Hearing loss likely to hit one worker in four

About 25 per cent of workers are affected by dangerous noise levels, says the Occupational Safety and Health Service.

Senior health policy adviser Frank Darby said an estimated one in four workers would suffer hearing loss by the time he or she retired.

"It's hard to get accurate figures as many people don't report hearing loss," he said. Some workers did not notice the loss, or just accepted it as part of growing old.

Mr Darby said employers were required to have a competent person who assessed noise levels and maintained healthy standards.

The service was reviewing its guidelines about noise in the workplace.

A checklist asked questions such as "can two people hear each other one metre apart?".

Submissions were being taken from the Employers Federation, relevant unions and health and safety consultants, among others.

Affected industries were construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, transport and storage.

"But any occupation where noise is a problem is included."

The maximum noise level accepted with ear protection was 85 decibels for eight hours. That was equal to heavy truck traffic.

- NZPA

The Herald Foundation