| <b>Who Should Read This Article?</b> | | | | a particularly important one being that it can help |
| The information provided in this article may be of | | | | you AVOID paying compensation for hearing loss |
| potential value to managers and/or decision | | | | that DID NOT happen while a worker was |
| makers in small, medium or large scale | | | | employed in your company. For instance, research |
| manufacturing, production or factory operations. | | | | has shown that seemingly sudden occurrences of |
| Specific examples include establishments engaged | | | | hearing loss discovered in workplaces may not be |
| in the mass production of FCMGs (Fast Moving | | | | ascribed entirely to exposure to noise in the |
| Consumer Goods) using motorized or mechanised | | | | workplace. In several known cases, employment |
| equipment. | | | | offers have been made to job applicants or |
| <b>Noise Hazards Are Subtle But Harmful< | | | | prospective workers who were in fact already |
| b> | | | | suffering from one form of hearing defect or the |
| In most manufacturing and production workplace | | | | other. Such pre-employment hearing health |
| environments(such as factories, warehouses, | | | | conditions would have been detected if the |
| bottling halls, mechanical workshops etc), most | | | | workers concerned had been subjected to |
| workers - due to the nature of their work - tend | | | | audiological screening prior to their assumption of |
| to be constantly exposed to noise hazards which | | | | work in the factory or refinery. |
| could lead to hearing loss over a period of time. | | | | By doing the above, the degree of damage |
| However, due to its significantly less dramatic or | | | | attributable to noise exposure in the workplace |
| noticeable impact, the risk of hearing impairment | | | | can then be ascertained with a greater degree of |
| posed by the above mentioned situation may go | | | | accuracy. This will consequently determine the size |
| unnoticed for long periods. As a result, little or no | | | | of compensation - if any - to be paid to any |
| immediate attention and/or treatment will end up | | | | worker who claims to have lost his/her hearing as |
| being given by management to it. | | | | a result of exposure to noise in the company's |
| <b>Workplace Safety Requirement For | | | | workplace. |
| Hearing Protection</b> | | | | <b>2. Implement An Industrial Hearing |
| The practice in most developed countries of the | | | | Conservation Programme</b> |
| world is to assist such workers through early | | | | Click here to read an introductory article explaining |
| detection of hearing difficulties, and where | | | | how having an Industrial Hearing Conservation |
| possible, undertake measures that will protect | | | | Programme can help your company meet those |
| against such hazards. | | | | minimum standards. |
| In pursuance of this, various international and | | | | <b>Summary</b> |
| regulatory bodies such as Occupational Safety and | | | | A good way to start working towards meeting |
| Health Organisation Agency(OSHA), Environmental | | | | the minimum specified requirements for protection |
| Protection Agency(EPA) and Nigeria's Federal | | | | of workers from hearing loss or impairment, while |
| Protection Agency (FEPA) have legislated some | | | | in the workplace, is to subject EVERY one of |
| minimum standards to be complied with in the | | | | them to audiological testing: |
| workplace. | | | | (1) Before s/he resumes duty for the first time |
| <i>Outlined below are generally accepted | | | | and |
| steps you can follow to meet those | | | | (2) Annually during his/her tenure of service. |
| requirements.</i> | | | | <b>What You Can Do</b> |
| <b>1. Assess Your Employees' Hearing Health | | | | Look for a Hearing Specialist offering a reliable |
| BEFORE/AFTER They Start Work Via Routine | | | | Industrial Hearing Screening And Conservation |
| Audiological Screening</b> | | | | service designed to help companies like yours |
| Periodic Audiological Screening of your employees | | | | comprehensively address the requirements |
| is one of the steps you can take, towards | | | | specified by regulatory bodies. Discuss your needs |
| conforming with the legislated requirements. | | | | with him/her. |
| This strategy can have considerable advantages - | | | | |