The point
Today's talk is noise, because the noise on this job can take your hearing. Once your hearing has gone, it does not come back. There is no cure and no operation to fix it. It doesn't hurt while it's happening, and it creeps up slowly, so the time to look after your ears is now, while you've still got your hearing.
The hazard, in plain terms
Breakers, grinders, disc cutters, hammer drills, plant - the everyday kit on this site is loud enough to do permanent harm. And the damage is sneaky. You won't feel it. It builds up shift after shift, year after year, and by the time you notice, most of the harm is done. One very loud bang can do it in an instant, too.
Here's a simple test. If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone about two metres away, the noise is a problem. If you're on powered tools for more than about half an hour a day, that's a problem too.
Watch for the early signs. Ears feeling muffled at the end of the day. The telly at home creeping louder. And tinnitus - a ringing, whistling or buzzing in your ears that never switches off. Not even at night, when you're trying to sleep. Plenty of trades live with it for good.
One more thing. If you can't hear a shout or an alarm, you're in more danger from everything else on this site.
What to do
- Pick the quieter way first. Split blocks instead of cutting. Crush instead of drilling where the job allows.
- Choose the quieter tool for the task, and keep kit serviced - worn machines get louder.
- Put distance between you and the noise. Shut cab doors. Use screens and barriers where they're up.
- Share the noisy jobs around. Less time in the noise means less damage done.
- Wear your ear protection the whole time you're in the noise - every minute, not just the loud bits.
- Look after it. Plugs clean and soft, muff seals uncracked, headband still snug. Report damaged protection and get it swapped.
What to never do
- Never lift your ear protection off "just for a minute" while the noise is still going. A few unprotected minutes throw away most of the protection for the day.
- Never plough on with a noisy method when a quieter one would do the same job.
- Never brush off ringing ears as part of the trade. That ringing is damage talking.
Questions to ask the crowd
The talk ends in a conversation. These are the ones that start it.
- Where on this site do we end up shouting to be heard two metres apart?
- What's the noisiest job coming up this week, and is there a quieter way to do it?
- Has anyone had ringing ears or muffled hearing after a shift? What was that like?
A toolbox talk is a refresher and a conversation. It is not formal training, and it does not by itself make you or your site compliant.