March 2024 is already here! Let’s renew our commitment to safeguarding our hearing health. Noise-induced hearing loss is an occupational hazard that can sometimes be overlooked. As a worker, you should familiarize yourself with the noise levels in your work environment. Companies should use sound level meters to identify areas with excessive noise exposure. It is also important to understand the appropriate type of hearing protection for the task.
The frequent weather changes we are experiencing (Hot, Cold, Windy) can affect your hearing. Seasonal allergies can also worsen the problem by making the eustachian tube narrow, so the body has to work harder to balance the inner ear pressure.
Weather And Ear Pressure
During transitional seasons (spring and fall), rain and ever-changing temperatures that can be warm one day and chilly the next may also play a role.
Cold winter months and periods can also bring about challenges. Winter weather (or periods of lower temperatures) can also trigger allergies and a subsequent fluid buildup in the inner ear. Bacteria can form and develop into an ear infection.
Earplugs and Other Protective Gear
Ear plugs can make changes in pressure feel less abrupt by giving your inner ear time to catch up to the shift. As a result, you’ll feel fewer symptoms related to the pressure increase or decrease, reducing discomfort.
- The threshold for conducting a noise exposure assessment has been reduced from 85 decibels (dBA) to 82 dBA. This ensures that noise is assessed before the occupational exposure limit is exceeded.
- The assessment must follow the updated CSA Standard Z107.56-18 for measuring noise exposure.
- The person conducting the assessment must be trained in conducting noise exposure assessments, calibration, operation, and maintenance of measurement equipment, and understanding measurement methods.
- The elements required in a noise management program have been streamlined and updated to align with industry best practices.
- The entire noise management program must be reviewed annually.
- Employers must ensure that workers are fit tested for the hearing protection devices they use and wear.
Reach out to your Kasa Advisor if you have any questions or concerns regarding noise and hearing protection!
For a second update, we wanted to provide some further information regarding ESG as it is becoming more relevant in all industries.
What is ESG Reporting?
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting refers to a set of standards used to measure an organization’s environmental and social impact. It applies to an organization’s investors, customers, suppliers, employees and the general public. Depending on the size of your organization and the nature of your work, you may have been starting to see requests for information regarding various material topics, such as your fuel tracking, Scope 1 and 2 emissions, GHG emissions, labour policies, or diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
What does this have to do with health and safety?
Your existing health and safety management system is an important topic in your organization’s ESG report. Health and safety is a component that falls under the Social umbrella, as it relates to your organizations commitment to sustainability in the way of ensuring employee safety, health and wellbeing.
What is Greenworks ESG?
can be daunting to think about gathering and organization further data as part of your operations, but Greenworks ESG is a great tool to get you started – it allows you to evaluate what you are already gathering and what you already have in place (for example, your health and safety management system, which falls under the social umbrella) and create a report using your already existing information.
GreenWorks ESG is a SaaS company focused on simplifying Environmental, Social, and Governance(ESG) data management and reporting. Our user-friendly solution requires little to no ESG or software experience to track, manage, and validate ESG activities throughout a company’s operations and supply chain, enabling our users to address issues that are top-of-mind for their investors and stakeholders today. Achieve dynamic visual reporting with ease, and attract the confidence of investors, customers, and employees.
GreenWorks ESG | Easy-To-Use ESG Software
Kasa Consulting clients will receive a discount from GreenWorks ESG. As long as a company is a Kasa client they’ll receive 25% off the full Enterprise software, and for those companies who haven’t begun, they’d receive 50% off the Starter Kit.