Each year, roughly 2 million workplace injuries are reported. When you think about on-the-job injuries, you may think of flying objects or a hand caught in a piece of machinery at a factory.

But there is a far more insidious on-the-job injury that is even more prevalent and frequently overlooked. Over a few years, it will sneak up gradually on people. The injury goes unnoticed until the symptoms become impossible to overlook. People typically make excuses. “It’s just part of aging” or “It’s not a permanent issue”. This response is normal.

Many individuals don’t even realize it was brought on by their workplace environment.

Hearing damage is this insidious injury. There are some important steps you should take if you detect any of the numerous warning signs.

How Loud is Too Loud?

Your hearing can be irreversibly damaged with regular exposure to as little as 85 decibels (dB) over a long period. Seventy-five dB, for example, is the average volume of a vacuum cleaner. A lawnmower delivers 85 dB. A chainsaw or leaf blower produces more than 100 dB. A gunshot is around 140 dB.

How loud is your workplace? Is the most common workplace injury a problem for you? Over time, your hearing is likely to be damaged if you’re regularly exposed to sound as loud as a lawnmower, even if it’s not constant.

Hearing Damage Signs

If you work in a noisy environment, there’s no question you’re harming your hearing.

What follows is are early warning signs that you’re experiencing hearing loss:

• You often ask people to repeat what they said.
• When you speak with people you always think they are mumbling
• When people speak, you tend disengage.
• You confuse consonants – “Todd” sounds like “Dodd,” for example.
• Your family and friends tell you your television, radio, or computer tablet volume is too high.
• You can’t understand the person speaking if there’s background noise.
• Loud noises cause pain in your ears.
• Conversations sound muffled.
• You hear ringing, whistling, or hissing even when it’s quiet.