Regular, frequent exposure to loud noise can permanently damage a person's hearing. This is most likely if high noise exposure is a regular part of the job.
Occasional or low-level exposure is unlikely to cause ill health. Noise can also create a safety risk if it makes it difficult for workers to communicate effectively or stops them hearing warning signals.
Noise can cause hearing loss, which can be temporary or permanent.
People often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Hearing usually recovers within a couple of hours but temporary deafness should not be ignored - it is a sign that continued exposure to loud noise could permanently damage your hearing.
Exposure to sudden, extremely loud noise can cause instant damage. Gradual hearing loss due to repeated exposure to noise is more common and it can take years for a worker to realise just how deaf they have become.
Hearing loss can make it difficult to understand speech, but this is not the only problem. Some people develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears) which is a distressing condition that can disturb sleep.
Noise exposure may not just be from the equipment that you operate - it might be produced by fixed plant (eg a generator) or the activities of another contractor.
If the risk is low, an employer will only be expected to take simple and inexpensive actions. At the other end of the spectrum, for high risks, employers will be expected to do much more to protect workers.
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