Can You Hear Me Now?

"In fact, hearing loss in the work place is the second most prevalent occupational disease in the world."

Hearing loss is serious, but how can that be constituted or classified as a disease?

Well, the Merriam Webster Dictionary gives one definition of disease as "a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning." But it also lists synonyms as "sickness" and "malady." Still, it would seem that the condition of hearing loss fits the strict definition. But it sure doesn't seem to be in the same class as what we normally consider disease: colds, flu, beri-beri, etc. It seems more llike a medical condition such as a broken bone or a cut.

I put that out there, because the pharmaceuticals lobby's to put everything as a disease, so that even vitamins can not make claims that it can improve health. (nothing to do with hearing loss)

because then starvation, or overeating and be..., wait... that is a labeled disease. than try dieing of thirst can be labeled as a disease. water not alcohol

Off topic:

My company has a benefit where you can be reimbursed 75% of our medical expenses. Of course there are limitations. In my case, I asked if I could have laser eye surgery reimbursed. They refused saying that "blurred vision is not a disease. In any case, it can be 'corrected' with glasses".

On topic:

Several years ago, our factory began strict enforcement of hearing protection when inside high noise areas in the factory. They measured the noise levels in different places and posted them on the walls, on bulletin boards and even emails.

Then they began an information campaign stating how long people can work at certain noise levels, how hearing loss occurs, what appropriate ear protection to use, etc. Finally, they included auditory tests as part of our yearly physical examinations.

I have a pair of ear protector in my office. Wanna see them?

"inside high noise areas in the factory."

I am under the understanding that hear damage doe not have to occur with high noise, "dB levels" but also a constant freqency still being audible even at lowerer dB levels ?

hearing damage does not have to occur with high noise, "dB levels" but also a constant frequency still being audible even at lower dB levels

In a way, you're correct. According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the low limit for an eight hour exposure is 90dBA.

If I interpret it correctly, you can be exposed to 90dBA noise without ear protection for eight hours without damage to your hearing. If the noise level is higher than 90dBA, your allowable time exposure will become less. If you expose yourself for a longer period, you risk damage to your hearing.