The issue of workplace-related hearing loss is a serious one, which is often not apparent until decades following the initial damage. It is irreversible and debilitating to the individual, inhibiting communication abilities and often making things like using the telephone difficult, if not impossible. In addition, hearing loss makes a person more vulnerable to injury at work and in daily life. But there is good news most hearing damage is preventable. Due to these heavy implications, it is important for health and safety professionals to strive to minimise the noise in their workplaces as much as possible, conducting risk assessments, and investigating solutions when necessary. If it is not possible to adequately reduce noise levels in a work environment, employees must be provided with appropriate personal hearing protection equipment. By ensuring your workers are protected from high noise levels, you are not only helping preserve their hearing and quality of life in the future, but also safeguarding your company from future hearing loss claims. When you are exposed to loud noises for a prolonged period or on a regular basis, you may experience sensorineural hearing loss, which refers to the damaging of hair cells within the ears. Hair cells are responsible for picking up different levels of sound, depending on their location. Once damaged, these cells cannot be repaired. Damage sustained is permanent. Sometimes, the effects of these events will not be noticed until years later.
In the UK presently, The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 outline the legal responsibilities for employers to prevent their employees from excessive noise. This is available in full PDF at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2005/1643/pdfs/uksi_20051643_en.pdf. By law, employers overseeing an environment where employees are liable to be exposed to noise at or above a lower exposure action value must conduct appropriate risk assessments of potential health and safety effects. These assessments should be used to determine measures which need to be taken to protect workers. Some major considerations which must be looked at in risk assessments are the level of exposure, the type of exposure, and the duration of exposure. Potential effects of such exposure must be taken into account, including possible issues with noise masking audible warning signs that alert employees to potential risks. It is important to thoroughly read manufacturers information provided for work equipment, and to research the availability of quieter equipment options in the purchasing process. Noisy machinery or equipment may also impact environments outside of the direct work area, such as rest or break rooms. If, following efforts to minimise noise in the environment, the work area is still too loud, employees must be provided with personal hearing protection that offers sufficient attenuation features. For the complete overview of how to conduct a risk assessment, see The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 Statutory Instrument. Risk assessments should be reviewed and conducted regularly, and when there are significant changes within the workplace or the nature the work.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 establish three noise level boundaries and give guidance on the actions required at each level: Lower Level 80dba (average) 135dBC (peak pressure) Upper Level 85 dba (average) 137 dbc (peak pressure) Exposure Limit 87dba 137dBC In areas where workers are exposed to this level of noise, employers are required to provide hearing protection to employees on request. Where workers are exposed to this level of noise, an Ear Protection Zone must be created and clearly indicated with appropriate signage. Employees must not be allowed to enter this zone without sufficient hearing protection. This limit must never be exceeded, no matter how briefly. Unlike the upper and lower limits, this limit takes into account any reduction by hearing protection. When choosing your hearing protection, there are three EN ratings which you should look for: EN352-1 applies to ear defenders EN352-2 applies to earplugs (including corded and banded versions) EN352-3 applies to helmet mounted ear defenders To obtain an accurate noise assessment, full octave band sound analysis should be carried out and then matched with the high-medium-low attenuation values offered by the various types of hearing protection available.
SNR stands for Single Number Rating and is given as a guide for each model of hearing protection in order to simplify the selection process. This should be used mainly for comparison and is not intended as a substitute for doing a full frequency analysis in noise critical areas. If using the SNR to establish which hearing protection is suitable, this can be done by subtracting the SNR from the actual noise rating (wearing an ear protector with SNR 30dBA in an area where the noise level was 100dBA would reduce the noise level to 70dBA). Quick Guide (this is intended as a guide only and does not take into account frequency): Noise Level in Decibels Appropriate SNR Rating 85-90 20 or lower 91-95 20-30 96-100 25-35 101-105 30 or higher With hearing protection, it is possible to overprotect which causes different hazards to arise. Workers need to be able to hear approaching vehicles and warning signals. The optimum level is usually considered to be 70dBA and reducing noise levels below this should be avoided.
The protection provided by hearing protectors is based upon the user wearing the device for the full duration of exposure. If the earplugs or earmuffs are removed, even for a very brief period of time, the effectiveness of the protection is severely compromised. To demonstrate just how serious this risk is, the HSE reported the following results from a study: This tool shows the dramatic decrease of effective protection in relation to percentage of the time not worn. In the example, hearing protectors with attenuation of 25dB are provided for 1 hour of noisy work per day. Expected attenuation is 25dB when worn for the full hour (100% of the time) Remove the protectors for just 2 minutes within the hour (protectors NOT worn for 3% of the time) and the effective protection over the full 1-hour is reduced to equivalent hearing protectors with an attenuation of just 14dB. It is crucial to ensure that workers are keeping their hearing protection in place throughout the exposure periods if they are to receive maximum benefit. Employers can increase the chances of consistent use by ensuring that employees can communicate effectively with their devices in place, as well as providing them protection that is comfortable for them and suitable for the type of job they will be performing.
It is important that every effort is made to reduce or eliminate the noise levels at source as much as reasonably practical. This can be done by designing the workspace in a way that shields the workers from noise, and by selecting quieter machines when possible, If it is not possible to reduce the noise levels in a workplace to a safe level, employers are legally required to provide employees with personal hearing protection devices. When it comes to selecting this equipment, there is a range of types to choose from. Ear muffs protect the ears with foam-lined muff cups which are fitted over the ears. Usually, ear plugs reduce noise by 15 to 30 decibels. They can be used in conjunction with ear plugs for increased protection if needed. Benefits Ear muffs are usually one size fits most, saving time on the fit processes associated with some other options. Additionally, they are easy to spot for managers, making it simpler to ensure employees are protected. Ear muffs are generally consistent amongst users in protection, as there is less attenuation variability. Lastly, if a user develops an ear infection, he or she can still use ear muffs comfortably. Drawbacks Bulkier and heavier, ear muffs are less convenient to carry around than ear plugs. Additionally, they do not have as much interoperability with other PPE. In hot environments, ear muffs can become quite uncomfortable, Also, men with large beards or sideburns may have their protection compromised, as facial hair can prevent the ear muffs from creating a protective seal.
There is a variety of ear plug styles to choose from disposable, reusable, custommade. Single-use earplugs are convenient for environments where hygiene may make reusable ear plugs a health threat. Reusable earplugs are often more economical when employees have the ability to store the earplugs for safekeeping between shifts. Cases are an effective aid in this. They reduce waste and are most often more economical. Custom earplugs are long-lasting (oftentimes over three years) earplugs which are moulded to the individuals ear canal for maximum comfort and protection. They are more expensive up front but are usually more cost-effective than alternatives over time. Additionally, ear plugs can come with a cord to reduce instances of lost ear plugs in situations where employees may remove the devices regularly. Bands can also be used for similar purposes. Some earplugs can be fitted with visual or metal detecting features, particularly beneficial in food production. Benefits Ear plugs are much easier to carry around than ear muffs, and they are easy to use with other PPE, such as helmets, goggles, or in conjunction with ear muffs for added protection. In hot environments, ear plugs are more comfortable. They are also a better choice for work in confined spaces. Drawbacks It is more difficult to monitor the use of ear plugs amongst employees, as they are harder to see. They are easier to misplace than ear muffs due to their small size, and good hygiene must be practiced in inserting them into the ear canal. They require more time to fit with each use, and some people may find certain ear plugs irritating or uncomfortable.
At Nusafe, we are aware of the struggles that go with trying to ensure your employees are properly protected, particularly in noisy workplaces. In an industry as serious as health and safety, hearing loss has received a large portion of the public s attention in recent years. It is our goal to make all PPE, including ear muffs and ear plugs, simple. We want you to be confident that you are using the right equipment for the job, protecting the future of your employees hearing, and safeguarding your company from hearing loss claims down the road. If you require ear plugs or ear muffs for your workplace, let s talk about it. We have a large range of options to choose from, ensuring that your employees are happy and comfortable, while fully protected for work each day. A custom fitted earplug ready to use in less than 10 minutes. Equipment can be individually tested for Personal Attenuation Rating and Noise Block Seal Multiple attenuation feature optimizes sound reduction while allowing for easy communication without the need to remove the device Durable, hypoallergenic silicone earpiece offers impulse sound filter for environments with sudden loud noises One-year plus reusability allows for reduced cost with increased protection Supplied in a convenient carry case, allowing the kit to be kept safe, hygienic and handy
K02-6060 Betafit Flare Earplugs 34SNR 200 Pairs These earplugs offer 34SNR protection, supplied in boxes of 200 pairs. Made of soft foam, these earplugs are very comfortable and suitable for all day wear. The flared shape at the end of the plug gives an improved fit and higher product performance. K02-6068 Betafit Flare Earplugs Refill 34SNR 500 Pairs These earplugs offer 34SNR protection, supplied in bags of 500 pairs. Made of soft foam, these earplugs are very comfortable and suitable for all day wear. The flared shape at the end of the plug gives it an improved fit and higher product performance. K02-6401 Moldex Rockets Corded Reusable Earplugs SRN 30 Box 50 Suited to protect against long term exposure, Rockets Cord are made of soft material which is gentle on the skin. The Rockets Cord come in a handy storage container to keep the plugs hygienic between use. Easy insertion due to solid handle. SNR 30 K05-7650 Moldex Large Mellow Earplugs Station 500 Pairs Made from recyclable material and with only 2% wastage, the dispenser puts protection at the centre of the workforce. Plugs remain hygienic as the dispenser mechanism is automatically replaced with every refill. Contains 500 pairs of Moldex Mellows SNR 26. Requires a K05-7060 mounting bracket to attach it to the wall. K05-7850 Moldex Large Spark Plugs Station 500 Pairs Made from recyclable material and with only 2% wastage, the dispenser puts protection at the centre of the workforce. Plugs remain hygienic as the dispenser mechanism is automatically replaced with every refill. Contains 500 pairs of Moldex Spark Plugs SNR 35. Requires the K05-7060 wall mount to attach it to the wall. K31-6100 Noisebeta Ear Defender 27 SNR These defenders provide excellent value. Soft cushioning ear muffs, height adjustment and lightweight construction makes these a comfortable choice for long period of wear. Meets the requirements for EN352-1:2002 K31-6250 Noisebeta Ear Muff 32SNR These hardworking ear defenders offer 32 SNR protection. They have extra soft cushioning to ensure wearer comfort when worn for extended periods of time. Meets the requirements of EN352-1:2002. 19.50 40.00 79.50 67.50 43.75 3.43 8.38 To learn more about how we can help with hearing protection, give us a call at 0845 337 1698, or send an email to sales@nusafe.co.uk.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 Noise Exposure, Action on Hearing Loss Information, 2012 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Noise at Work ADD USEFUL LINKS