Hearing Protection for Loggers
Workers in the AgFF industry are at an increased risk for noise-induced hearing loss especially those in logging and forestry. NIOSH researchers looked at audiograms from 1.4 million workers taken between 2003 to 2012. They found that workers in the forestry sub-sectors had the highest rates of hearing loss.
How loud does noise have to be to cause hearing loss?
Any noise over 85 decibels has the potential to harm your hearing by damaging the hair cells of the inner ear. These cells play a crucial role in the hearing process, and once they are damaged, whether by loud sound or something else, they cannot be repaired.
Enough damage will lead to permanent hearing loss.
On the job, loggers are exposed to sounds that get up between 90-110 dB, past the threshold where damage can occur.
What can workers and supervisors do to protect hearing?
Wearing hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, while engaging in loud tasks is essential for loggers to protect their ears while on the job. Steps that supervisors can take to help prioritize worker hearing health include:
- Working to reduce the amount of time workers spend operating loud equipment
- Installing silencers and mufflers when possible
- Making sure all equipment, such as hand tools and vehicles, are well-maintained and receive regular inspections
- Providing workers easy access to undergo regular hearing tests to catch any changes early
The NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure is 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) over an eight-hour shift.
If workers are repeatedly exposed to noise at or above the REL, employers must provide a hearing loss prevention program.
Learn more about noise exposure for workers here.
Download our Logging and Forestry Safety Series here.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5905332/
https://wilmingtonaudiology.com/are-loggers-at-an-increased-risk-for-hearing-loss/
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/preventoccunoise/understand.html#anchor_168312132378