Now Hear This...Audiometric Testing in the Work Place
Being a firefighter is a high-risk job for more reasons than just the immediate daily dangers. Firefighters' hearing and general health are also at risk. A general health study of fire fighters has shown that hearing loss is the second most common work related injury following injuries from toxic chemicals product exposure.
Good hearing is a matter of life and death for fire fighters. Fire fighters must have the ability to hear a victim cry for help; to hear the pre-alert on their PASS device and the emergency audible alarm signal of other fire fighters in danger; to hear the audible low-pressure alarm on his or her self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) alerting the individual that this critical respiratory protection device is running out of air; and to hear noises associated with imminent collapse or noises associated with changes in the fire pattern. Fire fighters also must have the ability to localize sounds in a fire fighting environment where smoke and darkness often minimize visual cues. Additionally, fire fighters must be able to hear tactical commands, hear their radio for communication purposes and must be able to hear traffic sound and, discriminate and localize safety related acoustic cues such as horns, sirens, screams, collapsing walls, beams, timbers or gas leaks. Fire fighters are constantly exposed to noise from sirens, air horns, apparatus engines, and powered hand tools such as those used in forcible entry, ventilation, and extrication activities. Excessive hearing loss in the fire service is also explained by the interaction between noise exposures and other chemicals found in the fire fighters' work environment. Many of the chemicals produce a greater hearing loss than expected when fire fighters are exposed to both the noise and toxic agents at the same time. Every day on the job jeopardizes a fire fighter's hearing.
Some warning signs of hearing loss are:
* You must shout in order to be heard by someone working near you.
* Your hearing is dulled immediately after your work shift.
* After your shift you experience noises in your head or ringing in your ears.
* You, family members, or friends notice that your hearing is getting worse.
* You have difficulty hearing people when others are talking around you.
* You regularly experience headaches during or after your work shift.
Under NFPA, each fire department should have a hearing conservation program (1500; 7.18.3). Hearing conservation programs should include a process to identify areas and equipment that are potentially hazardous to the hearing of fire fighters and EMT's. Programs should identify ways that either reduce the noise produced by equipment or protect the fire fighter/EMT from the noise. Fire fighters should receive annual hearing tests to track their hearing form year to year.
Resources: OSHA, CAOHC, NFPA 1500, IAFF, NIOSH
For more information on how JobCare can serve your Fire and Emergency Response Department, contact us at 218-362-6379 or visit us online at www.JobCare.biz. Audiometric Testing is available and can be scheduled for on-site services. Our staff is Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationists (COHN), trained under the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC).