When used appropriately, hearing protectors including ear muffs and ear plugs, reduce the effects of noise that may lead to hearing damage. Hearing protection should be used at all times in excessively noisy work environments.
Ear muffs are cups which fit over the ears and are connected by a spring band normally worn over the head. The cups have soft cushions around the rims which seal them to the wearers head. The cups are normally filled with sound absorbent material such as foam or liquid.
Ear plugs are inserted into the worker’s ear canal and come in a number of varieties including:
- pre-moulded ear plugs which are inserted directly into the ear canal without the need for shaping
- formable ear plugs which are moulded prior to insertion into the ear canal, following which the compressible material expands to fit the ear canal
- custom made ear plugs are custom moulded ear plugs designed for the person’s ear canal
- banded ear plugs are ear plugs suspended on a headband.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Many workers are continually exposed to noise within the workplace. In these situations the provision of hearing protection should be part of a company’s comprehensive hearing protection program. Earmuffs and ear plugs should be used to complement other noise management control methods.
Hearing damage can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life, some strategies that can be put into place at work to help prevent hearing loss are:
- use of proper hearing protection
- education programs on noise prevention and or hearing protection, especially how to correctly fit and wear hearing protection
- design of a quieter environment, for example quieter machines.
For more information on noise protection and prevention in the work place, see the links below:
References
All About Hearing Protection 2002-2006, Imagine for a moment that you must strain to hear, Texas America Safety Company, Texas, viewed 15 February 2011, http://hearing-protection.4ursafety.com/index.html.
WorkCover NSW 2010, What is personal protective equipment (PPE) and what are some of the types?, NSW Government, Sydney, viewed 15 February 2011, http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/FAQs/OHSResponsibilities/PPE/PPEQ1.htm.
Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand 2005, AS/NZS 1269.3: 2005 Occupational noise management—Hearing protector program, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, Sydney.