Anwar Joonas, President of the MEF, says that “noise is sound that people usually do not like. It interferes in and disturbs a person's life, hence causing stress and chronic health problems both at work and outside work.”
He lays emphasis on the fact that noise, being part of our everyday life, has become taken-for-granted, and that not much attention is paid to it. However, people are oblivious of the damage that may be caused by excessive exposure to noise.
The Mauritius Employers' Federation (MEF) organised a workshop on noise pollution and occupational deafness in collaboration with the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf (SWD) during the Annual Deaf Awareness Week, an initiative of the World Federation for the Deaf (WFD), and the SWD to promote greater awareness on the issue of noise pollution and occupational deafness.
Noise pollution is very much rampant in the modern world. SWD has noted an increase in the number of out-patients suffering from noise-induced hearing loss over the years. The causes are attributted to traffic, neighbourhood and domestic noise, industrial noise or even music.
Yes, music too, however soothing and relaxing, can be a source of noise pollution. Farzaana Keenoo-Chonee, Speech Language Pathologist, explains that “most certainly, the noise levels obtained from most car stereos can reach levels which are damaging to your hearing, especially with the windows up. Very often, people do not realise the harm that their harmless car stereos can do to them.” She cautions that the volume should be turned down, for once one's hearing is damaged, it cannot be repaired. She reiterates the fact that prevention is better than cure.
Preventable
Industrial noise is the most common physical occupational health hazard which is affecting the health of workers. In fact, noise can affect the worker's health in multiple ways but the final outcome depends on a number of factors. These are the intensity of the noise, the duration of the exposure, the type of noise, socioacusis (exposure to increasingly noisy leisure activities, like loud music, walkman/discman, inadequately silenced motorcycles, rifle shooting, amidst others). There is also previous history of disease or injury to the hearing apparatus, or history of use of ototoxic drugs – drugs which can damage the ears.
Initially, the noise would tire the ears. In fact, it is invisible in the early stages. And if the person takes time off from the noise, the damage would be temporary and his/her hearing can be restored. Continuous noise exposure makes the ears lose their ability to recover from temporary hearing loss. As a matter of fact, hearing loss nowadays appears much earlier in life than it would have been expected thirty years ago.
Now, young adults in the age range of 20 to 30 frequently have hearing loss that was formerly associated with 50 to 60 year old adults. We are living in the information age, and communication is of prime importance. Today we know that noise-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable. The quality of hearing health in later years can be improved by making the correct life-style and medical choices while younger.
SWD is clear about it: No one has to sacrifice his or her hearing in order to earn a living. Occupational deafness is preventable! Anwar Joonas says that occupational health is a major concern for employers. “The best method of prevention is to eliminate first the hazards by engineering control like sound reducing barriers at source, and also by giving the relevant personal preventive equipment like ear plugs and ear muffs which prevent excessive noise from reaching the inner ear.”
Irreversible hearing damage
According to him, it is the workplace which should be adapted to the employees, instead of the employees being requested to adapt to the workplace. “We should not forget that occupational noise, if not dealt with appropriately, can cause irreversible hearing damage,” he says.
At the legal level, under Section 59 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act (1989), it is stipulated that “Where in any place of work persons are employed in any process involving exposure to noise or vibration which may constitute a danger to their health, effective means shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be provided for the reduction of such noise or vibration within the place of work.” Under the same act, Section 64, mention is made of the need for the medical practitioner to notify the employer of any suspected and/or suffering of industrial disease.
And following this notification, the employer should in turn notify the Chief Factory Inspector, in writing, of the suspected and/or occurred industrial disease. A record of such notifications should be kept.
Win-win situation
Occupational deafness is very much preventable; that is, only if the employers and the employees work over a Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP) which would benefit both parties.
If the employer sets up an HCP for his/her employees, it would not only ensure compliance with the laws and regulations, but also good labour relations, for the employees would know that the management is concerned with their welfare. Better productivity and product quality would surely ensue for the workers would be more attentive, and less tired and irritable. There would be greater employee satisfaction and retention.
A curb in accident rates and absenteeism would also follow. Additionally, the employer would incur less financial loss due to claims/compensation for occupational hearing loss.
HCPs could prove to be win-win situations for the employer as well as for the employee. It would save the hearing and the ability at communication of the workers.
The latter would also be able to deliver to the best of their capacities for they would be less tired, irritable, and would be enjoying sound sleep. The risks of accidents at work would diminish for the employee would be hearing properly. Since occupational deafness develops over many years, minor changes in hearing could be identified through the HCPs, thereby preventing permanent hearing loss.
Besides, if good hearing is a prerequisite for a job, an effective HCP would enable the worker to sustain his/her hearing ability, and continue to qualify for jobs that require good hearing. In the long run, by preventing a permanent hearing loss, employees would be able to enjoy a better retirement, with omission of any unfortunate remembrance.