Blogs

The World Health Organisation (WHO) are predicting that half of people currently aged between 12 and 35 are at risk of damaged hearing because of their prolonged and excessive exposure to loud noise.

It will not come as a surprise to hear that the WHO have identified the culprit is the personal audio device, which includes smartphones and audio players that have become a regular part of the attire of the age group.

To try and make listening safer the WHO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have ahead of World Hearing Day (3 March), issued a new international standard for the manufacture and use of these devices.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General explained that the technology exists to prevent hearing loss, but once someone has lost their hearing, they are not going to get it back.

Of course, many younger users of personal listening devices are using them for entertainment. But they are also commonly used by older people as well, who may be using them for more work-related activities.

• Participating in telephone calls,
• Listening to webinars or podcasts.
• ]Conference calls

But many commuter trains have people of all ages using personal listening devices for work and entertainment.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their workers, so how those workers use a personal listening device becomes an area of interest for employers.

The problem is real with over 5% of the world’s population – or 466 million people – already having a disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children); that impacts their quality of life. Unless we act it is a problem that is going to get worse, by 2050 it is estimated that over 900 million people – or 1 in every 10 people – will have disabling hearing loss.

Features of safe listening devices

The Safe Listening Devices and Systems: a WHO-ITU standard recommends that personal audio devices include:

• “Sound allowance” function: software that tracks the level and duration of the user’s exposure to sound as a percentage used of a reference exposure.
• Personalized profile: an individualized listening profile, based on the user’s listening practices, which informs the user of how safely (or not) he or she has been listening and gives cues for action based on this information.
• Volume limiting options: options to limit the volume, including automatic volume reduction and parental volume control.
• General information: information and guidance to users on safe listening practices, both through personal audio devices and for other leisure activities.

Employers should

• Understand the risks to hearing within their work places including the way in which equipment of all kinds is used
• Act to reduce the risks of hearing damage and loss
• Identify employees who are at risk of hearing damage or loss
• Raise awareness of the dangers of loud noise and safe listening habits with structured education programmes
• Buy mobile telephones and other listening devices that comply with the WHO-ITU standard.
• Learning resources to highlight the dangers of excessive noise and how to use listening devices safely are available from Work Place Learning Centre