Bundaberg labourers and home DIYers are being encouraged to look after their eyes and ears after new research by Specsavers revealed tradies were continuously putting themselves at risk.
There are 12,812 technicians, tradespeople, labourers, and machinery operators in Bundaberg, with around half of which are not taking the preventative measures to look after their eyes and ears.
On top of this, those that consider themselves ‘weekend tradies’ or do it yourself professionals, are also not prioritising their ear and eye health.
The results found that nationally, over half of tradies surveyed admit to not wearing hearing protection in loud working environments or around loud machinery, with 34% forgetting to wear hearing protection and 9% believing loud noises won’t have an impact on their hearing.
Equally concerning, when it comes to protecting eyes from debris and UV rays, local tradies were even more inclined to adopt the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude with only half of those surveyed wearing protective googles all the time and less than two in five ensuring they always wear their sunglasses when working outdoors.
The most common reasons the tradies surveyed gave for not wearing eye protection while working outdoors included that they don’t bother wearing them if its overcast they forget to wear them, and concerningly, that they can’t be bothered, or it’s too much effort.
Local Bundaberg Specsavers Audiology Professional Lisa Pratt stressed it was important to look after your hearing and eyesight.
“Once you lose it, there is no getting it back,” she said.
“However, there are preventative measures you can take and it’s even more important for our tradies to be taking these precautions as their working environments make them more vulnerable to experiencing damage to their hearing and sight.
“Taking small precautions like putting on a pair of glasses to protect your eyes from UV rays, or goggles to protect your eyes from dust or, even earmuffs when working on loud machinery to prevent damage to your ears.
“These protective measures can make the world of difference and save you from experiencing a decline in your eyesight or hearing which as we know are pivotal to your quality of life.”
The study showed that, for some, their working environments may already be impacting their senses with 73% saying they believe that their hearing has been impacted by their work environment and for 12% of those, this has been brought to their attention by a recent hearing test.
“Health professionals across the country are encouraging all tradies to be aware of the potential risks and put on a pair of earmuffs and goggles when at work,” Lisa said.
“Prevention is always better than cure and getting regular health checks is important in keeping your eyes and ears safe now and for years to come.”
Specsavers values your hearing, and your eyesight.
If you work in a noisy environment or outside on site have noticed any changes to your hearing or eyesight book a free 15-minute hearing check at Specsavers by visiting www.specsavers.com.au.
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