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Do you need to raise your voice?
Studies have shown that noise exposure exceeding an average of 85 decibels (dB (A)) over an eight-hour period presents a high risk to a person's health and safety.Levels of noise above 140 dB(linear) can cause immediate hearing damage. This is often referred to as ‘acoustic trauma’ and can result from an event that causes very loud noise, for example a gunshot or metal punching machine.
If you have to raise your voice to speak to someone one metre away, or you are required to wear hearing protection devices, then you or your employees may be at risk. (Worksafe NT)
Workcover NSW reported “Noise induced hearing loss accounts for nearly 30% of all permanent employment injuries reported in NSW” (11 January 2005).
The first step to addressing workplace noise is assessing the noise in your workplace, followed by increasing awareness of noise hazards throughout the workplace, implementing controls using the heirarchy of controls and then reassessing exposure to workplace noise. WIKS Noise Management Kits make the process of assessing workplace noise exposure and increasing awareness simple and straight forward.
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WIKS -Workplace Improvement Kits and Supplies. PO Box 4423, North Rocks NSW 2151 ABN 77 147 032 979
Phone: 1300 601 008 Fax: (02) 8080 0030 Email: mail@wiks.com.au