Tinnitus Awareness Week 2020

The 3^rd– 9^th of February is Tinnitus Awareness Week 2020 and people throughout the UK are joining together to raise awareness of tinnitus. Tinnitus is a debilitating condition which causes the sufferer to hear noises which have no external source, varying from ringing, buzzing, whistling and even sounds like music or singing.

This year, the British Tinnitus Association’s (BTA) focus of the week is to make tinnitus research an urgent priority. Tinnitus currently receives 40 times less funding than comparable conditions like depression, anxiety and hearing loss, and there is still much about the condition that is unknown (British Tinnitus Association). The BTA is also encouraging people to contact their local MPs to raise awareness of how many people in their constituency struggle with the condition and need help. Information days and presentations have also been organised across the country by the BTA for sufferers to attend throughout the week. A huge event, Tinnitus & Hearing Information Show (THIS 2020) is taking place in Glasgow on the 8^th, where the 250+ attendees will receive information about the latest tinnitus research and treatment, local support networks, and new listening technology.

It is not a rare condition; around 30% of people of all ages will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives (British Tinnitus Association). However, the most common cause is damage to the inner ear, and this arguably puts those working in excessively noisy environments most at risk. Approximately 21,000 people in the UK suffer from tinnitus, deafness and other ear conditions, with a proportion of these caused by excessive noise at work (HSE). It is also believed that a further 2 million UK employees currently at risk of developing tinnitus and industrial deafness (HSE).

It is RVT’s mission to protect long term health on site, and that includes protecting people’s hearing. It is common practice for site workers to wear ear defenders to protect themselves from the noisy activities they are engaged in, however protecting those around them is often overlooked. Other tradesmen, residents and people nearby are still at risk from excessive noise. To ensure that everyone is adequately protected, noise barriers such as quilts, curtains and enclosures should be used to contain the noise at source and block the line of sight.

RVT offer a wide range of high sound attenuation noise barriers; from small portable sound barriers to larger self-contained cutting stations and/ or construction enclosures.

RVT follow The 3C’s® Methodology for effective health hazard control on site. So, how do The 3C’s® apply to noise control?

1. Capture the hazard - Position the barrier/ enclosure as close to the noise source as possible.
2. Contain the hazard - Break the line of sight by ensuring the noise barrier is seamless (eg. velcro connections).
3. Control the hazard - Use high sound attenuation noise barriers such as Soundex® to absorb excessive noise.

By following these 3 easy steps, you can reduce excessive noise on your site.

Click here to learn more about RVT’s range of Soundex® equipment.