Noise and Communication
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year.
Whether you work around a hospital helipad, on a tarmac, in an operating room, or operate a jackhammer—hearing loss is preventable.
Noise may be a problem in your workplace if you:
- hear ringing or humming in your ears when you leave work
- must shout to be heard by a coworker an arm's length away
- experience temporary hearing loss when leaving work
Hospital staff can be exposed to potential hearing loss, hearing impairment, elevated blood pressure levels, and other health hazards from exposure to the helicopter's loud sounds while in operation.
If you need to raise your voice to speak to someone 3 feet away, noise levels might be over 85 decibels. If noise levels equal or exceed an 8-hour average sound level of 85 decibels, your employer is required by the 1910.95(c) Occupational Noise Exposure Standard) to develop a hearing protection program and provide adequate hearing protection. Elevated noise levels pose an additional threat to workers if they cannot communicate or warn each other of potential dangers or hazardous situations.
Possible Solutions
A safety and health program that recognizes and addresses the hazards in a hospital heliport area would help keep workers safe.
OSHA's 1910.95(b)(1) Occupational Noise Exposure Standard requires the employer to use administrative or engineering heliport controls to lower exposure to noise whenever it exceeds a 90 dBA average over 8 hours.
Some examples of heliport controls to help prevent noise exposure include:
- Appropriate PPE - ear plugs, muffs, etc.
- Use aviation helmets that include special hearing protection and communication systems to enable staff to communicate through the helmets.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. The employer must develop a hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures _____.
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