs of injury and typically develops over years of exposure," Witt said. Many employers use audio demonstrations to simulate hearing loss, so that the worker has a clear understanding of the future risk and the need for adequate protection today.
A cheaper, yet equally effective tool is to have employees talk to older workers who have suffered hearing loss and regret their disregard for hearing protection.
The third motivating tool Witt recommends is to remove the barriers to wearing hearing protection. "This can be as simple as ensuring an adequate supply of earplugs by installing dispensers, but oftentimes the barriers run deeper," Witt said. Studies have shown that workers resist wearing hearing protection if the devices are not comfortable, or if they interfere with communication and job performance. Offering workers earplugs that don't overprotect and isolate the worker, as well as provide a comfortable fit can combat this.
"Unlike other occupational injuries, noise-induced hearing loss causes no pain or visible trauma," Witt said. "It is unnoticeable in its earliest stages, and generally takes years to diagnose. By showing these workers their susceptibility to noise damage, demonstrating the future risk, and removing the barriers to proper wearing of hearing protection, an employer invests in a workforce that takes responsibility for their own hearing protection, both on and off-the-job."
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50 Masonry March 2007 www.masoncontractors.org