When Is Hearing Protection Necessary?
Hearing protection is a good idea whenever you use power tools or landscape equipment such as a mower, string trimmer, blower or chainsaw. In addition, there are several indicators that an environment is too noisy and that you should be wearing hearing protection:
- You need to shout so someone at arm's length can hear you.
- You experience a humming or ringing in your ears when you finish an activity.
- You have temporary loss of hearing when you finish an activity.
Two common types of hearing protection are earplugs, which fit directly in the ear canal, and earmuffs, which fit over or around your head, covering both ears completely. You can also find earbud-style hearing protection. Typically, hearing protection is one size fits all, but many hearing protectors have features or adjustments that let you choose the best fit and performance for the work you’re doing. The equipment should provide the right amount of protection and be comfortable to wear so you’ll be more likely to use it consistently.
Follow the tool or equipment manufacturer's recommendation for safety equipment.
Earplugs
Earplugs are inexpensive, lightweight and more comfortable than earmuffs in a hot environment. They’re good options if you’re working on a task, like mowing, that creates constant noise or in situations where you don't need to repeatedly take them out and reinsert them. Earplugs aren’t affected by headgear, eyewear, hair, etc., but they need to fit tightly into the ear canal to get the rated hearing protection. In addition, since they fit directly into the ear canal, you'll need to make sure they're clean before use. Follow the included instructions and don’t insert them too deeply into the ear canal.
Foam Earplugs
Compress foam earplugs by rolling them between your thumb and forefinger before you insert them into your ear canals. They should expand and fill the space. It may take some practice to get the good, tight fit that gives you the rated level of protection. If they don’t seem to be reducing the sound properly, you may need to reinsert them. Make sure your hands are clean before you roll or compress them. Dispose of them after use — don’t reuse foam earplugs.
Flanged Earplugs
These earplugs are made of washable plastic or silicone, with flanges to conform to the ear canal. The plugs are usually connected by a cord so you can hang them around your neck when not in use. Their design makes these earplugs easier to keep clean since you can insert them without touching the flanges that fit into your ear canal. Flanged plugs are typically reusable but may not provide the same tight fit or the same level of protection as foam plugs.
Earbuds
Earbud hearing protectors function like standard audio earbuds, but in addition to allowing you to listen to music and — with some models — make phone calls, they also offer hearing protection. Some also offer noise-canceling features to reduce persistent sounds like those from a mower or generator. You can find wired versions as well as rechargeable, wireless earbuds that connect to mobile devices via Bluetooth. Some earbud hearing protectors fit like foam earplugs, and others offer the fit of a flanged earplug. Some come with multiple styles and sizes of earplug tips to let you find the best fit.
Earmuffs
Earmuff hearing protectors have padded, insulated cups connected by a headband. The cups cover your ears completely, functioning as a set of hearing protection headphones. Because they may become uncomfortable if you’re working in a hot location, these devices are good for situations where noise isn't a constant hazard. Hearing protection earmuffs are easy to put on correctly, easy to take off quickly and tend to provide more consistent protection than earplugs. However, keep in mind that because of their design, eyewear, facial hair, long hair and some earrings can make it difficult to get a good fit that provides the best protection. They may not work well with some protective equipment, such as headgear or face shields. Basic earmuffs provide hearing protection only, but you can find models with features such as a built-in radio. Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs let you connect to phones and other mobile devices for audio and calls.
Don’t forget hearing protection for kids. Look for earmuff-style hearing protection sized for children to safeguard their hearing from loud sounds such as noise from concerts, fireworks displays and motor sports.
Noise Reduction Ratings
When shopping for hearing protection, you need to know how well the equipment attenuates your exposure to noise and reduces the sound level, measured in decibels (dB), to an acceptable level. Hearing protectors have a noise reduction rating (NRR) that indicates the level of noise reduction they can supply. The NRR tells you in decibels the average reduction of sound level the hearing protection provided in a testing environment where the protective device was used as directed. A higher NRR indicates greater effectiveness in reducing the sound level.
Regardless of the NRR, any type of hearing protection needs a proper fit to work correctly. A poor fit or improper use means the level of noise reduction will be lower than the listed NRR.
Follow the hearing protection device instructions. Using hearing protection in a manner that differs from the intended method will not provide the specified protection.
You can combine earplugs and earmuffs, but the protection level is not the sum of the two NRRs. This method adds between 4 decibels and 10 decibels of sound reduction to the higher-rated device.