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NOISY WORKPLACE:
Working Safely
When you think of a noisy workplace, your mind almost certainly goes to a construction site or a factory. You immediately think of a place where the workers wear hearing protectors and noise is far from the only hazard.
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What Is a Noisy Workplace? This is, of course, a common perception, but a noisy workplace can be somewhere completely unexpected. And that can affect workers, because many are not protected enough. For example, think about gym teachers. They spend their days in a gym, constantly hearing shoes squeaking on the floor, balls bouncing and children yelling. I studied physical education teaching and did internships in schools and gyms. I remember I often had a feeling of being tired at the end of the day. I didn’t know then that I was experiencing auditory fatigue. At the time, I didn’t make the connection to the noisy environment where I was working. I have to say, I wasn’t as conscious of taking care of my hearing health back then. I didn’t realize how much the noise was affecting me. It was normal to me.
Through my role as ambassador of Lobe clinics and of hearing health, I often meet people who have worked in noisy workplaces. Many have told me about their experience in the wood industry, where noise is omnipresent. Others have told me about working in bars and restaurants. Do you find that the music is loud when you visit these places? Imagine if you had to work full shifts there, without any protection. Even hair salons are considered noisy workplaces. Think of all the noise hairdressers have to put up with: not just hairdryers, but often background music as well. It may seem harmless, but such constant noise can have long-term consequences on hearing health.
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