Highlight of the Workshop on
Noise Pollution and Occupational Deafness
The MEF organised a Free Workshop on Noise Pollution and Occupational Deafness in collaboration with the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf on Tuesday 13 October 2009 at the MEF Management School, Ground Floor, MEF-MCCI Building, Ebène CyberCity, Ebène. This Workshop was organised in the context of the Annual Deaf Awareness Week which is an initiative of the World Federation for the Deaf and the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf (SWD). Some 40 participants attended the workshop which was very insigntful and gave an overview of Noise Pollution and Occupational Deafness.
The President of the MEF, Mr Anwar Joonas highlighted that the occupational health is a major concern for employers. If occupational noise is not dealt with appropriately, it can cause irreversible hearing damage. The MEF thus advises members to control the industrial noise exposure at their respective enterprises so as to eliminate or reduce the noise at the source itself. It has to be noted that the Federation started an awareness campaign among employers on this subject since 1996.
Dr Noorjehan Joonas, Chairperson of SWD gave an overview of the activities of the Society for the Welfare of the Deaf (SWD) and explained that the International Deaf Awareness week is usually observed during the last full week of September in commemoration of the first observance in 1951 by the World Congress of the Deaf. The theme for this year is work-related hearing loss. She also elaborated on the services provided by SWD on the importance of empowering deaf adults and the development and dissemination of Mauritian sign Language.
Dr Saffar Juhoor, ENT Specialist, spoke about the physiology of the ear and causes of hearing impairment. He explained numerous factors such as: sound conduction of the ear, middle ear functions, sound processing in the inner ear, frequency analysis in the inner ear, sensory transduction in the inner ear and central auditory processing.
Mrs Farzana Keenoo-Choonee, Audiologist and Speech Therapist gave an overview of the assessment of hearing loss. She explained the basis of noise pollution and the major sources of noise. She stated that “any sound, if loud enough, can damage your hearing”. There are numerous sources of noise, different levels of noise and types of noise. She stated that it is important to understand these concepts to comprehend the implications of same on a person’s health. She gave numerous examples of health hazards.
Ms Linaa Mattur, Audiologist and Speech Therapist spoke about noise induced hearing loss and prevention of occupational deafness. She elaborated upon the steps to set up the hearing loss prevention programme which is enumerated below:
Hearing Loss Prevention Programme
- Identify at risk employees/job positions
- Measure the noise levels
- Take steps to reduce noise (use engineering controls)
- Provide hearing protection to staff who needs it
- Put up Hearing Protection Zone signs for necessary areas
- Provide a health surveillance program to employees at risk (hearing evaluation)
- Record-keeping (for monitoring of hearing)
- Education and motivation of employees
- Program evaluation
