Collision Repair sector Hearing loss in our industry

A good time to reflect on the unseen challenge that is big in our industry was on 3 March 2023, World Hearing Day.

A few months on I thought I would highlight the importance of monitoring hearing loss, some preventative measures and the stigma around wearing hearing aids.

As a business owner or person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), there are specific laws and regulations that require you to manage the risk of exposure to noise pollution at your workplace.

Continued exposure to noise pollution may damage your hearing and cause other health effects that we never think about, or we see them as isolated unrelated issues such as stress, increased blood pressure and increased heart rate. It may also cause anxiety, depression, and loss in productivity- or worse, the potential to put you, your staff or visitors to your site at risk of harm or serious harm incidents.

Sound levels over 85 decibels present a hearing risk. If a sound is too loud, and/or prolonged people are at risk of hearing damage.

Hearing loss is permanent and irreversible, even when exposure stops, and it happens so gradually that by the time you or your staff notice it, it is too late. You need to be aware that every day you should be keeping your workers protected from the unseen damage that could be being caused.

If you think there are challenges around getting staff to wear Personal Protection Equipment, there is even more stigma around the wearing of hearing aids.

Prevention and protection is important. As a PCBU you must, as is reasonably practicable, make sure that your workers (or people who visit your workplace) are not exposed to noise levels that are:

• equivalent to 85 decibels averaged over eight hours, or

• a peak noise level over 140 decibels.

You must firstly try to eliminate or minimise the source of noise. If you’re not reasonably able to eliminate or minimise the noise, you must:

• Provide your workers with hearing protection appropriate for the levels of noise in your workplace.

• Make sure that it provides enough protection and is suitable for each worker’s environment or location.

Larry.fallowfield@mta.org.nz

Hearing protection comes in five different classes. The class of hearing protection to use will depend on the noise level in your workplace or is based on their tasks and duties being performed. The higher the noise level, the higher the class of the hearing protection required. Always train your workers on what the key risks are and how to protect their hearing. Ensure you have an annual hearing assessment for all your staff to capture any changes early. Hearing loss can often occur so gradually that most people don’t even notice they have a problem, so it’s important to be able to recognise the signs!

Sound levels for nonlinear (decibel) scales

I recently spoke to some collision repairers who have taken the leap to get hearing aids. When asked why they went to get a hearing test two common reasons came through:

• “My wife kept telling me the TV was too loud, yet I struggled to hear it”

• “I kept asking people to repeat what they had said”

Below are five common indicators that you or your staff may have hearing loss:

1. Do you/they have difficulty hearing people talking on the telephone?

2. Do you/they have difficulty hearing in noisy environments?

3. Do you/they speak too loudly?

4. Do you/they misunderstand what people say?

5. Is the volume high on work radios?

Data Source: Triton Hearing

There are three areas that hold people back from getting a hearing test:

• Admitting having a hearing issue

• Doing something about it

• Realising that anyone can suffer hearing loss, at any age

Common myths about hearing aids

• Hearing aids are only for the elderly/infirm.

• Cost is seen as an insurmountable barrier.

• It’s considered a medical experience.

• People think technology is outdated.

Fact: 56 percent of New Zealanders with hearing loss don’t wear hearing aids and 68 percent of New Zealanders who wear hearing aids think they should have worn them sooner.

Source: NZ Trak ‘22

If you or your staff are identified as having reduced hearing, contact Triton Hearing on 0800 454 549 and mention that you are an MTA member to book your free hearing check, or visit www.tritonhearing.co.nz for more information.