FESSDRRAJINI

EAR PROTECTION AND NOISE

INTEREST IN NOISE AND POTENTIAL HARMFUL EFFECT ON HEARING IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.THIS INCREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH IN THE INTENSITY AND DURATION OF NOISE,THE INCREASING AWARENESS OF VARIOUS FORMS OF POLLUTION AND EFFORTS BY VARIOUS AGENCIES TO CONTROLTHE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF NOISE.

NOISE HAS BOTH PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS.THE EFECTS OF NOISE AND HEARING LOSS VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND HIS SUSCEPTILITY TO NOISE.

DAMAGE CAUSED TO HEARING IS IRREVERSIBLE IN NATURE AND HENCE ONE HAS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONERY MEASURES AGAINST NOISE.THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE DEPENDS ON THE INTENSITY LEVEL OF NOISE THAT IS MORE THAN 85 DECIBELS,DURATION OF EXPOSURE,WHETHER IT IS CONTINUOUS OR INTERMITTENT. HIGH FREQUENCY NOISE MORE HARMFUL THAN LOW TONES.THE OTHER EFFECTS OF NOISE ARE ANNOYANCE IRRITABILITY ,TINNITUS,LACK OF APPETITE,DISTURB SLEEP,LOSS IN HEARING WITH DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING SPEECH,INCREASED BLOOD PRESUURE,CHANGES IN THE NERVES SYSTEM ETC...

THE ONLY METHOD TO AVOID THE DAMAGE IS TO REDUCE NOISE AT SOURCE OTHERWISE ,PROPER EAR PROTECTORS (DEFENDERS)SHOULD BE WORN AT WORK. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO INTRODUCE HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN ALL INDUSTRIES AND CHECK THE HEARING OF WORKERS (AUDIOMETRY)EVERY YEAR.

THE VARIOUS TYPES OF DEFENDERS ARE

1.INSERT TYPE

2.MUFF TYPE

3HELMET TYPE.

THE OTHER INSERT TYPE OF DEFENDERS ARE MADE UP OF MATERIALS LIKE EBONITE,RUBBER,PLASTIC OR FOAM TYPE.THEY ARE CALLED “FLENTS”.THESE GIVE PROTECTION OF 15 DECIBELS AT VARIOUS FREQUENCIES.IT CAN BE USED AT PLACES WHERE NOISE LEVELS DOES NOT EXCEED 95 TO 100 DECIBELS.THE FOAM TYPE OF EAR PROTECTOR AT PRESENT IS THE BEST AVAILABLE WHIC GIVES ATTENUATION UP TO 35 DECIBELS AT VARIOUS FREQUENCY AND IT IS COMFORTABLE TO WEAR AND EASILY DISPOSABLE .

IF THE NOISE LEVEL EXCEEDS 110 DECIBELS,THE MUFF TYPE OF DEFENDERS MUST BE PROVIDED TO WEAR DURING EXPOSURE HOURS.

IN SOME OF THE OCCASIONS BOTH INSERT AND MUFF TYPE SHOULD BE USED IN COMBINATION TO GIVE GREATER PROTECTION.THE HELMET TYPE OF DEFENDERS ARE USEFUL FOR PILOTS WHO FLY JETS AND FIGHTER AIR CRAFT.THEY MAY WEAR IT ALONG WITH BONE DOMES AND HENCE GIVES GREATER PROTECTION.

TO CONCLUDE ,IT IS NECESSARY TO STRESS THE VIEW THAT THE WORKERS TO PROTECT THEIR EARS WITH SUITABLE DEFENDER WHILE ON JOB.THE PUBLIC SHOULD ALSO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE UTILITY OF DEFENDERS TO PROTECT FROM NOISE POLLUTION AND PREVENT NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS WHICH IS IRREVERSIBLE.

Labels: EAR PROTECTION