If you work in a noisy industrial setting, then you face an increased risk of experiencing hearing loss. Hearing damage is one of the most common effects of long-term exposure to loud noises.
The good news is that you can work in one of these settings without experiencing hearing loss. You just need to use the right form of hearing protection and monitor your hearing health closely over time.
The team at Evear Hearing can help you do that. Here’s a closer look at industrial hearing tests, why they matter and how our hearing specialists can help.
Who Needs Industrial Hearing Tests?
Workplace hearing protection in Canada follows clear guidelines established by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). These regulations help ensure that workers in noisy environments receive appropriate hearing protection and regular monitoring.
According to CCOHS standards, employers must implement a hearing conservation program when workers are exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 decibels (dBA) during an eight-hour workday. If you work in such an environment, your employer is required to inform you about these requirements and provide appropriate hearing protection and testing protocols.
Your workplace should measure noise exposure levels and notify you if you’re in an at-risk group requiring regular hearing assessments. These evaluations are crucial for monitoring any changes in your hearing and ensuring early intervention if needed.
Even if your workplace noise levels fall below the regulated threshold, being proactive about your hearing health is important. If you work in an environment where you need to raise your voice to be heard by someone an arm’s length away, regular hearing assessments can help protect your long-term hearing health. At Evear Hearing, we provide comprehensive industrial hearing tests that meet CCOHS standards and can help you maintain your hearing health throughout your career.
Industrial Hearing Conservation Programs
Industrial companies have a legal mandate to offer hearing conservation programs to impacted employees. Some do that internally. Others outsource the work to third-party hearing conservation companies.
These companies handle hearing evaluations – often at your job site. They perform tests, tell you about the results and recommend the best course of action for your hearing health moving forward.
Education and Referrals
If your industrial hearing conservation program finds signs of hearing loss, they may take a few different steps.
First, they could recommend you to a provider like Evear Hearing for confirmation of initial testing results. They may also provide you with further workplace training to limit the potential for future hearing damage.
Generally, occupational hearing conservationists are not equipped to make final care recommendations. That’s where we come in. Our team will look at the information they provide but then run further tests with better instruments to finalise your results.
From there, we can recommend the right form of care to help you move forward. That may involve wearing a new hearing protective device at work or nothing at all. It’ll depend on the results of your test, among other factors.