Protect
Hearing protection is an essential element of nearly all occupational hearing conservation programs. 3M can help you with the expertise and products you need to protect your employees.
How do we protect employees who work in hazardous noise?
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Hearing protection devices (HPDs) help lower the noise exposure of workers by blocking out some of the sound that enters their ears. They are most effective when used in conjunction with other methods of reducing exposure to hazardous noise such as Buy Quiet programs and noise controls. In an occupational Hearing Conservation Program (HCP), it is preferable to eliminate or decrease the severity of the hazard rather than to change the way people work or require workers to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
When controlling hazardous noise isn’t feasible, HPDs are essential. Offer a variety of HPDs that provide options for workers in terms of comfort, ease of use, communication and noise reduction (attenuation). Balance the need for noise reduction with the needs of individual workers and the work environment. This may mean that several types of hearing protectors are needed. Consider offering HPDs that are designed to help workers hear important sounds when there are concerns about communication and safety on the job.
Perhaps most important of all, teach your employees about their hearing protectors and how to properly use them. The attitudes and behaviors of your employees can be as important as the design of the HPDs themselves in helping to protect their hearing.
Key Takeaways
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- Hearing protection is necessary when noise cannot be controlled to safe levels.
- Human factors such as attitude, skill, and HPD fit can be as important to the overall success as the hearing protector itself.
- Offer several HPD choices and provide effective training to help increase worker acceptance and proper use of hearing protectors.
- Consider how the hearing protectors affect safety, communication and audibility of critical sounds.
Key Terms
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- Attenuation
- Banded Protector
- Derating
- Dual Protection
- Earmuff
- Earplug
- Field Attenuation Estimation System (FAES)
- Impulse noise
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- Level-dependent protectors
- Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
- Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR)
- Protected Exposure
- Situational awareness
- Standard Threshold Shift (STS)
- Time-weighted average
- Wear time
Top Benefits of Letting Employees Choose Their HPD
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- People like options. When their personal preferences are considered, employees may be more satisfied and more invested in the outcome.
- Employees may wear hearing protection more of the time when they are allowed to choose HPDs that are compatible with their work
- Selecting the most comfortable HPD from several options may increase the likelihood that employees will wear them correctly
Getting Started With Hearing Protection
- Step 1. Measure workplace noise.
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Step 2. Determine how much noise reduction is needed
OSHA requires that hearing protectors be worn that are capable of reducing the noise hazard down to at least 90 dBA and, in some cases, down to 85 dBA or below. The protected exposure is the estimated TWA noise exposure of the employee after the protection provided by the HPD is taken into account. NIOSH recommends that all workers be provided with HPDs capable of reducing the protected exposure to 85 dBA or lower.
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Step 3. Offer employees a variety of HPDs
Given the large number of hearing protection options to choose from, employers should have no difficulty selecting a few HPDs from several categories which provide the right amount of noise reduction. Since ear canal sizes vary widely among groups of workers, be sure to include several sizes and types of earplugs. Because the noise and work tasks are typically rather different, it can be helpful to include other options such as earmuffs, banded hearing protectors, and level-dependent hearing protectors that are designed to help employees maintain their ability to hear important sounds.
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Step 4. Train employees on proper use and care of hearing protectors
Since effective use of hearing protection is related to the skill and motivation of the wearer, training and education of employees is extremely important. Training should include information on the relative benefits of different styles of hearing protectors, how to select them, proper use and care and when to replace them. To boost the impact of your training, be sure to include interactive learning methods, customize the content to your specific facility and discover what may motivate your employees to value their hearing enough to want to consistently wear hearing protection. Remind employees when, where and how to wear hearing protection using signs and posters in noisy areas.
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Step 5. Validate the noise reduction obtained by each worker who is wearing HPDs
Each hearing protector is assigned a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) by the manufacturer. This value, in decibels, is a description specified by U.S federal regulation of how much attenuation was achieved by a group of well-trained hearing protection users who wore the HPD correctly in a laboratory test. However, in the workplace, the noise reduction obtained by individual employees can vary widely and may be significantly lower or higher than the NRR value in individual instances. If the NRR is used to estimate typical workplace protection, 3M recommends that the NRR be reduced by 50% or in accordance with applicable regulations.
3M strongly recommends fit testing of hearing protectors as the best method to validate that each employee is obtaining the proper level of protection. You can quickly measure and document the Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) for each ear using a system such as the 3M™ E-A-Rfit™ Dual Ear Validation System. With this information, you can easily identify those employees who need additional training or who should be wearing a different size or style of hearing protector.
What is required?
OSHA, NIOSH and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) have endorsed hearing protector fit testing as a best practice. 3M strongly recommends fit testing of hearing protectors as an indicator of the noise reduction obtained by individual employees.
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Provide Hearing Protectors and Training on HPD Use
Employers must make available a “variety of suitable hearing protectors” to all employees who have TWA noise exposures at or above 85 dBA, the OSHA Action Level (AL) for hearing conservation. The HPDs must be provided at no cost to employees and replaced as necessary.
Employers must provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees, ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors.
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Ensure Hearing Protection is Worn
Employers must ensure that hearing protectors are worn by employees who fall into any of these categories:
- The employee’s TWA exposure is higher than the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 90 dBA, or
- The employee’s TWA exposure is 85 dBA or higher, and the employee has not obtained a baseline hearing test, known as an audiogram, and more than 6 months has passed since the employee’s first noise exposure at or above the Action Level, or
- The employee’s TWA exposure is 85 dBA or higher and he/she has experienced a Standard Threshold Shift (STS).
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Evaluate HPD Attenuation
The employer must evaluate the HPD attenuation for the specific noise environment in which the protector is used using one of the methods described in appendix B of OSHA regulation 1910.95. Several options are allowed by OSHA for estimating the adequacy of the HPD to reduce the protected exposure of the employee to an allowable level.
Hearing protectors must reduce the employee’s TWA exposure to at least 90 dBA. However, for employees who have experienced an Standard Threshold Shift (STS), hearing protectors must attenuate the TWA to 85 dBA or below.
The adequacy of hearing protector attenuation must be re-evaluated whenever employee noise exposures increase to the point where the HPD may no longer provide enough protection. The employer must provide more effective protection as necessary.
Visit OSHA to learn more about hearing conservation requirements.
Basics of Noise Reduction
The effectiveness of HPDs is directly related to how well they seal out sound in the environment. This is called the acoustic seal. Without an effective acoustic seal, excess sound leaks into the ear canal.
Some sounds are more difficult to block than others. For example, low frequency sounds (bass on the musical scale) are more difficult to attenuate than high frequency sounds (treble on the musical scale). To obtain good attenuation for both low and high frequency sounds, hearing protectors must seal tightly in or around the ears with no leaks. When leaks occur, low frequency sound can get through, causing a drop in the overall noise reduction. Suggestions for optimizing noise reduction of hearing protectors:
- Choose the right size hearing protectors
- Insert earplugs deeper into the ears
- Eliminate or minimize anything that interferes with the seal of earmuff cushions against the side of the head
- Check hearing protectors often during use to confirm they are not loose or coming out of the ears
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Hearing Protection SelectionSelecting hearing protection for your employees comes down to finding the right balance of comfort, ease of use, attenuation and situational awareness.
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Hearing Protector Use & CareThe effectiveness of a hearing protector depends not only on the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of the device but also on how well it fits, how it is used and its condition.
Beyond the Basics
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Hearing protector fit testing
Hearing protector fit testing is recognized a best practice by OSHA, NIOSH, and other professional organizations. Although it is not a regulatory requirement, it has several benefits, and will help employers meet the requirements to ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors.
In a 2014 study, nearly 30% of employees in an OSHA-compliant hearing conservation program were not receiving adequate attenuation for their workplace noise exposures. (Smith, et. al.). In light of the how widely hearing protection attenuation varies among workers, 3M strongly recommends fit testing to verify the attenuation obtained by each employee.
Fit testing systems such as the 3M™ E-A-Rfit™ DualEar™ Validation System are referred to as Field Attenuation Estimation Systems (FAES). The measurement obtained during FAES testing is the Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR). The PAR provides a moment-in-time snapshot of how well the hearing protector is reducing sound for that individual worker. Although hearing protector fit may vary from day to day, fit testing helps to verify that each worker is capable to fitting his/her hearing protectors correctly and obtaining adequate attenuation and that the hearing protector is appropriate for the size and shape of the ear canal or head. Find out more about 3M™ E-A-Rfit™ by clicking here.
Some of the key benefits of HPD fit testing are:
- Identifying at-risk employees who may not be obtaining adequate attenuation
- Training and motivating employees
- Validating the appropriate size and model of HPD for each employee
- Documenting that adequate attenuation is achieved by each employee
Have You Considered?
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- Measuring C-weighted sound levels for hearing protector selection; eliminating the need to subtract 7 dB from the NRR
- Developing a tracking system for replacement of earmuffs and cushions
- Displaying posters or reminders when to replace hearing protection
- Having a supply of earmuffs available for people who aren’t able to wear earplugs, or prefer not to wear them for some reason
- Providing employees a list of other models or types of HPDs that are approved to wear when their first choice isn’t available
- Making HPDs more accessible in your facility
- Posting signs in areas where dual hearing protection is mandatory
- Posting signs in areas where hearing protection is mandatory, regardless of exposure time
- Teaching workers about or making available hearing protection for noisy activities outside of work
- Making fit testing part of STS follow up procedures to verify that employee is protected to a TWA of 85 dBA or less
- Placing waste cans near entrances and exits to help keep used earplugs from being thrown on the floor
- Instructing employees to bring HPDs with them to annual hearing check so they can be evaluated
- Having employees at your facility make a hearing protection video showing proper insertion and use
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IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is based on selected current national requirements. Other country or local requirements may be different. Always consult User Instructions and follow local laws and regulations. This website contains an overview of general information and should not be relied upon to make specific decisions. Reading this information does not certify proficiency in safety and health. Information is current as of the date of publication, and requirements can change in the future. This information should not be relied upon in isolation, as the content is often accompanied by additional and/or clarifying information. All applicable laws and regulations must be followed.
