occupational hearing loss

HEARING
AUDIOLOGIST’S REPORT
OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS
According to the
statistics available,
there are 3.1 million workers in
Québec. More than
400,000 of these
workers are exposed to potentially
harmful noise levels in the workplace, i.e. over 75 dBA. Prolonged
exposure to such sound levels
can lead to occupational hearing loss, sometimes with tinnitus.
In addition to permanent hearing loss, prolonged exposure to
noise can also have health repercussions, such as heart disease and high
blood pressure. Exposure to noise
in the workplace can also increase
fatigue, decrease concentration,
make communication difficult and
make it difficult to hear warning
signals. Moreover, there is a proven
link between noise levels in the
workplace and an increased risk of
industrial accidents.
Each year in Québec, approximately 1,500 new cases of occupational hearing loss are recognized
and compensated by the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du
travail (CSST).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR
CSST COMPENSATION ?
If a worker is suffering from hearing
loss and has a history of exposure
to noise in the workplace, he or she
may file a claim with the CSST for
compensation. The worker must
meet the following conditions:
à
Have a hearing loss that is consistent, in whole or in part,
with occupational hearing loss.
Have worked for many years in
noisy environments, mainly in
Québec.
à
Have contributed to the CSST
plan.
Note that retired workers can
file a claim with the CSST to have
their hearing loss recognized as
work-related, no matter how long
ago they retired. The same goes for
people who worked for
companies no longer
in business. It is also
possible for workers
to file claims with the
CSST even if they did
not wear hearing protectors (e.g. earplugs)
during their careers.
Once a worker’s
hearing loss is recognized as work-related,
the CSST covers the
costs for hearing tests,
one or two hearing
aids every five years,
as well as hearing aid
cleaners and batteries. Depending on
the degree of hearing
loss, the CSST may
also cover the costs
for assistive listening
devices (ALDs), such
as television listening
systems and adapted
telephones.
Furthermore, if a worker’s
degree of hearing loss is at least
30 dB HL at 500, 1,000, 2,000
and 4,000 Hz in the affected ear,
the CSST may also award financial
compensation. However, even if a
à
worker is not eligible for this compensation, he or she may still be
eligible for the hearing aids covered
by the CSST.
If you think you have a hearing
loss caused by noise exposure, consult an ENT specialist or an audiologist at one of the Lobe Santé
auditive et communication multidisciplinary clinics. à
We
Wenna
D’Co
D’Costa, MPA
Audiologist
(BUJOFBVBOE(BUJOFBVt"ZMNFS
References:
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE DU QUÉBEC. “Étude exploratoire de la relation entre l’exposition au bruit en milieu de travail, la perte d’audition
permanente et la sécurité routière.” 2004. Found at http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/341-BruitMilieuTravailSecuriteRoutiere.pdf
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE DU QUÉBEC. “Le bruit en milieu de travail: une analyse des coûts pour le régime d’indemnisation.” 2007.
Found at http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/712-BruitMilieuTravail.pdf
- LAROCHE, C., M. VALLET, and D. AUBRÉE. “Bruit.” In M. Gérin, et al. (Ed.): Environnement et santé publique - Fondements et pratiques. Paris: Edisem / Tec & Doc,
Acton Vale, 2003, 479-497. Found at http://www.dsest.umontreal.ca/documents/24Chap18.pdf
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