A loud workplace isn’t very good for your ears (or your focus, for that matter). The health of your hearing can be negatively affected by even moderate noise levels if you’re exposed to it for several hours every day. This is why questions like “what hearing protection should I use?” are worth asking.
Most of us probably didn’t even know there were multiple levels of hearing protection. But it makes sense when you stop to think about it. A truck driver won’t require the same amount of protection that a jet engine mechanic will.
Levels of Hearing Damage
The fact that 85dB of sound can start to damage your ears is a standard rule of thumb. Putting sound into context with regards to its decibel level and how dangerous it is, isn’t something the majority of us are used to doing.
Eighty-five decibels is about how loud city traffic is when you’re driving your car. That’s not a big deal, right? Wrong, it’s a big deal. At least, it’s a biggie after several hours. Because it isn’t just the loudness of the noise that you need to pay attention to, it’s how long you’re exposed.
Common Danger Zones
If you’re exposed to 85 dB of noise for eight hours a day or more, you should probably consider wearing hearing protection. But that isn’t the only threshold you should be aware of. If you’re exposed to:
- 90 dB (e.g., lawnmower): Damage will begin to happen to your ears if you’re exposed to this level of noise for 4 hours a day.
- 100 dB (e.g., power tools): Your ears will be injured when exposed to this noise level for 1 hour a day.
- 110 dB (e.g., leaf blower): Injury to your hearing happens after 15 minutes of exposure to this noise level.
- 120 dB (e.g., rock concert): Any exposure can cause harm to your ears.
- 140 dB (e.g., jet engine): Any exposure can cause damage and could even cause instant pain.
You’ll want the hearing protection you choose to be sufficient to bring the decibel level below that 85 dB level, particularly if you’re exposed to those noises for any amount of time.
Find a Comfortable Fit
The effectiveness of ear protection is quantified by something called a Noise Reduction Rate, or NRR. The higher the NRR, the quieter outside sound will be (temporarily).
Most workplaces will have recommendations as to what level of protection will keep your hearing safe because it’s essential to have the right protection.
But there’s another aspect to think about as well: comfort. As it happens, comfort is incredibly important to keeping your hearing healthy. This is because you’re not as likely to actually wear your hearing protection if it isn’t comfortable.
Hearing Protection Choices
You’ve got three basic options to choose from:
- Earplugs that sit within the ear canal
- Earplugs that sit just outside of the ear canal.
- Earmuffs.
Each type of protection has advantages and disadvantages, but most of your hearing protection choices will depend upon personal preference. For some individuals, earplugs are irritating, so earmuffs may be a better choice. Other individuals might appreciate the leave-them-in-and-forget-them approach of earplugs (obviously, you won’t want to forget them for too long… you should remove them at the end of your workday. And clean them).
Find a Constant Degree of Hearing Protection
Any laps in your hearing protection can result in damage, so comfort is an important factor. If you take your earmuffs off for ten minutes because they’re heavy and scratchy, your hearing can suffer over the long run. So the most important decision you can make is to choose hearing protection that you’re comfortable leaving in place during your workday.
You’re ears will stay healthier and happier if you find the right level of hearing protection for your circumstance.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html