Hearing Damage in Primary School Teachers

When people talk about developing hearing damage in the workplace, you probably picture people who work with heavy machinery or in nightclubs. Yet it turns out that many teachers struggle with this problem as well.

Hearing damage in teachers

In our previous blog you could already read a few examples of situations in which you can develop hearing damage. Recent research shows us that a classroom full of noisy children can certainly be added to that list. Physical education teachers in particular are at risk. A noisy gymnasium can easily produce 85 decibels of sound. So it is hardly surprising that many PE teachers already wear custom earplugs.

PE teachers are not the only ones at risk. Shop and technology teachers are exposed to loud noise every day too. The sound of metal in a vice can quickly reach a volume of 114 decibels. Compared with the maximum level permitted in entertainment venues, which sits at 100 decibels, it is fair to say that it makes sense for a fair number of technology teachers to suffer from hearing damage.

Being exposed to noise over a long period, as described in the situations above, can lead to complaints such as noise-induced deafness and ringing in the ears.

Shouldn’t schools take measures to address this?

According to the Dutch occupational health and safety regulations (Arbo), employers are required to provide hearing protection from 82 decibels onwards. When noise exceeds 85 decibels, employees are also obliged to use it.

Despite this, many schools won’t hear of it, since it costs them a lot of money. In fact, many schools would rather run the risk of getting a fine than spend money to protect their staff against hearing damage.

Yet taking measures would ultimately save a great deal in healthcare costs, because the number of people with hearing complaints would decrease considerably as a result.

What can be done about it?

It’s hard for teachers to forbid children from making noise. Renovating gymnasiums could be an option, as could remodelling technology classrooms. Although that is, of course, extremely expensive and very time-consuming on top of that.

The easiest and cheapest solution is still to provide custom earplugs. These are tailored specifically to your hearing and therefore offer the best protection. In addition, they filter out the noise while still making it perfectly possible to communicate with the children.

Do you work in education and would you like personal advice? Then get in touch with us.