The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) has recommendations for preventing permanent hearing loss
in the workplace.
Approximately 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous
noise levels at work. Hearing damage caused by exposure to loud
noise may occur long before changes in hearing are perceived, and
hearing lost because of noise is permanent.
To prevent hearing loss, NIOSH recommends using feasible noise
controls, such as enclosures, coated chains and isolators;
informing management about worn or broken noise controls and noisy
machinery; replacing and repairing defective mufflers; using remote
controls for machine operation; limiting time in noisy areas by
rotating co-workers; turning off equipment when it is not in use;
wearing hearing protection, such as expandable foam plugs, canal
caps or earmuffs when exposure to noise is unavoidable; maintaining
and lubricating equipment; and cleaning and...
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