Call Toll Free 1-888-792-3595

Hearing Loss or Tinnitus Is a Serious Type of Iowa Work Injury (Part A)

There are a variety of job hazards that can negatively impact your quality of life. One type is job-related hearing loss, which can happen with exposure to noise that reaches between 85 and 90 decibels or louder. With constant exposure, it could even lead to permanent hearing loss.

Millions of workers in the United States are exposed to dangerous noise levels every day in their occupations. When this results in severe hearing loss, it could lead to an Iowa Workers' Compensation claim. When you're unsure about whether you have a valid claim, a Des Moines Workers' Compensation lawyer can help.

An Iowa Work Injury Can Lead to Permanent Hearing Loss

When you're exposed to noise for a prolonged period of time, damage to the nerve endings that line the cochlea in the inner ear is a definite risk. These nerve endings are called cilia and resemble hair. Unfortunately, once the cilia are damaged, there is nothing that can be done. Permanent hearing loss will result.

Not only can you suffer hearing loss but you may also develop tinnitus, which is a condition in which there is constant ringing sensation in the ears. This can be very disturbing to live with on a daily basis.

An Employer's Responsibility in Preventing Hearing Loss

There are ways to help protect workers' ears. Ear plugs, ear molds and earmuffs that clip onto a hard hat are just a few. Sometimes, a hard hat will also be outfitted with a headset that can help protect workers from the noise.

Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has guidelines in place that indicate when ear protection should be provided to workers.

It can be a challenge to determine which employers should supply this type of protection. This is because there are a number of factors, including the level of noise as measured in decibels, how long a worker is exposed to this each day and if workers are exposed to varying levels of noise as they move between work areas. A Des Moines Workers' Compensation lawyer can help determine whether your employer is following OSHA guidelines.

Continue to Next Page >>