Hard of Hearing Risk Assessment

[morg1138]

At one of the sites I take care of there is a member of staff who has recently been to the doctors about his hearing and on return his doctor has requested that we conduct a risk assessment covering the employees hearing difficulties. I am away to make a start on the assessment, he works in a Washbay within a site that has forklifts, traffic and overhead cranes. Has anyone completed this type of risk assessment before and have you got any tips.

Cheers

[gorgeous-girl]

We have two profoundly deaf joiners who work in our workshop, but rarely go to site.
The workshop is a controlled environment which is easier for them to deal with.

On site I would suggest that the assessment needs to cover clearly marked pedestrian walkways, segregation and crossings. I don't suppose it is possible to have a visual warning of approaching FLTs/vehicles at crossings, just as we have a flashing light in addition to the bell for the evacuation alarm?

If our joiners ever visit site they work with a buddy, to help look out for them, and relay messages. I guess that is too cumbersome on a day to day basis?

[ddlh]

Hi Morg - you surely already have a noise survey in place already to identify potential high noise areas?

This should be sufficient in that you could state that the employee works so many hours an an area where the peak noise level is such and such and he wears hearing protection that gives up to so many decibel reduction protection?

If the noise in the work place is below the first action level then there is not a lot more you are expected to do about it.

Dave

[Keith1983]

Hi Morg - you surely already have a noise survey in place already to identify potential high noise areas?

This should be sufficient in that you could state that the employee works so many hours an an area where the peak noise level is such and such and he wears hearing protection that gives up to so many decibel reduction protection?

If the noise in the work place is below the first action level then there is not a lot more you are expected to do about it.

Dave

I think you've misunderstood Dave, this is an assessment which considers the safety of the employees due to them having a reduced level of hearing and not being able to hear things like FLT sirens or Fire Alarms this is seperate from a noise assessment to see if the noise is damaging their hearing.

[ddlh]

Thank you Kieth - what do they say? RTFQ!!!

In that case, I think GG has it sussed. May get him to waer different coloured hard hat if he wears one to let people know he is there and there may be a problem

Dave

[morg1138]

Thanks guys. Some good points there. I have had this dumped on my desk with a deadline of tomorrow (the person that had it before put it off and only remembered about it this morning ).

We have designated walkways, beacons on vehicles and I am suggesting beacons for fire alarms as the site currently only have audible alarms. The guy has gone for years without making any of his employees aware of this and now, after a medical it has been highlighted.

[ddlh]

Ok Morg - if he has had it for years, how bad is it actually?

Speak to the person himself and get him to tell you where the problem areas are. You may be going in the wrong direction if you dont speak with him.

Regards

Dave

[morg1138]

That was the first thing myself and his supervisor did, speak to him. He is rather shy and embarrassed about the situation and as he has lived with the poor hearing for a while he has adapted and got on with life. But as always we have to cover all areas, even if he does not see a problem currently. Last thing I would want is for us to miss something and for him, or anyone else to get hurt. Hence coming on here and seeing if anyone can think of something that I may have missed.

[Reddwarf]

Rather than beacons for the fire alarm system which could be expensive if you had to make changes every where he might work it might be possible to give him a pager that is linked to the fire alarm system. the fire alarm goes of the pager will vibrate.

Red

Edit

there may also be some useful information in the guidance document on disabilities.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publicati ... smentmeans

[morg1138]

Interesting idea. These are things that his supervisor and operations manager will have to discuss. The only problem I can see with that one is that the beacons are a one of price, give or take some maintenance costs over the years. A pager can be lost, broken and requires batteries to be replaced on a regular basis.

[Peter Cary]

Hi,

As driving instructor specialising in teaching the disabled I have taught completely deaf pupils to drive, as well as the hard of hearing.

I was thinking about how pedestrians are warned of traffic with tactile paving approaching pedestrian crossings, maybe the "danger areas" could be marked out with non slip tape such as this Click here

or safety studs Click here

or maybe a similar product as this Click here

If not already done this would make the environment safer for all.

[Reddwarf]

My thought was more around not having to replace all the sounders in the company for combined flashing units which i thought would be very expensive as you would have to provide them any where he might be on site at any time not just in his normal workplace. The pager i would have thought would be a lot cheaper than replacing your sounders on site even with the batteries

of course if it is possible with your fire alarm system.

red