It’s summertime and you know what that means!… Excessive noise season is here. This month’s update will provide advice on how to reduce noise exposure in the workplace and maintain legislative standards for hearing conservation, to prevent the potential long-term health effects discussed last month.
Excessive noise levels in the workplace pose significant risks to employee health and safety, including permanent hearing impairment and other health issues. It’s crucial to implement effective measures to protect employees from these hazards.
From 2016 to 2022, data from Energy Safety Canada underscores noise exposure as the most prevalent hazard in the energy industry, constituting 13% of total claims. This hazard poses significant risks to worker health, including hearing loss and communication difficulties, due to the continuous operation of heavy machinery and industrial processes.
Understanding the Risks: Exposure to high noise levels can lead to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), tinnitus, increased stress levels, and associated health problems like hypertension and anxiety.
Compliance and Standards: To comply with Canadian safety standards and legislation, we must implement noise control measures and hearing conservation programs. This not only protects our workers and ourselves, but also ensures legal compliance, avoiding penalties and liabilities.
- Engineering Controls: Install noise barriers, use noise-dampening materials, and modify equipment to reduce noise emissions.
- Administrative Controls: Implement job rotation, schedule noisy tasks during non-peak hours, and designate quiet areas for breaks.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When other controls are insufficient, provide appropriate PPE like earplugs and earmuffs. Ensure they fit well and offer adequate noise reduction.
Noise Assessment and Monitoring: Regularly assess noise levels using sound meters to identify high-risk areas and tasks. Monitor employees’ exposure and adjust controls as needed to ensure your company is evaluating the effectiveness of existing noise control measures and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Training and Education: Educate employees on noise hazards, proper use of PPE, and the importance of hearing conservation. Conduct refresher training regularly to reinforce best practices.
Audiometric Testing: Implement regular audiometric tests to monitor employees’ hearing health. This helps detect early signs of hearing loss and informs adjustments to our conservation efforts.
If noise levels exceed 85 dBA, a hearing conservation program should be implemented, per CSA Standard Z1007. This program includes hazard identification, control methods, hearing protection device use, audiometric testing, education, recordkeeping, and continuous improvement. Audiometry is crucial for identifying and preventing hearing loss, aiding in follow-up, trend analysis, decision-making, motivating equipment use, education, and program adjustments. Ten jurisdictions mandate audiometric tests for noise exposure surpassing jurisdictional limits:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Manitoba (above 85 dBA Lex)
- Northwest Territories (above 85 dBA Lex)
- Nunavut (above 85 dBA Lex)
- Saskatchewan (above 85 dBA Lex)
- Yukon (above 80 dBA Lex or when impact noise limits are exceeded)
Additionally, New Brunswick requires annual audiometric testing for workers in underground mines or suspected of occupational disease. Audiometric testing follows CSA Standard Z107.6, including initial and at least annual tests, or more frequently if noise exceeds 105 dBA.
Audiometric testing is a fundamental component of hearing conservation programs, essential for identifying and preventing noise-induced hearing loss among workers. Adherence to these regulations is critical for effective noise exposure management and safeguarding the auditory health of workers across diverse industries.
Recordkeeping and Compliance: Maintaining accurate records of noise assessments, training sessions, and audiometric testing can help when evaluating the effectiveness of our programs and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) Claims: Employees diagnosed with hearing loss may question if their condition is related to their job duties. WCB considers claims for hearing loss resulting from work-related factors such as prolonged exposure to excessive noise or traumatic incidents in the workplace. Employees diagnosed with work-related hearing loss may be eligible for compensation. Implementing a robust hearing conservation program and conducting thorough noise exposure assessments can help mitigate risks associated with claims.
By implementing these strategies and programs, organizations can effectively mitigate the risks associated with excessive workplace noise and safeguard the well-being of their workforce.
To further assist employers in assuring noise levels, remain within OHS and legislative standards, we have compiled a list of associations who provide noise assessment services around Canada:
Alberta
Industrial Hygiene – JADA Solutions (HSE) Inc
Patching Associates
FFA Consultants in Acoustics and Noise Control Ltd. (ffaacoustics.ca)
Conversion Technology Inc
dBA Noise Consultants
ACI Acoustical Consultants Inc.
Acoustical Engineers (acoustical-consultants.com)
FDI Acoustics
British Colombia
BKL
FDI Acoustics
Quebec
Quebec Industrial Hygiene Updates to Noise Exposure Regulation (trinityconsultants.com)
Acoustical Engineers (acoustical-consultants.com)
Ontario
Construction noise and vibration monitoring services company Canada (valcoustics.com)
Noise Assessment | Comco Canada Ltd.
Acoustical Engineers (acoustical-consultants.com)
Manitoba
FDI Acoustics
Saskatchewan
FDI Acoustics
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Providing Noise Assessments Across Atlantic Canada (hearingconservation.ca)