Altered Lives Project: Jacqueline’s Story
Jacqueline’s Story
For more than 22 years, Jacqueline has worked in a food manufacturing facility in southwestern Ontario.
Over her years, she worked on several production lines. The workplace is noisy and employees must wear hearing protection. Jacqueline first noticed a change in her hearing two or three years ago. Initially, she put it down to the noisy work environment and thought it would fix itself once away from the noise for a while. But it didn’t get better. In fact, gradually it got worse and she developed ringing in her ears as well.
Jacqueline had difficulty hearing co-workers out on the shop floor. This led to misunderstandings or co-workers tapping her to get her attention. Things changed in the break room as well. She withdrew from conversation because she wasn’t sure of what was said. Voices were muffled so she would nod her head, smile, and try to read lips. Co-workers encouraged her to get a hearing test.
As the condition worsened she noticed it was affecting her home life too. It was the little things: While driving, she couldn’t hear when the turn signal was on. She couldn’t hear many of the birds in the yard anymore. Family members would walk by her in the house and she wouldn’t hear them.
Her family became frustrated at having to repeat themselves constantly – even her young granddaughter. Often, her family asked her to quiet down as she talked loudly or to turn down the volume on the TV or music because it was really loud.
Jacqueline went for testing and the results indicated she had significant hearing loss in both ears.
She filed a WSIB claim for benefits, which WSIB denied initially. Eventually, this was corrected and WSIB allowed her benefits.
Jacqueline is thankful to Union Rep Matt Davenport and Tracey, former JHSC worker co-chair who had maintained noise testing data, for their assistance in that matter. Jacqueline now has hearing aids and a special telephone. They have restored her quality of life.
“Lots of people have to work in noisy environments,” said Jacqueline. “If the noise can be reduced or eliminated it should be. If you have to use hearing protection, choose protection that is comfortable and effective, and ask for training on how to use it properly.”
“I wore hearing protection and I still had hearing loss,” she explained. “So if you work in a noisy environment don’t be afraid to get your hearing tested regularly.”
In Ontario, the maximum permitted exposure levels for 8 hours is 85 dB(A). Provincial regulations can be found in the Occupational Health and Safety Act [R.S.O. 1990, c.1] and Noise (O. Reg. 381/15). The noise protection requirement extends to all Ontario workplaces including: construction projects; health care facilities; schools; farming operations; fire services; police services; and amusement parks.
Published June 2017 as part of the UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Altered Lives Project
Read more stories from the Altered Lives Project.
Learn more about Noise-induced hearing loss as it pertains to WSIB Claims.