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  Industrial Screening

 

You Only Lose Your Hearing Once!

We provide professional testing of your employees hearing, on-site, throughout the UK , starting from £20 per person. We will come to your premises and run your hearing testing program for you, ensuring that you meet your obligations with respect to the HSE Noise at Work regulations.

Our hearing screening service gives your company the following benefits:

Noise Induced Hearing Loss leads to an average injury claim of £18,000.

Screening programs reduce the risk of costly injury claims, many of which are settled automatically by insurance agencies due to the lack of evidence of hearing care in the workplace.

We can also provide education for your staff ensuring their understanding of the problem of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and their correct use of personal protective devices.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss principally falls into two categories: conductive hearing loss and
sensori-neural hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss is typically seen in the lower frequencies. Essentially, it is caused by mechanical issues in the outer and middle ear. Infections, wax, otitis media, otosclerosis and other conditions can all be the cause.

Sensori-neural hearing loss often starts in the higher frequencies. Is is caused by damage in the inner ear (Cochlea). Although it can be caused by drugs, toxins, and trauma, the main cause is the ageing process. However, this is then compounded by NIH.

NIHL occurs when noise breaks the sensitive hairs inside the inner ear. Either through very loud brief noises or through sustained exposure to higher noise levels, like the noise produced in industry. It makes it hard to hear words precisely, especially consonants, where the detail of speech is to be found. It might be difficult to hear sounds like alarms, telephones and music clearly.

As the affected person gets older, natural age-related hearing loss will make the hearing loss even worse. Regular hearing screening testing can spot hearing loss early and prevent a greater injury.

Employer Actions

As a consequence of the Noise At Work regulations, you must:

Summary Of The Noise At Work Regulations

The Regulations came into force on the 6th April 2006, except for the music and entertainment sectors where they come into force on 6th April 2008. The exposure limits values only, will be applied to the master and crew of sea-going ships, from 6th April 2011.

 Exposure Level

 Daily or Weekly personal   noise exposure
 Peak Sound Pressure
 Lower exposure action  values

 80 dB(A)

 135 dB(C)
 Upper exposure action  values

 85 dB(A)

 137 dB(C)
 Exposure limit values

 87 dB(A)

 140 dB(C)


Where employees are exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value (80dB A), the employer needs to make a suitable assessment of the risk to the health of those employees. Steps must be taken to eliminate or reduce the noise to a low a level as is reasonably practical.

At the upper exposure action value, an employer must reduce employee's exposure to noise to as a low a level as is reasonably practicable. This involves putting in organisational and technical measures e.g. shifts and breaks, design and layout of premises, enclosing machinery.

Hearing protection must be made available on request to employees exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value (80dB A). Personal hearing protection must be provided to all employees working exposed to noise at or above the upper exposure action value (85dB A). Hearing Protection Zones, where noise is at or above the upper exposure value (85dB A), should be designated with signs.

Employers need to maintain equipment provided by them to control noise, except hearing protectors. Employees are responsible for using and maintaining the hearing protection provided to them.

Where the risk assessment indicates a risk to health for employees, the employer must ensure that those employees are placed in a suitable health surveillance program. This is principally for workers in noise at or above the upper exposure action value (85dB A), but also for individuals sensitive to noise who work at levels between lower and upper exposure action values.

Employers must provide suitable information, instruction and training to employees exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value (80dB A).

Noise and Sound Level Examples

 Test

 Probable Noise  Level

 A risk assesment will be needed if  the noise is like this for more than:
 The noise is intrusive but normal  conversation is possible.  80dB  6 Hours
 You have to shout to talk to  someone 2m away  85dB  2 Hours
 You have to shout to talk to  someone 1m away  90dB  45 Minutes



Noise Level Guide

 Common Sounds

 Noise Levels (dB)

 Effect
 Jet Engine (near)  140 -
 Shotgun firing, Jet-off (100 -  200ft)  130  Threshold of pain
 Thunderclap (near), Night  Club  120  Threshold of sensation
 Power saw, Pneumatic drill,  Rock  music  band  110  Regular exposure of more than 1 min  risks  permanent hearing loss
 Garbage Truck  100  No more then 15 mins unprotected  exposure recommended
 Subway, Motorcycle,  Lawnmower  90  Very Annoying
 Electric Razor, Many Industrial  workplaces  85  Level at which hearing damage begins (8  hours)
 Average city traffic noise,  Garbage  disposal  80  Annoying, Interferes with telephone  conversation
 Vacuum cleaner, Hair Dryer,  Inside a car  70  Intrusive. Interferes with telephone  conversation
 Normal Conversation  60  -
 Quiet office, Air conditioner  50  Comfortable
 Whisper  30  Very quiet
 Normal breathing  10  Just audible
 -  0  Threshold of normal hearing