From workers in loud construction sites to artists and crews in concerts, hearing conservation is key to preserving the sense of hearing. This is particularly true for teams in environments that deal with noise levels above 85 decibels (dB).
But how loud exactly is 85 dB? It’s not as noisy as one would expect. We deal with 85-dB sounds in our everyday lives. It can be equivalent to the noise that emanates from a loud, busy restaurant, the accumulated sounds from vehicles stuck in heavy traffic, or that of a train passing by.
Thankfully, 85 dB is safe if you aren’t exposed to this level of noise for more than 8 hours per day. But this isn’t the case for workers in certain industries who deal with noise exceeding this threshold for long periods. When this noise level is unavoidable, hearing conservation becomes an essential tool for workplace health and safety.
What is hearing conservation training?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 million adults aged 20 to 69 experience noise-induced hearing loss in the US. You’re at higher risk if you work in noisy environments exposing you to loud noises for long hours.
Hearing conservation training is important to protect your teams from being a part of this statistic. An effective training program preserves their hearing and equips them with the hows of hearing conservation and protective equipment, saving their future selves from further ear damage.
OSHA mandates that employers should give hearing protection and training to workers with noise exposure levels at or above 85 dB. This hearing protection program usually covers measuring noise levels, identifying noise hazards, and training teams to protect themselves.
Tick off one box in your OSHA-required annual training list by investing in hearing protection training now.
What are the three common types of hearing protection?
If you’re having trouble deciding what hearing protective equipment to get for your teams, check out this handy list of the three most common types of hearing protection:
Earplugs - These are small hearing PPEs that fit into the ear canal to reduce the noise level entering the ear. Some pros of earplugs include a portable and versatile design that suits varying needs.
Earmuffs - This hearing protection device covers the entire outer ear and acts as a barrier to block out noise. If your teams need to remove and reapply their protection devices from time to time, then this is perfect for them.
Semi-insert earplugs - These are the earplugs and earmuffs combined. From the name itself, these are earplugs connected to a band or strap, holding it in place against the ear canal. It’s easily removable like the earmuffs and versatile like the earplugs.
Safeguard your team’s senses with hearing conservation training
Noise-induced hearing loss doesn’t only affect your employees’ well-being; it also disrupts your business’s daily operations. One’s sense of hearing plays a vital role in many aspects of their day-to-day lives, including communication, learning, social interaction, and safety.
Without hearing protection, workplace health and safety fall on deaf ears. Jumpstart your team’s hearing conservation training. Join Mitti (by SafetyCulture) today!
