Page 16 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2019

HEARING PROTECTION
especially when used in combination with other forms of above- the-shoulder PPE.
Innovations in headband styles are driving weight reduction. Headbands are made of tempered steel or molded plastic, each designed to retain its shape and deliver sufficient force. But be- yond their foundation they vary greatly, from overmolded bands (steel coated in pliable plastic) and wires covered in padded tex- tiles, to completely non-metallic (dielectric). Look for a headband with the level of resilience and interoperability that meets the spe- cific application. Then, select those with lightweight design and materials to support long-time wear. Headbands are also the site of new adjustment features that help individuals find a personally comfortable fit. Poorly fitting ear muffs can slip out of place, rub, and create pressure points—and are likely to be removed. In ad- dition to convenient sizing options on headbands, new features allow users to make micro adjustments to move the cup forward and back using slip fit, step and click, or ratchet mechanisms and achieve just-right placement.
Cup size is another area experiencing innovation. Historically, larger cup sizes equated to higher attenuation ratings. But a larger- than-necessary cup adds bulk and weight and reduces comfort. Technical advances in airflow control allow some cups to be much smaller in size and lighter in weight while delivering very high at- tenuation ratings.
The cushion is key to ear muff performance. It delivers the pro- tective seal around the user’s ears as well as attenuation. It also
regulates the amount of pressure the user feels on his or her ears from the foam inside the cup. A poorly constructed or poorly at- tached cushion, or one whose foam is too dense, yields a poor- quality seal, little to no attenuation, and an uncomfortable fit. New seal technology yields big improvements in comfort and protec- tion. Pay close attention to the cushion’s foam density and pliabil- ity and select cushions with high-quality foam securely enclosed in soft, non-abrasive plastic coverings to ensure all-day comfort and attenuation.
Lisa Steckert is Product Manager, Hearing Protection (http://www. howardleight.com/), with Honeywell Safety & Productivity Solutions.
REFERENCES
1. https://asa.scitation.org/doi/10.1121/1.2024272
2. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html
3. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss#6
4. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_ hearing_loss.html
5. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/healtheffects.html 6. https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2018/06/28/noise-effects/
7. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/
8. https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2018/06/28/noise-effects/
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