A loud workplace can cause adverse health effects
Nobody likes a noisy workplace. However, as you and other Ohio residents may be aware, workplace noise is more than a mere nuisance. If your job regularly exposes you to loud, constant, sudden or annoying sound, it can take a toll on your health and work performance.
Many people associate certain industries with being particularly loud or noisy, such as construction, law enforcement, military, factories and music venues. These are far from the only industries that can cause a noise problem for workers, however. For example, you may be just as affected working in an office with constant background noise or a busy bar as you would be working in a mine. According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, moderate workplace noise can also impact your hearing and affect you psychologically.
Physical symptoms
It comes as no surprise that the most common consequences of being exposed to constant or sudden bursts of moderate to loud noise is hearing loss. You could also suffer from headaches, vision disturbances, joint pain and tinnitus – an irritating condition caused by damage to the inner ears – by working in a noisy environment.
Emotional effects
People might assume that mild to moderate noise cannot be harmful. On the contrary, constant background noise or annoying, regular bursts of sound might cause anxiety and depression, and could even trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. That annoying radio station your co-worker insists on turning up too loud or the screaming children in the day care center where you work may create serious, long-lasting psychological issues for you.
Physical injuries resulting from a workplace accident might be cut-and-dried in many cases, but it is harder to pin down the health and psychological effects of workplace noise. You may need to explore your legal options to determine if you are eligible for workers’ compensation resulting from a noisy job.