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Hearing loss is a serious risk of factory work

On Behalf of | Jan 20, 2025 | Vision And Hearing Loss |

Many people think about physical hazards, such as lacerations and amputations, when they’re thinking about the risks of factory work. They may not realize that hearing loss is also a significant hazard that can occur. 

Employers need to set protocols in place to prevent hearing loss in employees. Understanding some of the specific considerations of hearing loss in factories may be beneficial. 

Hearing loss can be gradual

Hearing loss from factory work often occurs because of prolonged exposure to high noise levels. Because it occurs so gradually, the worker may not realize that anything is wrong. Some people only recognize the problem when loved ones tell them that their television is turned up louder than usual or the person can’t hear people speaking at a normal volume. By that point, the damage may be permanent and could limit the person’s ability to continue doing their job safely.

Hearing protection is required for some workers. Noise exposure must be less than 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) for factory workers. In only eight hours of exposure to 85 dBA, a person can suffer hearing loss. Because of this, it’s critical that factories provide adequate hearing protection that keeps the noise exposure for those workers to less than that level. 

When a factory worker suffers hearing loss because of on-the-job conditions, they should be able to count on workers’ compensation to provide them with benefits, including medical care. Ensuring you get all the benefits they’re due can be challenging, so working with someone familiar with workers’ compensation may be beneficial.

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