When it comes to construction noise, there is action on the front lines. Efforts to reduce on-site construction noise are the key focus of the Construction Noise Control Partnership, a voluntary group of contractors, union representatives, equipment manufacturers, insurance executives, and others.
The organization is working on a comprehensive data base on equipment noise and is developing protocols that will enable a firm to consider noise factors when purchasing construction equipment.
The partnership is also developing methods for reducing noise with existing equipment, a best practices guide, and information tools. The University of Washington has conducted research on construction related hearing loss, including a five-year study of noise and hearing loss in the industry. This study found that workers wear hearing protection devices less than 20 percent of the time even when noise levels were above 85 decibels.
An 85 decibel sound level is equivalent to an average factory, while a jackhammer, subway train and diesel truck register about 100 decibels. Exposure to levels above 90 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss within a short period of time. Some permanent hearing loss occurs when a person is exposed to 85 decibels of noise for up to eight hours. The numbers are exponential, meaning that increasing the noise level by three decibels cuts the maximum safe exposure time from eight to four hours.
Education about the medical risk of continued exposure to loud noise is one of the ways to motivate workers to wear hearing protective devices in construction work.
Not having the noise in the first place is an even better idea, but until the day when heavy equipment purrs like a kitten and jackhammers dissolve concrete and bricks, hearing protection devices are the best way to preserve hearing even on a construction job.
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