Toolbox: hearing protection awareness
WHY RAISE AWARENESS OF HEARING PROTECTION?
Because with noise, just like with dust, toxic products and back strain, the physical damage only appears in the longer term, motivating workers is very important.
In these short awareness sessions, workers are directly addressed about the importance of hearing protection, applied to their own work situation.
Noise-induced deafness is occupational disease number 1!
Because workers cannot assess the correct noise level, they usually underestimate the danger.
- How the hearing organ works
- Possible hearing disorders
- Localisation of noise damage in the hearing organ, with attention to irreversibility
- 5 consequences of noise damage
- Social consequences of reduced hearing and speech comprehension
- Employer's efforts to prevent noise damage through general solutions
- The need for personal protection (PPE)
- Types of hearing protection (earmuffs, earplugs, ..)
Thorough awareness-raising is a first step towards the success of your prevention plan.
NO WORDS, BUT ACTIONS!
- Short and powerful safety awareness-raising
- Small groups for interaction
- Theoretical introduction with practical application in the company
- Repetition is recommended
LEGISLATION
- The employer provides training and organises, where appropriate, a training course on the use of PPE (Code IX, title 2).
- The employer ensures that workers exposed at the workplace to noise equal to or above the lower exposure action values (80 dB) receive information and training on the risks arising from exposure to noise (Code, book V, title 2).
Frequently asked questions
Why raise awareness of hearing protection?
Noise-induced deafness is occupational disease number 1; because the damage only appears in the long term, motivating workers is crucial.
What is covered?
How hearing works and its disorders, the irreversibility of noise damage, the consequences and the types of hearing protection (earmuffs, earplugs).
Is the training legally required?
The employer must provide information and training to workers exposed to noise from 80 dB (Code, book V, title 2).