It will come as no surprise that construction sites are up there as one of the loudest places to work. For surrounding residents, construction sites are a nuisance and are often subject to noise complaints – but for workers on the sites, the noise can carry a much greater threat than just causing intrusive levels of noise.

As we age, it is normal for sight and hearing to decline, but the speed with which these deteriorate is affected by the environment we are regularly exposed to. With so much of our time spent at work, our choice of career can play a big part in future hearing problems.

Decibel levels on a construction site

Around four in five cases of deafness are caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. Repeated exposure to sounds above 85 decibels (dB) is enough to cause damage to these hair cells and lead to hearing loss. This damage is permanent and usually irreversible, so it’s important to protect hearing accordingly.

For us to understand how damaging a construction site is, we need to look at what the sound levels can reach. Noises on a construction site come from a variety of equipment and activities such as motors running, tools and impact.

On a construction site, there are many loud tools that go well above the 85 dB level. The highest noise emitting tool is the hammer drill which reaches 120dB. To put that into perspective, the sound of an aircraft carrier taking off is 140dB – and 150dB is enough to burst eardrums.

Heavy equipment often moves around the site and the use of tools is invariable, meaning there is no consistent level of noise.

Hearing regulations

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 brought in significant changes to the requirements of construction employers. The regulations require employers to assess the risks from noise at work, take action to reduce exposure, provide information about the risk of hearing damage and offer hearing protection where exposure cannot be reduced.

Because construction tools emit high sound levels, hearing protection is often the only way to reduce worker exposure. The regulations state that an employer must provide employees with hearing protectors and ensure they are worn properly in areas with a sound level of 85dB and above.

It is likely that most construction sites will have sound levels above 85dB, but employers can use noise measurement equipment to see when protection is needed and in what areas of the site. In areas where it is clear that hearing protection must be worn, the employer must mark ‘zones’ where protection is compulsory. It is then the responsibility of the worker to ensure that they wear protection in the marked zones.

Hearing protection technologies

The poor quality and lack of comfort in hearing protectors has traditionally made workers resistant to using them.  However, alongside the implementation of the regulations, new technologies have vastly improved over the past decade.

Technological developments have been used to augment hearing protectors in an attempt to alleviate comfort problems for the user while providing adequate reduction of noise levels.

When you first think of hearing protection, it’s likely that your mind will picture large over-ear protectors, but technological advancements have created great alternatives. Small ear plugs that are custom-made to a worker’s ear canal are becoming more frequently used on building sites.

The smaller earplugs reduce noise levels without compromising surrounding noise, are disguised and comfortable. What’s more, there’s no reason for construction workers to be caught out by noises above 85dB as they can be worn all day on site.

When a construction worker needs a hearing test

Hearing loss can often deteriorate over a long period of time making it hard to notice. Some of the signs that a hearing test is needed are:

  • Ringing in the ears
  • Unable to hear normal household sounds
  • Difficulty battling with background noise
  • Technology set to maximum volume
  • People sound as though they are mumbling and you rely on lip reading

If any of these signs ring true, it is important to get hearing properly tested.

Health and safety regulations can seem like an inconvenience for employers at times but they are there for a reason. Your aural health should not be compromised whatever you do or wherever you work so if you work in an industry prone to high noise levels, it’s crucial to ensure that the right protection is in place.

Leicester-based hearing specialists

The Hearing Centre is a specialist centre dedicated to solving hearing problems in Leicester.  As well as a hearing test, our centre provides hearing aid fittings, tinnitus treatments, noise protection, swimming protection services.

To book your hearing test click here or call us today on 0116 254 3909.