4 Ways To Combat Noise Exposure in Construction
Construction sites are inherently noisy places. Huge machinery, heavy equipment, and frequent drilling are only a few of the endless sources contributing to such places’ noise levels. The noise generated can be more than an annoyance—it can cause irreversible damage to people’s hearing.
Prolonged exposure to such levels of noise can even lead to hearing loss. Construction workers must take an active role in combating noise exposure. Let’s discuss four ways to combat noise exposure in construction and ensure everyone is safe and healthy.
Wear Appropriate Hearing Protection
Wearing protective gear is one of the most straightforward ways to combat noise exposure. It needs to adequately suit your hearing protection needs. Protective gear for hearing protection in construction can come in many forms, such as earplugs, earmuffs, or custom-fit earplugs. Before settling for a particular piece of protective gear, ensure it blocks out the noise level you’ll face daily.
Use Equipment With a Lower Decibel Level
Construction workers should always opt for equipment that operates at a lower decibel level. If possible, they should advocate for equipment that operates more quietly. Newer machinery often operates at more manageable noise levels. Suppose quieter equipment isn’t available. In that case, workers should try to mitigate the sources that produce the noise by utilizing enclosures, barriers, or soundproof covers.
Plan for Noise Mitigation
One of the most significant ways to combat noise exposure is by adopting practical measures to mitigate noise in the construction site’s early design phase. Planning for noise mitigation includes selecting more secluded sites for construction, reducing construction noise generation sources, and avoiding working near sensitive areas. These kinds of areas include hospitals, electric substations, and schools.
Schedule Regular Hearing Tests
Construction workers should schedule regular hearing tests to examine their hearing sensitivity levels. These tests are the only way to determine whether the protective gear used adequately protects workers and whether hearing loss has already manifested. Frequent hearing tests help identify early signs of hearing loss, which is essential for taking corrective actions while protecting the worker’s hearing.
Noise exposure is a significant concern in the construction industry, but it’s a problem that you can combat in several ways. Employing hearing protection gear, using quieter equipment, planning for noise mitigation, and scheduling regular hearing tests are among the few measures that protect construction workers from the hearing damage that comes with frequent noise exposure.
Combating these concerns is just one of the ways to protect against common health risks on the construction site and ensure the safety of workers. It’s also essential for construction companies to create an environment that encourages workers to come forward with any concerns they might have about their hearing and take preventative measures. Following these steps is a great way to ensure that the noise levels in construction sites remain within healthy limits.
