Hearing Protection in the Workplace

Across the United States, it is estimated that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise in the workplace each year. Prolonged exposure to this type of noise can kill receptor cells in the inner ear, resulting in permanent hearing loss and continuous ringing or buzzing sounds known as tinnitus. Since hearing protection can easily prevent these hazards, knowing how to measure the noise and when protection is needed can keep your ears and hearing free from the damaging effects of noise exposure.
 
How to Measure Excessive Noise
Sound is a vibration traveling through a medium (typically the air) that is captured through your ear. We measure sound in decibels (dB) and its damaging effects through the number of decibels and exposure time to them. OSHA standards allow for workers to be exposed to sound levels of 85dBs over a regular 8-hour period. If this is exceeded, employers are required to provide engineering controls or safety measures to reduce their exposure to noise. To measure this noise, the two main ways include:

• Sound Level Meter – device that measures the intensity of sound at a given moment
  • Typically used by taking multiple measurements throughout the day in different locations to map out the jobsite and create exposure levels
• Dosimeter – device that stores sound level measurements and integrates these measurements over time, providing an average noise exposure reading for a given period of time
  • Typically used by attaching a microphone to a worker, reading the exposure level for their work shift

Once these devices are used, employers will know if noise levels are above the threshold and controls that need to be added to protect workers.
 
Types of Protection
As the noise level increases, the exposure time will need to decrease or employers will have to provide engineering controls or protection for their workers.
Some engineering controls include:

• Modification to equipment to reduce the sound exposure
• Using barriers such as sound walls or curtains between source and workers
• Enclosing or isolating the equipment causing the noise exposure

 
Typical hearing protection includes:

• Single use earplugs – self-forming foam that mold to your ear drum when inserted
• Molded ear plugs – individually molded to your ear, typically for reuse
• Ear muffs – form a seal around the entire ear reducing noise exposure

If employees are exposed to high levels over the 8-hour period, employers may need to institute a hearing conservation program that regularly tests employee hearing, making sure there is no hearing loss due to prolonged exposure.
 
Hearing loss in the workplace is easily preventable. When exposed to prolonged or high levels of noise, employers need to make sure the jobsite is tested and protections are added to keep workers and their ears safe. To keep the conversation going, download the Hearing Protection Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.

Hearing Protection TBT