Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You test their hearing and don't mention that although protection
is optional, it might still be a good idea.
Because the noise levels are below what regulations allow, you decide to
say nothing about optional hearing protection to the workers. And truth be
told, you would like to keep your contract with this manager at his other
plants.
A noise of 80 decibels is still significant, however. Most companies advise
their workers to wear hearing protection at this level.
As an audiometric technician, your duty is to the workers, not the manager.
You should tell the workers the level of noise they will be exposed to, tell
them hearing protection is optional and instruct them on how to use the protection.
With hearing, it's better to be safe than sorry. Once hearing is gone,
little can be done to bring it back. Even minimal hearing loss can hamper
a person's ability to converse with others.
"Anything above 85 decibels is mandatory for the workers to wear hearing
protection," says Dean Harris. He is an instructor of audiometric testing.
"At 85 decibels, wearing protection is optional. If the noise
level is higher, people must wear hearing protection at all times."
But he adds that he would recommend wearing ear protection at 80 to 90
decibels. "This is about hearing conservation," he says. "Once damage is done,
the hearing is lost."