Known as noise dose badges, the devices measure the average amount of noise each worker experiences over a whole shift. They are sophisticated enough to take into account variations in duration and intensity as the person moves around their location during the course of a day.
More than 150 noise dose surveys are being conducted to help reduce the amount of noise our people are exposed to. This is part of the implementation of IronSafe, which includes the new Health Standards.
The information collected will provide an important benchmark for measuring improvements in the level of noise at work as hearing loss continues to grow as a major health problem in Australia.
Statistics show that hearing loss affects about one in five Australians over the age of 15 with many sufferers experiencing a drop in self-esteem and confidence because of their impaired ability to communicate with other people.
Sensorineural (nerve damage) hearing loss is the most common complaint in 80 percent of adult cases. It occurs when inner ear nerves become damaged and do not properly transmit signals to the brain. Patients complain that people seem to mumble or that they hear, but do not understand, what is being said.
Ageing is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss, along with injury, excessive noise exposure, viral infections, heredity and diseases, such as meningitis, diabetes, stroke or high fever. Most sensorineural hearing loss cannot be successfully treated by medication or surgery but can be improved with hearing aids.
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