The "International Noise Abatement Day" is held annually to address the important issue of noise abatement. Because noise damages our ears and in the long run our well-being. Noise-induced hearing loss has been one of the most common occupational illnesses for many years – we want to counteract this and introduce you to hearing protection products that protect you from noise.
Noise as a stress factor – health effects of noise
Noise not only limits concentration and can lead to Noise deafness but is also a Stress factor for the entire body. As consequences of noise, it can lead to changes in biological risk factors such as z.B. Blood lipids, blood sugar and clotting factors come. Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and certain heart conditions-including heart attacks-can also Health effects of noise its.
Noise-induced hearing loss – the most common occupational disease
Noise perception varies from person to person. Whether a noise is only unpleasant or already affects the health, you can hardly judge yourself. While the pain threshold is around 120 dB(A), hearing damage occurs at much lower noise levels.
To ensure that you can still hear well in old age, it is important to protect your hearing from an early age. How this is to be implemented in the workplace is defined in the Noise and vibration occupational health and safety regulations regulated. This states that the employer must protect employees from a Noise exposure level of 80 dB(A) and a Peak sound level of 135 dB(C) must provide information about the dangers of noise and offer suitable hearing protection.
From 85 dB(A) or. 137 dB(C), employees are required to wear hearing protection to carry.
If you are affected by noise-induced hearing loss, you will not be able to hear the higher tones at first. Only later is the perception of mid and low tones impaired. More on the topic "Occupational disease noise-induced hearing loss"You can read more about this in our informative blog post.
International Noise Abatement Day is all about preventing noise-induced hearing loss and how to implement this in different work environments.
sources of noise – noise in the workplace
Noise sources are not only found in a production facility or workshop with large machines. Even at supposedly safe office workplaces, the noise level counts Noise as a stress factor to a common problem.
Communicating with each other is necessary for some work processes, but it can also cause stress and discomfort. The more people there are in an office, the louder it gets – especially in office landscapes and open-plan offices. Here, typical noise sources include conversations between colleagues, office equipment such as printers and copiers, telephone conversations and street noise. Noise in the office does not damage the hearing, but can be quite exhausting and stressful. Concentration decreases, performance is reduced, and attention and reaction times are reduced.
Here help technical and organizational measures – z.B. Sufficient space between workstations to reduce noise in the office. When noise sources exceed 85 dB(A), organizational measures are usually no longer sufficient. In these cases, the Noise and Vibration Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance takes effect, which makes the wearing of hearing protection mandatory. At uvex, you’ll find the right hearing protection for every work area.
The International Noise Abatement Day addresses these challenges and presents solutions to reduce noise in both professional and private life.
uvex hearing protection: earmuffs, earplugs& earmolds
When wearing hearing protection, the most important thing is to choose the right type of hearing protection. The source of the noise must be determined on the basis of a noise analysis.
You would like to know how loud your environment is? Then test with our uvex decibel app the noise exposure. This is not a validated, verified measurement. The app only gives an indication of the noise exposure, primarily in the private sphere. A noise immission measurement or workplace assessment is not replaced by the measurement with the app.
In addition to the noise analysis, the Noise duration, the Compatibility with other PSA products and the Wearing properties an important role in choosing the right hearing protection for you.
In order to offer the right hearing protection for each individual user, there are different types of hearing protection. Here in Earplugs, Ear muffs and Otoplastics differentiated.
Earplugs
These are Disposable or reusable, which are especially suitable for a long wearing time. They are also ideal for combining with other PPE products and are therefore a perfect addition to your personal protective equipment. Earplugs are additional for working environments with high temperatures perfectly suitable.