Protect your Employees Health with the Right Hearing Protection Devices

Protect your Employees Health with the Right Hearing Protection Devices
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, makes it mandatory for enterprises to
provide hearing protection devices to employees working in high noise areas or where sound levels
exceed 85 decibels. Hearing loss is caused by the excessive noise in places like airport tarmacs, industrial
environments, factories, music events, etc. Loss may be full or partial and may also result in other
hearing related problems, such as a buzzing in the ears.

Employers should conduct sound surveys to identify high noise areas and control noise exposures, enroll
affected employees in a hearing conservation program and provide hearing protection devices (HPD)
and rehabilitate workers who have suffered noise induced hearing loss to end highly preventable noise-
induced hearing loss.

Choosing the right hearing protection device (HPD) or the right communication headsets like Ear Plugs
and Ear Muffs for yourself or your employees is important. In some cases inspite of providing headsets,
fewer personnel are wearing these HPDs due to improper selection of the headset and thus exposing
themselves to potential health problems. Points to keep in mind while selecting a HPD:
* Noise Level - Access the noise level before selecting the device. Hearing protection device you
choose should effectively protect against any type of noise.

* Lower overall attenuation - Select a device that provides moderate to maximum attenuation.
These can be adjusted according to changes in background noise that are intermittent, continuous or
high impact.

* Communication - HPD should have communication capabilities. Major reason for employees not
wearing HPD is not being able to communicate. With these devices having built in communication, users
can communicate face to face at short and long distances via a two way radio, Bluetooth cell phone or
hands free communication with VOX activation in high noise environments.

* Devices for Workers with hearing Problem - Special HPDs are manufactured for people who are
already suffering from hearing loss. These devices compensate for lost hearing at the same time
providing them protection.

* Comfort - HPD's should be comfortable to use else it will be removed by the employee. They
should be simple to use, extremely comfortable and allow face-to-face, two-way or cell phone
communication beyond 85dB.

* Situational Awareness - Situational awareness is very important to avoid accidents. Employee

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should be able to determine the nature, distance and direction of speech and other sounds like alarms,
vehicle noise while working.

Thus providing a good hearing protection devices like ear plugs and earmuffs makes a huge difference to
the health of your employees, makes them more focused and change your workplace in many ways, all
for the right reasons.
Know more on:
safety earmuffs
communication headset

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