Audiologist.co.uk, the Yorkshire based hearing aid specialist that works nationwide has issued the opinion that warning signs should be placed by noisy construction sites to protect those that are passing by. Operatives that work on noisy site are issued with ear defenders in order to protect their hearing while they carry out the work, however this is impractical for passers by because of the cost and loss of hundreds of ear defenders by handing them out to the public wouldn’t work long term. Signage and warnings in areas where work is being carried out at levels above what is thought to be safe.

Any sound above 85 dB is thought to cause damage to hearing without precautions, with those most at risk from noise damage being the young, the elderly and those that already have  compromised hearing. A pneumatic drill operates at around 90 dB, with the extra 5 dB accounting for a 150% increase in the level of noise. This increase is so large because the decibel measuring system is logarithmic, not linear, and every 10dB reflects a doubling in the loudness of a sound.

Those building sites and construction zones operating loud machinery should be putting up warnings for the general public in order to help protect their hearing, according to the nationwide hearing aid specialist. It has been suggested that the noise created on construction sites would be ok if it were confined to behind the fencing, however those in the city with more sensitive hearing could be quite badly affected by the noise generated.

The warning signs will inform the public and then allow them to consider their own hearing and find an alternate route or not if they choose. Warnings could also allow passers by the opportunity to take precautions such as covering their ears as they pass by in order to offer some level of protection while construction work is taking place.