Hearing Protection Do's and Don'ts

Close your eyes for a moment and call to mind your favorite sound. Is it the sound of waves crashing against the shore? Birds chirping? People laughing? Thunder? What about the sound of bacon sizzling in a pan? 

The human auditory system is complex and amazing, capable of detecting a wide range of frequencies. It’s also a very delicate system, capable of being permanently destroyed in an instant or gradually over time. We need to ensure we protect it.

Not All Sounds Are Pleasant

We live in a noisy world and some workplaces are dangerously noisy. Every day, millions of people are exposed to damaging noise in their workplace at levels that put them at risk of hearing loss. To address this, hearing loss prevention plans have been developed to adequately reduce the risk of workers suffering permanent hearing damage. These plans include noise level monitoring, engineering and administrative controls, audiometric evaluation, record-keeping, and use of hearing protection devices. And you play a role in the success of these programs by following some basic rules regarding your hearing protection.

Here are some ways you can reduce your risk of suffering damage to your hearing at work.

Do:

✓ Wear hearing protection when the sound level in your workplace exceeds 85 decibels (about the sound of a blender). 

✓ Choose hearing protection that’s appropriate for your workplace and for you. 

Your options are:

• Ear plugs, which can be either pre-molded or moldable, disposable or reusable. They are inserted to block the ear canal. 
• Ear muffs, which are made of sound-attenuating material. They have soft ear cushions and hard outer cups that are held together by a headband and are fitted around the ear.

✓ Have your hearing protection fitted properly. The anatomy of the ear and the ear canal is not the same for every person. 

✓ If you choose ear muffs, ensure the headband fits tightly enough to maintain a proper seal, but is not too tight for comfort. When you wear your safety glasses, ensure that these are not breaking the seal between the ear muff and the skin. 

✓ Learn how to properly insert ear plugs.

 ✓ Check your hearing protection regularly for wear and tear. 

✓ Clean your hearing protection according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

DO NOT:

•  Choose ear plugs when you are working in an area with a noise level over 105 decibels (about the sound of a power lawn mower). 
• Use radio headsets in place of hearing protection. They do not protect your ears against exposure to noise.
• Modify your hearing protection in any way.
• Wear ear plugs if you have an ear infection. If the infection is minor, you can wear ear muffs instead.
• Insert ear plugs with dirty hands, as you can introduce dirt and bacteria into your ears, causing an ear infection.
• Allow hair and clothing to interfere with the fit of the hearing protection.
• Remove hearing protection for even a short time during noisy work, as it will substantially reduce the protection. 
• Wear ear cushions or plugs that are damaged. 
• Wear ear muffs that are so stretched that the ear cushions no longer fit snugly against the head.