Frequently listening to loud sounds can have a big impact on hearing, which is why tradespeople are among the most vulnerable when it comes to ear damage, as they spend most of their working days with noisy machinery.
To find out why tradesmen and women are more likely to need a diagnostic hearing test, read on.
What is the scale of the problem?
According to research conducted for Tinnitus Awareness Week, more than one-fifth of tradespeople have hearing difficulties.
Of those who do not, 21 per cent worry they will develop problems in the future, and 19 per cent have at least one colleague with hearing issues.
Nearly half of 18-34-year-old tradesmen and women have begun to struggle with their hearing, which is significantly younger than the average age of hearing loss at around 55, according to RNID.
Bricklayers were most likely to have hearing problems, with 50 per cent reporting damage. This is followed by builders at 30 per cent, carpenters at 27 per cent, plumbers at 23 per cent, and landscapers at 22 per cent.
Why is hearing damage more likely?
The reason why tradespeople are more likely to suffer from hearing damage is because they are exposed to loud noises for extended periods of time.
Sounds above 85 decibels (dB) can cause damage, and if they are listening to this regularly and for significant lengths of time, they have a high chance of developing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
This is when hair cells in the inner ear, which are used for sending sound signals to the brain, become damaged.
As well as hearing loss, they could also develop tinnitus, which is a roaring, ringing or buzzing in the ear. This can be constant or come and go, and may occur in one or both ears.
They might also experience acoustic shock, which is when they can have dizziness, pain, neck or shoulder ache, a change in hearing, nausea, or increased sensitivity to sound, as a result of a sudden loud noise.
How to avoid hearing damage
If you work in a trade and do not want to become a statistic, it is important to protect your ears as much as possible at work.
Here are some things you can do to reduce noise exposure on the job:
– Wear hearing protection
The most obvious precaution is to wear good-quality hearing protection. This can include earplugs, ear muffs or ear defenders; however, it must be suitable for the level of noise being produced on the site.
Hearing protection also needs to be tested first to make sure they are being worn properly and it adequately reduces noise exposure.
– Use quieter equipment
Where possible, workers should use quieter equipment and keep these well-maintained and lubricated, so they do not make more noise than necessary.
– Reduce time in noisy areas
If you do not need to be in a noisy area, make sure you take a break from it. By reducing your time in a loud place as much as possible, you can really help to save your hearing for longer.
Similarly, you should increase the distance between yourself and the noise, unless you are the one handling the machinery. Moving away from the area, not putting on loud music at the same time, and not trying to talk to someone while loud equipment is being used will all help.
– Look after your hearing at home
Tradespeople should also make an extra effort to protect their hearing when they are not at work. They can do this by avoiding loud music events or sports matches; turning down their music; and not watching TV at a high volume.
Resting your ears will give them a chance to recover after a loud day at work, preventing damage to your ears and keeping them healthy for longer.