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Are you protecting workers' hearing?

20 Feb 2012

Posted by Oliver Churchill

It is a well-known fact that exposure to loud noises can damage people's hearing, causing issues like tinnitus. However, many employers are forgetting to protect the ears of their workers.

Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK, explained that "the human ear is a particularly sensitive instrument", which can be permanently damaged if not given chance to recover from loud noise exposure.

"If you do work in a nosy environment, ensure you have the appropriate ear protection," she advised.

"It is very tempting not to use it, but by not doing so you risk permanent damage."

If not, workers many find themselves with severe occupational hearing problems, which could result in costly compensation cases for employers.

It is the responsibility of all companies to ensure that workers are protected from health and safety eventualities.

Risk assessments, training and appropriate equipment are vital to ensure that no trouble befalls employees.ADNFCR-781-ID-801297480-ADNFCR

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