Health and Safety Executive Health Surveillance for Noise Induced Hearing Loss Health Effects of Noise Exposure • Noise Induced Hearing Loss – permanent, irreversible • Tinnitus • May also affect performance, communication & audibility of safety/warning signals Noise Induced Hearing Loss • Hearing loss caused by work is a significant occupational disease • Recent research indicates 170,000 people suffer from hearing damage due to noise at work • Factors contributing to damage include the intensity of noise and length of exposure Health Surveillance • Specific regulation (reg 9) for health surveillance • HSE guidance specifies risk at 85dB • Employers need to provide health surveillance for all workers regularly exposed above 85dB What is Health Surveillance for NIHL? • Health surveillance is ‘audiometry’ • This is a method of ‘hearing checks’ which measures the sensitivity of hearing over a range of sound frequencies • This is done by presentation of pure tones to each ear at specific frequencies Issues for new guidance for health surveillance • When will it be required – all those regularly exposed above 85dB – Only for susceptible individuals if requested between 80 and 85dB • Who should conduct the testing – Any person with appropriate training – referral to a doctor when problem identified – referral facilitated by categorisation scheme The health surveillance provider – what to expect • Should be designated person in charge of HS programme – Occupational physician, or nurse with specialist training in audiometry, or audiologist. • Person conducting test – as a minimum, appropriate training so that testing is carried out in a repeatable and accurate manner. – training syllabus by the British Society of Audiology – HSE likely to develop syllabus independently Changes to current guidance • Reflects changes in legislation • Improvement to current categorisation scheme – simpler & easier to use/interpret • Included as a chapter within main guidance so that everybody has access to the information HSE Categorisation Scheme Category Action 1. ACCEPTABLE HEARING ABILITY Hearing within normal limits None 2. MILD HEARING IMPAIRMENT May indicate developing NIHL Warning 3. POOR HEARING Suggests significant NIHL Referral 4. RAPID HEARING LOSS Reduction in hearing level of 30 dB or more, within 3 years or less. Referral Frequency of Health surveillance • Baseline assessment • Annual for 2 years • 3 yearly thereafter, unless cause for concern Other Health Issues for RA • Within RA reg (5) requirement to consider interactions between noise and ototoxic subs and noise and vibration • Likely to be guidance on ototoxic subs of concern on website • Otherwise employers just need to note these mixed exposures and monitor effects through HS