Good Job Site Ear Protection

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recommends three types of active hearing protection:

• Foam ear plugs, soft plugs that more or less mould themselves to your ear canal.
• PVC ear plugs, more like those you might use with radio or CD player you jog or walk with.
• Ear muffs or noise canceling headphones (those without the ability to bring in your favorite radio station).

The two most important considerations are your comfort, since you’ll be wearing your safety ear protection for a good part of every day, and the noise reduction rating (NRR) of the best hearing protection you can afford. The higher number quoted by your ear plugs or ear protection muffs, the more noise that is muted. In most cases, you should consider the best hearing protection your budget allows for job site use, while you may buy ear plugs or muffs with a lower rating for personal use.

Some manufacturers to consider:

• 3M earplugs – this company makes a variety of effective ear plugs.
• Aearo earplugs – claims they make the most popular and comfortable ear plugs on the planet.
• Bilsom hearing protection – along with earplugs, you can buy a selection of ear muffs, even those providing hearing protection with radio, a decent am/fm tuner included.

The answer to the question of adequate hearing protection devices depends largely on your individual job site circumstances. OSHA states that “employee exposure to excessive noise depends upon a number of factors, including:

• The loudness of the noise as measured in decibels (dB).
• The duration of each employee's exposure to the noise.
• Whether employees move between work areas with different noise levels.
• Whether noise is generated from one or multiple sources.”

OSHA also uses a rule of thumb you should consider. At your workplace, you can be exposed to a noise level of up to 90 dB for around 8 hours per day before ear noise protection is required.

Custom Solutions for Hearing Protection

There are a number of manufacturers that specialize in designing and making custom ear protection items. Some of the best earplugs are made by these custom designers. If you wear hearing protection equipment on a regular basis, custom earplugs might be the perfect solution for custom hearing protection. Custom made earplugs can be molded and fitted by a trained professional to perfectly fit your ears.

Whether you like “am fm hearing protection” with ear muffs with noise canceling properties or other electronic ear protection, a custom solution can be worth its weight in gold to you if you function in a sustained noise environment. Custom molded earplugs are the best earplugs to give you the most comfort and decibel reduction.

There are quite a few choices for custom ear protection, like CMeP in the U.K. and others in the U.S. As long as the custom hearing protection you choose meets or exceeds the minimum standards set by OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) and/or ANSI (American National Standards Institute) recommendations, you will enjoy superior noise reduction benefits. Custom ear protection may cost a bit more than off the shelf items, but your ear canals will be pleased with your choice.

Hearing Protection That Provides Music or Communications Ability

If you want to eliminate noise but desire music or the ability to communicate with others while you’re working, you can find products to meet both of these preferences. Modern noise canceling ear muffs can be fitted with an am/fm radio so the wearer can hear all the music or talk radio they want while working. While canceling out worksite noise, these ear protection radio products provide the welcomed noise you want on the job.

There are two types of communication-style ear noise protection. One variety is a “listen only” product that allows you to receive communication, within a specified bandwidth, from another location at your work site. If you are needed elsewhere or required to pass along messages to co-workers, these ear protection muffs are a wonderful addition to your tool kit. A more versatile solution of hearing protection with radio is the addition of a two-way communicator to your ear protection muffs. This hearing protection device is particularly useful on larger jobsites and higher rise buildings where face-to-face communication can be difficult. These ear protection muffs can be pricey, often over $400, but many larger construction companies find that they save significant dollars and worker-hours using this ear noise protection.

OSHA Recommendations for Ear Protection

Both OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) in the U.S. and CCOHS (Canadian Council for Occupational Health & Safety) have similar recommendations for both the types and use of hearing protection devices. They state that the necessity of ear noise protection depends primarily on

• The level of the noise to be eliminated.
• The nature of the noise, sustained or intermittent.
• The work responsibilities and comfort of the person wearing ear protection.

For instance, both agencies recommend the use of hearing protection equipment if you are surrounded by sustained noise levels of more than 85 to 90 decibels during an eight hour day. As the workplace noise level rises, the allowable time period to go without ear plugs or muffs is reduced. For example, if you’re exposed to sustained noise for four hours at a decibel level over 95 dB, you should wear the best hearing protection available.

OSHA further states that “ Hearing protectors worn by employees must reduce an employee's noise exposure to within the acceptable limits noted in Table 5.” (Table 5 in the OSHA info booklet is the illustration that shows acceptable noise duration at various decibel levels). The question of whether to use the best earplugs or hearing protection muffs depends on how long the noise is sustained, the usual movements by the worker around the worksite, and the overall comfort level of the employee.


For example, let’s assume you are exposed to a jackhammer, producing 105 decibels, but it is only used intermittently and not constantly. Wearing custom earplugs, embedded in your ears, might prove to be cumbersome to insert, remove, re-insert, etc. A good set of ear protection muffs may be much more convenient to use in this situation. The bottom line, per OSHA, is to recognize when hearing protection is needed and to ensure that the solution you choose reduces the noise level to, at least, under 85 to 90 dB.

General Types of Hearing Protection

There are three basic types of hearing protection:

• Inserted ear plugs, which fully block the ear canal.
• Semi-insert ear plugs, which provide ear protection over the ear while held in place by a firm head band.
• Ear protection muffs, with soft ear cushions and a hard outer shell.

In high noise situations, you could elect to wear two forms of choices, both ear plugs and hearing protection muffs. The single most important factor in hearing protection equipment is the NRR (noise reduction rating) of the classic ear plugs or muffs you use. Manufacturers normally give you information about the noise reducing value of the device with an NRR number as part of its product package. NRR ratings calculate maximum noise reduction results discovered under laboratory conditions and are quoted in decibels (dB). The more noise you want to cancel, the higher the number of decibel reduction you want.

Whether you choose classic ear plugs, foam ear plugs, or hearing protection muffs, pick the solution that is most comfortable for you and, if you need industrial hearing protection, consult with your co-workers and employer or visit the OSHA hearing protection areas to determine the best noise canceling solution for your situation.

How's that again?

Outside of going to a doctor, it isn't always easy to detemine whether you've damaged your hearing. But if sounds seem muffled, or you notice a ringing in your ears after noise exposure, this is a pretty good sign that you haven't done your hearing any favors. You may be experiencing what experts call "a temporary threshold shift" of your hearing. Keep exposing yourself to loud noises long enough, and the temporary shift could become a permanent hearing loss. 8 hours at 85 decibels is OSHA's measure.

Maximize with muffs

As the name suggests, earmuff ear protection looks a little like the ear muffs we never wanted to wear as kids. Except that these ear muffs are for fighting decibels instead of frostbite. Unlike the hearing protection that fits in the ear canal, the ear muff fits over the entire outer ear and forms an air seal, which blocks the entire circumference of the ear canal. The ear muff is held in place by an adjustable band. One note of interest: Earmuffs will not seal completely around eyeglasses or long hair. Apparently near-sighted, long-haired types will just have to hold their hands over their ears and hope for the best (Ha Ha). Here's another factoid: Using earplugs and muffs together will give the wearer from 10 to 15dB more protection than either used alone. When should you use both muffs and plugs? When noise exceeds 105 dB. How loud is that? See the next article.

Effects Of Loud Noise

The World Health Organization's “Guidelines For Community Noise,” details the numerous health problems associated with working or living in a noisy environment, without hearing protection. The main health problems concluded by the WHO consists of:

· Problems With Speech
· Fatigue
· Lack Of Concentration
· Hearing Problems
· Irritability
· Problems With Sleep e.g. decreased REM
· Mood Changes

The health problems reported are diverse and affect almost every human system. This is why it is a good idea to wear hearing protectors, to reduce the amount of noise around you.

Sound thinking

Let's face it, there's a lot of noise out there, and a lot of it hazardous to our hearing health. There are literally hundreds of everyday activities that we engage in that call for the use of some form of hearing protection. Of course, it is often difficult to prepare for these moments, but if you know you are going to a heavy metal rock concert or rocket launching, for example, you can drop by the pharmacy to pick up some disposable foam earplugs before you go. If you are planning to use power tools, heavy machinery, noisy yard equipment, or firearms, or ride a motorcycle or snowmobile, stick in some plugs or put on some ear muffs.

Put a plug in it!

Ear plugs conform to Mom's safety rule #16: Never put anything sharper than your elbow in your ear. That's what makes ear plugs so great. When used properly, they block out what you shouldn't hear, or don't want to hear. Earplugs are small inserts that fit into that hole in your ear. To work properly, they have to be be fit snugly. You'll know if they aren't in right, because they will most likely fall out. Be sure to use clean, fresh earplugs. Dirty or worn-out plugs may not seal and could irritate the ear canal. You'll find disposable plugs come in various shapes and sizes to fit individual ear canals and can be custom made. If you have trouble keeping ear plugs in your ears, they can be fitted to a headband. A note of caution: some foam ear plugs look like mini-marshmallows, so be careful what you put in your mouth.

Maintenance Of Reusable Hearing Protectors

Depending on the type of reusable hearing protection and/or ear plugs chosen, maintaining it is essential. Regardless of the manufacturer, industrial hearing protectors can be purchased with care and maintenance instructions on the outside of the box.



The first step in caring for your hearing protection would be to inspect them for any signs of torn edges, cracks, or broken pieces. Parts that are torn or broken off should be replaced before using it again.



Ear muffs can be wiped with warm water and mild soap. Be careful to not get the inner layers of the ear muffs wet, or they will not function properly.



Reusable ear plugs can be washed in warm soapy water, and a toothbrush or small brush used to scrub them.



It is important to replace torn or broken areas, and keep your hearing protector as clean as possible, to receive maximum hearing protection.

Decibel points

Although you may think Decibel was Jezebel's younger sister, nothing could be further from the truth. A decibel (dB) is a measure of sound intensity. The scale runs from the faintest sound the human ear can detect, which is labeled 0 dB, to over 180 dB, the noise at a rocket pad during blast off. By the way, a rock concert averages 110-120 dB Here are a few decibel level for some of our more popular sounds: Whisper 30, 60 normal conversation 60, lawnmower 90 , auto horn 115, gun muzzle blast 140. According to the experts, properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise by 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although foam ear plugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise. For more information on decibels go to www.lhh.org/noise/decibel.htm

The high cost of noise

Judging by the statistics, our hearing is taking a beating like never before. Researchers at Yale University tell us that noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common after age-related hearing loss (presbycusis). Here are a few more hearing loss factoids you can lay on your friends at work. Of the more than 28 million Americans with some degree of hearing impairment, as many as 10 million have hearing loss caused in part by excessive noise exposure in the workplace or during recreational activities. The economic costs of occupational hearing loss have been estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Noise-induced hearing loss has been well recognized since the industrial revolution. An early term for the condition was "boilermakers' disease," because so many workers who made steam boilers developed hearing loss. In today's noisy society, even children and young adults are at risk. A recent study found evidence of high-frequency hearing loss in nearly one third of a cohort of college students. Of course, the great majority of this lost hearing could have been prevented simply by using hearing protection.

How To Insert Ear Plugs

Before installing ear plugs, it is advised your hands be clean and free of dirt.

i. Open the package of the ear plug and remove one of them.

ii. While holding the ear plug in one hand, use your other hand to pull your ear back and up.

iii. If it is a premolded ear plug, insert it carefully, taking care not to insert it too deeply.

iv. When using an expandable ear plug, spend a few seconds rolling it into a shape, which can be easily inserted into the ear.

If you have problems with insertion or removal of your ear plug, it is advised to let a friend assist you.

OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure

The guidelines on reducing hearing loss in the work environment are set out in the regulations entitled, “Occupational Noise Exposure: 29 CFR 1910.95.”

29 CFR 1910.95(a) provides a regulation to control the amount of exposure to noise about a certain decibel.

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1) outlines the next step to be taken if the employee is exposed to high decibels of sound. Action should be taken to reduce the level. However, if this fails, hearing protectors must be given to all employees in that area.

29 CFR 1910.95(c) outlines the guidelines for a “Hearing Conservation Program,” while 29 CFR 1910.95(d), provides information on a noise monitoring program to be established in areas with 85 dB or higher.