How To Protect Your Hearing On A Construction Site.

Avoiding the dangerous sound levels on construction sites is paramount to protecting your hearing. In many cases, workers are exposed to unsafe noise levels for up to eight hours a day. This exposure can have a significant impact on one’s health.

These fall into the following categories:

• 1. Standard Budget Ear Muffs.
• 2. Standard High-end Ear Muffs.
• 3. Pair with Bluetooth and microphone to listen to music and taking calls.
• 4. A pair which reduces loud noises, but still allows you to hear and talk.
• 5. Ear Muffs that attach to hard hat.
• 6. Hard Hat with built-in ear muffs.

Why Do We Need Construction Hearing Protection?

Construction sites are a noisy place, and there is a lot of equipment that can cause hearing damage to anyone that is near it. When you are exposed to deafening noises, or loud noises over a prolonged period. Then it can damage your hearing.

You probably will not notice this at first, as each time your hearing is damaged, it is usually by a tiny, unnoticeable amount. Over several years the without construction earmuffs, damage accumulates, until you have bad hearing, or maybe tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Once you have damaged hearing, there is very little you can do about it. Therefore, you see so many people with bad hearing when they are older. So it is imperative that you get earplugs for construction workers that are available for the industry.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) gives the following guidelines of how long you may be exposed to various sounds

• 115 dB ~30 sec.
• 112 dB ~1 min.
• 109 dB < 2 min.
• 106 dB < 4 min.
• 103 dB 7.5 mins.
• 100 dB 15 minutes.
• 97 dB 30 minutes.
• 94 dB 1Hour.
• 91 dB 2 hours.
• 88 dB 4 hours.
• 85 dB 8 hours.
• 82 dB 16 hours.

To give you some idea of how loud these sounds are, the infographic below shows the volume of some everyday sounds.

Myths About Hearing - On A Construction Site.

Hearing loss in the construction industry is an issue that has been discussed recently. As construction employers are struggling with how to mitigate noise exposure for employees, employees are facing a dilemma of if they should wear the proper gear. The following are myths related to work on a construction site.

Myths 1 - Build Up A Resistance To Noise.

This myth means that the worker’s hearing will become accustomed to the noise related issues and will not cause a problem for the worker.

You can’t build up your ears; it is just not possible to do. You are born with a certain hearing threshold, so higher sound levels can only affect your hearing with time and consistent overexposure.

Myths 2 - Noise Can Hurt Me Unless Its Loud.

Not true! Even loud sounds are not the only things that can cause hearing loss. Noises that are as low as 85 decibels can also damage your hearing. This is the reason working with a sound level meter is recommended in Construction Sites.

Myths 3 - Earplugs Will Make Me Look Less Tough And Less Professional.

Many workers in the construction industry are reluctant to use earplugs because they want to look tough or be seen as professional. Some men prefer not wearing them for fear that their co-workers will perceive them as weak or feminine.

However, hard hats and safety glasses are both safety gear that are mandatory, and hearing protection does not differ from these. Workers who wear earplugs can still look professional to their peers, but they just make sure they select earplugs that suit the individual’s personality.

Myths 4 - You Can’t Be A Hard Worker And Wear Hearing Protection.

This is a big misconception regarding hearing protection. If the worker is actually wearing ear protectors on site and they are being diligent, then they will still be able to perform their job as they need to. Not wearing proper protection when moving machinery or even using manual tools, like hammers, will cause a lot more noise than expected.

Hearing Loss Caused By The Following 3 Things.

Sound loss is caused by the following 3 things:

1) Decibel Level.

The higher the sound, the higher the decibel level. That is why jobs in construction which require them to use power tools, chain saws and machinery are the most dangerous for hearing loss because of the noise exposure.

2) Distance.

The longer you are exposed to high sound levels, the more damage you can do to your hearing. Also, the distance that you are from a source of loud sound is also a factor. For example, the noise exposure for someone who is 4ft away from a chain saw will be much less than someone who is working on a roof.

3) Time.

The amount of exposure to high sound levels will determine how much damage they can do to your hearing. So if you’re exposed to noise for a longer time, the more exposure you will get.

Construction Ear Protection – Law And Construction.

Do You Have To Wear A Hard Hat?

Under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992, employers have to provide workers with a hard hat. It also ensures employees are required to wear a hard hat on site where there is a risk of head injuries. This extends to visitors, too.

Do You Have To Wear Hearing Protection?

It is recommended that workplace noise on the construction site be below 85 dB, over an eight-hour period (weighted average). If the sound levels are higher than this, then hearing protection must be provided. If a person is exposed to a jackhammer or a stud welder, damage can happen in a little as an hour, with repeated exposures. (These noises are about 100 dB in volume)

Health and safety inspectors will check sounds with a sound level meter. If you do not have access to one of these, you can get a ROUGH estimate using a decibel meter application on a smartphone. The other standard rough measure of sound is to stand 2-3 feet away from a co-worker.

If you have to raise your voice to be heard at this distance, then the noise is over 80dB, and hearing protection should be worn

What Sort Of Equipment Needs Hearing Protection On A Construction Site?

The following items on construction sites have been measured to be above 85dB in volume, and therefore need hearing protection. Backhoe, belt sander, forklift, nail gun, electric grinder, bulldozer, jackhammer, chain saw. Any other equipment that has similar volumes to these will also need ear muffs.

Annual Lost Production Because Of Hearing Damage – Best Construction Hearing Protection.

It is estimated that over $240 million is spent annually on compensation for hearing loss. (2017 – U.S. Department of Labor). So if you handle the health and safety of anyone working on a construction site, make sure ear muffs are worn in that noisy environment.

Types Of Ear Muff On A Construction Site.

Because it is illegal not to wear a hard hat, there are limits to what sort of hearing protection you can use. Basically, the muff type ear defenders may not be suitable – if they impede the hard hat. But if they do not, then they are the best choice for ear protection. This leaves you with muffs that attach to the hard hat and types of in-ear plugs. Of course, should you be in an area where you do not need a hard hat, muffs are permissible.

1. Disposable Earplugs.

These are the cheapest quick solution to noise problems. One size fits all, and it’s the cheapest. However, these can only be worn once and are then thrown away. So the costs rise, and they are bad for the environment.

2. In-Ear Plugs.

These plugs work similarly to disposable plugs. They fit in the ear, but can be washed and reused. These plugs are a lot better than disposable plugs, and the extra cost is soon recuperated as each person only needs one pair. The better quality hi-fidelity version of these plugs only reduce the volume of the loudest sounds. This means that you can still have conversations with your work colleagues.

3. Moldable Ear Plugs.

These are balls of soft silicone or wax that are press carefully into the ear, creating a seal. These will stop a lot of the sound, and will also stop water or other debris going into the ear. This type of earplug can be used with ear muffs – Simply put the muff over the wax plugs when they are in your ears. This gives a second level of ear protection should there be something that is loud on the site. The disadvantages are that they need to be thrown away after a couple of wears, or as soon as they get dirty. This is again bad for the environment and pushes the long-term price up.

4. Hard Hat With Ear Muffs.

Probably the best ear plugs for construction workers, when they have to wear a hard hat. These are affixed to the side of the hat, so that the hat holds them in place.

5. Ear Muffs That Attach To The Hard Hat.

The same as above. If you already have a hard hat, these will attach to it to protect your ears.

6. Standard Budget Ear Muffs.

These are inexpensive ear muffs that will protect your hearing while you work. They are efficient and comfortable. May not work when wearing a hard hat, as the muffs go straight over the top of your head, impeding your hard hat.

7. Bluetooth Ear Muffs With A Microphone.

These are very similar to the standard earmuffs above, except they have a few extra features. These muffs have Bluetooth speakers and a micro

Top Pick – 3M WorkTunes With Bluetooth Technology

Please Note: Just because an ear defender is marked, for example, "Gunshot" - it will still cover other things, like "explosions"

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