Page 14 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2019

HEARING PROTECTION
significant bearing on an individual’s overall well-being. A loss in hearing may limit the ability to understand speech, impair the abil- ity to communicate, reduces productivity, lead to social isolation and withdrawal, or increase the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.6 The cost to employers and society is huge, as well. U.S. companies pay $1.5 million annually in penalties for not pro- tecting workers from noise, while a whopping $242 million is spent annually on workers’ compensation for hearing loss disability.7
To address hazardous noise at work, OSHA’s regulation 29 CFR 1910.95 calls for hearing protection to be provided by employers wherever noise averages more than 85 decibels during an eight- hour day. Noise measurements are based on a time-weighted av- erage and all continuous, intermittent and impulsive sound levels from 80 decibels to 130 decibels are factored in. Refer to the OSHA regulation for complete details.
While painless, progressive, and permanent, occupational NIHL is also preventable with today’s hearing loss prevention strat- egies and technology.8 Providing effective hearing protection to ev- ery noise-exposed worker is vital, but even the highest-attenuating hearing protection is useless if workers do not wear it. Here’s what you need to know to find a comfortable, effective solution.
Anatomy of a Passive Ear Muff
A passive ear muff is comprised of four basic components. The cup is a rigid, molded plastic piece visible to others when worn. It is the outer shell to which the rest of the ear muff is attached, and the
user’s ears should fit entirely inside the cups.
The cushion is the foam circle that fits around the user’s ear and creates the interface with the wearer’s head. Passive ear muffs rely on the quality of the cushion to deliver attenuation. A good inter- face of the cushion to the head around the ear is needed to create a seal. Poor cushion material that delivers a loose or broken seal ren- ders the user unprotected from noise. Inside the cup and located behind the cushion is another layer of foam specially designed to interrupt sound waves transduced through the ear cup. Finally, the headband holds the ear muffs in place and delivers the pressure that creates the cushions’ tight, protective seal. When the headband delivers too much force, the user will experience uncomfortable pressure; too little leaves hearing unprotected.
Advances in Passive Ear Muffs
An uncomfortable ear muff is more likely to be removed or un- worn, even in the presence of hazards. Providing comfortable hearing protection is key, but finding passive ear muffs that feel good over long shifts and fit every worker’s unique dimensions (head size and shape plus ear size, shape, and location) can be challenging. Fortunately, new advances make it easier than ever to deliver comfortable, properly fitting hearing protection to the entire workforce.
Weight is a top consideration in selecting comfortable pas- sive hearing protection devices. Because ear muffs are generally worn over the head, they can feel heavier the longer they’re worn,
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