OHS REPS @ WORK

26 August 2003

Workers are being encouraged to speak up about excessive noise in their workplaces during Hearing Awareness Week (22-30 August).

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary, Leigh Hubbard, said work-related hearing impairment is an entirely preventable hazard.

"Workers continue to be plagued by this serious health and safety issue. As part of the VTHC "Speak Up" together campaign we are encouraging workers to contact their union if they believe noise levels in their workplaces are excessive. If employers conducted noise level audits and adhered to WorkSafe noise regulations we could eliminate this hazard."

Mr Hubbard said unions expected stronger enforcement of current and new noise regulations by the Victorian WorkCover authority.

Workers' Occupational Health Centre Medical Director, Dr Helen Sutcliffe, said she hoped that new noise regulations would target controlling noise levels in workplaces.

"Noise-induced hearing loss affects workers who are subjected to inappropriate noise levels. Rather than concentrating on measuring the loss of hearing we should focus on eliminating noise as a workplace hazard," she said.

Dr Sutcliffe said many older workers were suffering from work-related hearing impairment because they had endured many years of exposure to excessive noise that had gone "unchecked and untreated".

"The challenge for us all now is to identify and control noise to ensure a safer environment for workers."

It is estimated that around 22 percent of Australians aged 15 and over have a hearing impairment.

The Victorian Trades Hall Council OHS Reps website (www.ohsrep.org.au/hazards/noise.html) suggests that noise is one of "the most widespread and underestimated of workplace hazards".

The current Victorian OHS (Noise) Regulations, 1992, limit exposure to 85 decibels (A) averaged over 8 hours. Exposure to noise levels in excess of this limit will lead to permanent damage.

Dr Helen Sutcliffe will be available to answer workers queries about occupational noise hazards on community radio station 3CR next week (Thursday 4 September).