Heli-ski guides may be exposed to hazardous noise levels when loading and unloading helicopters. Regular exposure to sounds above 85 decibels (dBA) can cause permanent hearing loss, and helicopters can produce noise levels much higher than that, says WorkSafeBC in a media release.

Guides are required to wear ski helmets and hearing protection – and some types of hearing protection can be uncomfortable to wear with a ski helmet. As a result, some guides may feel forced to choose between the hearing protection and the helmet, and this puts them at risk for hearing damage, WorkSafeBC noted.

WorkSafeBC has published a new safety bulletin, Hearing protection for heli-ski guides.

The safety bulletin reviews methods for selecting the most-effective hearing protection that’s compatible with a guide’s ski helmet, the regulation requirements and other related resources.

Lead image courtesy WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC

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