2. The Basics
Excessive sound can damage your
hearing, leading to tinnitus and hearing
loss
Hearing loss is often permanent
Hearing loss is one of the most common
occupational injuries in Manitoba.
4. Tinnitus
Is a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound in
the ear
Can be temporary or permanent
Usually accompanies hearing loss
5. Types of Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing loss:
Presbycusis
Temporary Hearing Loss
Permanent Hearing Loss
6. Presbycusis
Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that
occurs naturally as people age
As people age, hair cells in the cochlea
slowly die off, resulting in permanent
hearing loss
7. Temporary Hearing Loss
Occurs when a person loses some or all of
their ability to hear for a short time
Usually occurs when a person is exposed
to loud noise for a short period of time,
such as a rock concert
Is usually accompanied by tinnitus
8. Permanent Hearing Loss
Occurs when a person is exposed to loud
noise over a longer period of time
Hearing never returns
Usually accompanied by tinnitus
9. Other things that cause
hearing loss
Head injuries
Infections
Drugs, including some prescription drugs
10. How Much Noise is Too Much?
The American Environmental Protection
Agency recommends that people not be
exposed to more than 75dBa of noise for
more than 8 hours per day
Manitoba WSH Act says you should not be
exposed to more than 90dBa for more
than 8 hours per day
11. Rule of Thumb
A general rule of thumb is that if you can’t
carry on a normal conversation with
someone who’s about 3’ or 1m from you,
you need to be wearing hearing
protection
12. Other Effects of Too Much
Noise
High Blood Pressure
Stress Headaches
Sleep Disorders
Anger – Flight or Fight Response
13. Noise in Construction
Most power tools produce over 90dBa of
noise when being used
Powder-actuated tools can produce over
140dBa
14. How Long Can I Be Exposed?
Manitoba considers it safe for workers to be
exposed to 90dBa for 8 hours
Every 3dBa increase in noise means twice the
amount of sound and half the safe exposure
time
So, at 93dBa, the maximum “safe” exposure
time is 4 hours, and at 96dBa, it’s 2 hours
15. Types of Hearing Protection
Two basic types of hearing protection are
available for workers at BUILD:
Ear plugs
Ear muffs
16. Ear Plugs
Are the most common form of hearing
protector in the construction industry
Provide the best noise reduction rating
Are sometimes uncomfortable
Are sometimes annoying if you have to
put them in and take them out a lot
18. Ear Muffs
Provide very good hearing protection, but
not quite as good as ear plugs
Can be worn by themselves or attached
to your hard hat
Are more convenient if you only use them
occasionally
20. Noise Reduction Rating
All hearing protectors are labelled with a
Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR
The NRR is the amount of sound the
hearing protector blocks
For example, 112dBa (noise) – 32dBa
(NRR) = 80dBa (what you hear)
22. Audiometric Testing
All construction workers in Manitoba have
to have their hearing tested
Within 70 days of being hired, and
Once a year afterwards
23. Workers Compensation
Yes, you can receive Workers’
Compensation benefits for hearing loss
Benefits are usually capped at the cost of
1 or 2 hearing aids
24. So?
You get to choose whether you wear
hearing protectors now, or hearing aids
later in life.
Choose wisely
