Cinnaminson, NJ, October 31st, 2016
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year in the United States. The agency also reports that U.S. businesses paid more than $1.5 million in penalties last year for not protecting workers from noise and an estimated $242 million is spent annually on workers' compensation for hearing loss disability.
When a worker is exposed to loud noise it can kill the nerve endings in the inner ear, and more exposure results in more dead nerve endings. The result is permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected by surgery or medicine. Short-term exposure to loud noise can also cause a temporary change in hearing or a ringing in the ears called tinnitus. These short-term problems may go away within a few minutes or hours after leaving a noisy area. However, repeated exposures to loud noise can lead to permanent tinnitus, hearing loss or both.
“Occupational hearing loss is common, but it is also preventable,” said Jody Thomason, Vice President of Products/Corporate Purchasing for EMSL Analytical, Inc. “OSHA has set legal limits on noise exposures in the workplace to help protect workers. To identify hazards, there are instruments that measure noise levels. Information from these monitoring tools can be essential for recognizing noise hazards, mitigating exposure risks and preventing costly OSHA penalties.”
To help prevent hearing loss and keep companies in regulatory compliance, EMSL Analytical, Inc. sells and rents a wide range of noise dosimeters and sound meters. These instruments can provide instant readings and data logging capabilities. EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about noise and occupational exposure risks that can be seen at:
https://youtu.be/izMP7nM2APM.
To learn more about noise meters and dosimeters or other occupational, environmental, health and safety services or other monitoring instrumentation, please visit
www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email
info@EMSL.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 40 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.