Employees and business owners work hand in hand to reach a common goal. However, productivity in workplaces can be affected by poor hearing health especially in industrial areas where excessive noise is often heard. Prevention is a practical solution to companies that are looking for ways to safeguard every worker’s possible hearing health dilemma.
Industrial Audiometry and its relevance
Employers must take responsibility for implementing internal policies within the company that are also aligned with government regulations in Malaysia. Companies may require workers to undergo industrial audiometry tests. The purpose is to completely test their hearing abilities. During industrial audiometry tests, employees must properly identify various types of sounds.
For instance, a normal person knows the sound coming from the machine, alarm system, clock, water drops etc. Industrial audiometry tests are designed for people who are exposed to heavy machinery in factories and other manufacturing companies. The audiometry tests are used to calibrate hearing abilities and set requirements to prevent hearing loss.
Hearing health surveillance
The risk of exposure to excessive noise can be minimised if not totally eliminated. By following strict protocols in terms of hearing health surveillance, employees and employers can be out of the danger zone. Hearing health surveillance is normally done when employers suspect that there may be a number of workers who have poor hearing health. But, it can also be implemented to somehow minimise absenteeism in workplaces due to hearing loss. Hearing health surveillance can lead to further recommendation of employees to have intensive hearing care. Training, hearing evaluations and inner ear check-up may be required.
Working inside factories or manufacturing firms have potential hearing health risks. Employers have to seriously procure proper hearing protectors to ensure that all workers’ hearing abilities are still intact. Another step to take is by creating a simple checklist that can be filled out by every employee. It must include details such as age, position and type of machine. With all this information, employers can easily identify machines that are producing unpleasant sound. Age is also a factor when it comes to hearing health. Health and safety guidelines must always be part of a company’s DNA. Without them, business owners and employees could be at stake.
Noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented
Companies must have a budgetary plan for machine replacements whenever necessary. Heavy machineries that are not working at 100% capacity minimises productivity and poses hearing health risks, why? Machines that are malfunctioning typically generate too much noise and this can negatively impact employees’ hearing condition. Learning how to properly wear personal hearing protectors prevents hearing loss and they must be worn constantly when in hearing zones.
Every organisation under the industrial sector must be aware of industrial audiometry tests. Monitoring the performance of machineries is part of their responsibility as a company.
For your industrial audiometry tests needs, The Listening Lab can be a trusted hearing center partner. Visit or call any of our branches in Malaysia for more information.