In the world of construction, it is crucial to prioritize our health and safety. One aspect often overlooked is our hearing health. As we know, jobsites can be loud from the variety of power tools, compressors, heavy machinery, vehicles, and demolition work. Exposure to these excessive noise levels can lead to irreversible hearing damage, which can significantly decrease your quality of life. What’s even more unsettling is that it usually happens without you realizing it, until it’s too late. By wearing hearing protection on the jobsite, you can help safeguard your hearing and prevent long-term damage.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to protect your hearing, though. A good rule of thumb is to wear hearing protection for any sounds over 85 decibels (dB). But how can you gauge that? A simple way to remember is if you need to raise your voice or shout to someone that’s an arm’s length away from you, then the ambient noise is over 85 dB and it’s best to wear hearing protection.
With so many different types of hearing protection out there though, how do you choose? When it comes to earplugs and earmuffs, there are different advantages for each of them. Let’s go through some of them.
Earplugs. To begin, earplugs are less expensive than earmuffs, making them more economical if you don’t need to wear them often. They’re convenient to use since they are compact and disposable. Some people also find earplugs to be more comfortable to wear than earmuffs since they are lightweight and cooler during warmer months since they don’t cover your ears. They also fit well with other PPE such as safety glasses, respirators, and hard hats.
Earmuffs on the other hand can be more expensive upfront, but their durability and longevity make them a worthwhile long-term investment. Plus, many users find earmuffs easy to put on and take off, making them convenient for quick and frequent use. Some earmuffs come with electronics to provide additional capabilities, like Bluetooth wireless technology, so you can stream your favorite music or podcast while working, and the ability to take phone calls without removing the muffs. Advanced electronic earmuffs even have level-dependent technology, which uses built-in microphones that pick up the noises around you and then plays them through the headset speakers. This feature not only allows you to have a conversation while wearing the muffs, but also helps give you situational awareness on the jobsite, helping enable you to hear important sounds like warning signals, verbal communications, or approaching vehicles. This technology also limits incoming sounds to a safe level to help protect your hearing automatically against sudden loud noises.
In short, there are many different types of hearing protectors with features and advantages to each. Find the one that’s right for you, and remember to always wear them when necessary to help protect your hearing and ensure you can enjoy your favorite sounds for years to come.
Visit 3M.com/Pro-Protect for more information.
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