Occupational noise exposure has always remained a challenge for health and safety issues all over the world, and Australia is no different. Since Australia is a country that has witnessed massive urbanization in recent times, it is quite evident, that the number of people employed in industries and in turn to such high levels of sounds are high in numbers. Therefore, to regulate the millions of Australian workers exposed to potentially harmful noise levels, authorities have come up with stringent regulations.
Let’s cut it to the chase, unchecked, occupational noise will evidently lead to serious health consequences. Additionally, it will have a detrimental effect on productivity, costly repairs, and end up paying fines for non-compliance with the ongoing regulations. The use of noise monitor in recent times has helped businesses to keep a check on this aspect to a great extent. Let us delve deeper and explore the realities of occupational noise exposure in Australia and how noise monitoring can ensure the best balance.
Occupational Noise Exposure In Detail
The term refers to the amount of noise an employee is exposed to when they are working inside a factory. The exposure or sound level is measured in decibels (dB) over a specific time period, generally in an 8-hour shift. As per the “Safe Work Australia” noise can become dangerous when the exposure of a worker exceeds 85 decibels in an average period of 8 hours. Things can get even worse when the noise levels peak even further.
Osterman that provides Noise Monitor Sydney, says that the use of various machinery, engines, traffic, and even normal conservation can contribute to the high exposure of sound. When workers are exposed to such noise levels for a prolonged period it can cause irreparable damage like hearing damage, stress, and several other health disorders.
The Present Facts Of Australian Workspace
As records suggest, noise-induced hearing loss is one of the dominant problems in Australia. Most of the Australians are dealing with the abovementioned occupational disease more or less. Data suggests over 1 million Australian workers are exposed to such high levels of noise. A whopping 8-32% of workers are dealing with the issue of hearing loss due to excessive noise. As a result, the compensation claims related to the aforesaid costs Australian businesses to end up paying millions each year. Industries such as construction, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, transport, and logistics are the ones that bear the brunt of the noise exposure of workers.
The Role Of Employers In The Context Of Regulatory Obligations
Presently, employers are aware of their role in protecting their workers against such noise exposure. Authorities have come up with the “Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations” to manage the risks associated with noise and hearing loss. Therefore, employers on their part must identify the source of noise, ensure the noise levels do not exceed the current standards, provide hearing protection to workers whenever necessary, and educate them about noise risks and control measures. If employers fail to comply with any one of these rules it can lead them to pay hefty fines, and legal actions, which can cause long-term reputational damage.
The Role Of Noise Monitoring
It all commences with the accurate measurement of noise levels. Employers can never control unless they measure the amount of noise being generated through various operations in their establishments. This is where the modern noise monitoring systems step in. Australia is one of the leading countries that has introduced these systems in most of its business setups and trying to bring down the number of employees affected by such noise levels. Noise monitors have various advantages, considering they are equipped with a host of features, and these are as follows:
- The high-end noise monitors can continuously measure workplace noise levels.
- They are capable of identifying peak noise periods and high-risk zones,
- The collected data can be compared with the current exposure standards.
- Based on the data, the management can make data-driven decisions on control measures.
- The noise monitoring records can be produced as evidence to regulators.
- Now, the concerned authorities can immediately address the noise complaints from workers.
Since the noise monitoring systems provide real-time data, businesses can implement the necessary noise canceling measures which in turn reduces the risks to workers, and improves their overall working efficiency.
Advantages Of Noise Monitoring
- Safety of workers: Real-time noise monitoring ensures workers are seldom exposed to hazardous levels of sound. If they do need to remain in such environments, they are equipped with hearing protection aids.
- Regulatory compliance: Accurate monitoring of sounds helps Australian companies to comply with the ongoing regulations. Thus, they no longer need to end up paying fines or getting entangled in legal disputes.
- Improvement of workplaces: When the noise monitoring systems identify the noise hotspots, businesses can take adequate measures to modify them and minimize noise.
- Cost savings: With fewer cases of hearing-related issues, the complaints associated with compensation claims would diminish. It will help businesses to save money to be utilized for something productive later.
Control Measures To Reduce Occupational Noise
With the noise monitoring systems providing real-time data, the concerned person can remove the noisy equipment or substitute it with quieter alternatives. Based on the readings, companies can install noise barriers, enclosures, or dampening materials to regulate the levels of noise. Regular maintenance of machinery or their servicing can also help significantly in reducing noise output.
Lastly, for the best results, businesses can limit the time workers spend in such noisy environments, and rotate shifts or modify work schedules to lessen the exposure to noise. Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), like earplugs or earmuffs, and training the workers on its optimum use can also address the issue well.
Last Words
Although occupational noise exposure is a case of concern in Australia, as we can see from the above discussion, it is preventable. It is all about combining the appropriate approach and investing in the best noise monitoring technology precisely. Many companies are doing this successfully, and we can expect the issue of occupational noise exposure in Australia to decline sharply in the upcoming years.
