As part of the shared celebrations for TruckWeek 2012 and Hearing Awareness Week, the Australian Trucking Association and the Deafness Forum of Australia have released hearing fact sheets specifically for trucking operators and truck drivers.
TruckWeek 2012 celebrates the achievements of Australia’s trucking industry, while Hearing Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about the 22 per cent of Australians aged 15 and over who are deaf or have a hearing impairment. Both TruckWeek 2012 and Hearing Awareness Week this year run from 19-25 August.
Hearing loss cannot be reversed. Although mild to moderate hearing loss may not affect a person’s ability to drive safely, it is important to protect your hearing at all times.
Truck drivers need to be able to respond to a range of auditory cues, including changes in engine noise, emergency sirens, rail crossing alerts and road noises. A driver who suffers from hearing loss of 40db or more in their better ear is not able to hold an unconditional commercial licence.
It is often difficult to pinpoint a cause of hearing damage, as hearing loss is usually a gradual process. The fact sheets outline ways trucking operators and truck drivers can make their working environment hearing safer by eliminating excessive noise, or putting protective measures into place.
Deafness Forum of Australia Chairperson David Brady said it was better to prevent hearing loss than to try and fix it once it has happened.
“Hearing loss costs the Australian economy $12 billion a year by preventing people from participating and reaching their full potential in the workforce,” he said.
ATA Chairman David Simon said modern trucks provided a healthier working environment than their predecessors.
“Modern trucks are much quieter than previous models, and also incorporate noise dampening to insulate the driver from the sound of engine and road noise. However, truck drivers and employers still need to be on their guard,” he said.
“These fast sheets are a great place to start.”
The fact sheets are available from the ATA’s online resource library at www.truck.net.au/resource-library.
