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UAW-GM HEALTH and SAFETY
Supervisor’s Safety Talk
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HEARING
How to Retire with Healthy Hearing
Here are five questions you may be thinking about when you begin to plan for your retirement:
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How much will my investments be worth?
Arizona or Florida?
RV or sailboat?
Golf or gardening?
Will I still have all my hearing when I’m retired?
Maybe you don’t think about that last question. But you should. Among retirees, hearing loss is the third
most prevalent treatable disabling condition, behind arthritis and hypertension. That's why you should think
about preventing hearing loss.
It’s Gradual
The gradual progression of hearing loss due to noise is obviously less dramatic than most workplace injuries.
But it is a significant and permanent handicap for the affected individual. Loss of hearing will definitely
affect the quality of your life in retirement. Just when you finally have time to get together with your
grandchildren, some old buddies or new friends, you won't have the ability to fully enjoy them.
Serious hearing loss usually happens over time. The condition develops over periods as long as 25 to 30
years.
Exposure to loud noise erodes the small hair cells inside the ear. The loss is hardly even noticeable in the
early stages. Also, the damage that occurs on a daily basis is temporary at first. With repeated noise
exposure the temporary damage turns into a permanent damage. Permanent means permanent. The damage
is irreversible. But the personal tragedy of hearing loss can be prevented.
How Loud is Too Loud?
To know if a sound is loud enough to cause damage to your ears, it is important to know both the level of
intensity and the length of exposure to the sound. Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85
decibels, will eventually harm hearing over time. In general, the louder the noise, the less time required
before hearing will be affected.
How loud is 85 decibels? A dial tone on a telephone and a CD Walkman on volume 2 out of 10, are about
85 decibels. That same CD Walkman on volume 5 out of 10 can easily be over 100 decibels. A rock concert
and a baby crying are at levels over 110 decibels. A shop vac, a stock car race and a hunting rifle are in the
neighborhood of 130 decibels.
At work, we use engineering controls to eliminate or suppress noise wherever possible. There is a local
committee in every plant to identify, investigate and control noise concerns. Noise hazard areas are identified
and hearing protection is mandatory in those locations.
There's a simple test that will tell you if a source of noise has the potential to damage your ears. If you
cannot hold normal conversation at arm's length you are in danger. If you are at work, report the problem if
it is not already identified. If you are away from work, avoid the noise or wear hearing protection. You can
buy good ear protectors for home use at most sporting good or hardware stores.
Pay Attention to the Warning Signs
Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative. Unfortunately, by the time a person realizes that they have serious
hearing loss, it is usually too late. But there are early warning signs to suggest that there may be a problem.
If you experience any of the following early warning signs, have your hearing tested by a licensed
audiologist, or have your ears examined by an ear doctor.
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The inability to hear high pitched or soft sounds
Difficulty understanding normal conversation with someone a few feet away
Prolonged ringing, roaring or other unusual head noises
Muffled sounds and problems hearing faint noises
Asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
The need to turn up the volume of a television or radio
A feeling of fullness in the ears
Ringing or buzzing in your ears after exposure to loud noise
An annual audiogram, or hearing test, is required for UAW-GM employees who work in identified noise
hazard locations. It's important to have this hearing checkup annually because the tests may reveal small
losses that could be an indicator of more profound hearing loss in the future. So, if your job calls for this
annual test, don't put it off. It could be your best source of an early warning.
Why Take a Chance without Hearing PPE?
Although eliminating, reducing or suppressing noise is our preferred method of controlling exposure, the
mandatory use of hearing protection PPE is called for in designated areas.
Most hearing protectors reduce noise by 20 to 29 decibels. Considering that every 3-decibel increase cuts
the safe noise exposure time in half, you can get a lot of protection from an earmuff or earplug. But hearing
protection has to be used correctly and consistently to be effective. "Springing" earmuffs to loosen them is
simply asking for trouble in the future. Wearing protection "most of the time" is not good enough.
Remember, the loss is slow, silent and progressive. Why take the chance?
Ear protectors do NOT have to be uncomfortable to be effective. Change the size, type or brand until you
find equipment that fits comfortably. Also, hearing PPE is NOT designed to block out all noise. You should
be able to hear conversations and warning signals easily.
Whether your retirement date is 5 or 25 years away, now is the time to make sure you have healthy hearing
when you retire. Be aware of the noise levels around you, both on and off the job. Protect your ears today
so you'll be able to enjoy all the pleasures that they can bring you tomorrow.
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PLAY IT SAFE!