Presented by Clear360
As a small business owner or safety manager, hearing protection should be top of mind no matter if your workers are only exposed to a one-time, exceedingly high decibel noise or if they have long-term exposure to noisy conditions.
You may not immediately consider the importance of hearing protection when it comes to worker safety, but it is a pressing matter. 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work each day, making hearing loss the third most common chronic physical condition, according to the CDC.
To help protect workers from permanent hearing damage, we interviewed Dr. Stan Phillips, a board-certified otolaryngologist and a member of the National Hearing Conservation Association.
We got Dr. Phillips’ insight into hearing health, the current state of workplace safety, and what lies ahead. So, whether you’re in a noisy stadium, construction, or industrial jobsite, his expertise will help you understand occupational noise exposure hazards and ways to protect your workers.
Q: How many people are affected by hearing impairment?
A: Approximately 40 million people in the U.S. alone have noise-induced hearing loss. In construction, more than 25% of the workforce is affected. In manufacturing, more than 20%. Many people are exposed to high noise levels every day. The workplace is one venue where hearing safety is critical. People are exposed to excessive noise, and many are doing little or nothing to protect themselves.
Q: How does noise affect people?
A: Excessive noise exposure contributes to:
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing of ears)
- Decreased ability to communicate
- Loss of situational awareness
Q: Hearing health is linked to other major health and quality of life issues. What are some of them?
A: There are several unhealthy side effects to noise exposure that affect general health and wellness. Medical studies show that noise exposure is linked to:
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Alzheimer’s
Q: What are the economics behind hearing health and safety?
A: Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually on medical costs, work stoppage, and legal claims from accidents, death, and hearing loss. Another big issue is on the revenue side of the equation. Noise-related issues also reduce productivity—not just from missing work, but also from reduced efficiency while on the jobsite. Lack of proper communication, extra work breaks to discuss strategy, having to use hand signals, and having to leave the area to communicate are key productivity issues.
Q: What are examples of workplace noise?
A: There are two types of workplace noise, and both can affect your health and well-being.
- Constant noise (machinery, generators, vehicles). A bulldozer produces 104-108 dB of noise.
- Impulse noise (jackhammer, nail gun, sheet metal falling on concrete). A nail gun produces 110-130 dB of impact noise while a jackhammer can generate up to 120 dB of impact noise.
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Q: How is sound/noise intensity measured?
A: In units called decibels (dB). The higher the dB, the more intense the noise level.
Q: Are there federal guidelines for workplace hearing safety? What are they?
A: Both OSHA (90 dB/8 hours) and NIOSH (85 dB/8 hours) have recommended noise exposure levels. And certain industries have noise exposure guidelines—the railroad industry is an example. However, many of the guidelines are decades old. Here are the recommended exposure levels by both OSHA and NIOSH.
Q: Are new standards on the horizon for workplace hearing safety? You mentioned that many are decades old.
A: Yes. The National Hearing Conservation Association is currently putting together recommendations for noise exposure, hearing safety, and health. They are designed to help employers and employees understand their options when considering hearing safety. From there, it’s about dispersing the information and putting it in the hands of the people. We’ve got to ensure that everyone, from small business owners to safety officers to the general public, knows the implications of loud noise on their health and well-being.
The products available for hearing protection have evolved so much—even solving the problem of situational awareness, like hearing safety noises and alerts while still keeping your ears safe. And just as technology is evolving, so are regulations, so staying up to date on best practices and what’s available to you for safety is critical.
Q: Is there such a thing as overprotection?
A: Yes! Overprotecting one’s hearing often results in isolating yourself from the outside world. This is dangerous. Lack of Auditory Situational Awareness (ASA) is a big problem that leads to accidents and lack of communication.
Q: Many people who work in high-noise environments do not practice hearing safety. Why?
A: The main reasons are the “five C’s.”
- Comfort
- Convenience
- Cost
- Climate
- Communication
And probably the biggest reason is the loss of situational awareness when you use most hearing protection equipment products. People do not want to lose the ability to accurately locate sounds around them like voice commands, backup warning tones, alarms, and falling objects.
Q: What types of hearing protection are available today?
A: Solutions range from inexpensive, simple foam ear plugs to expensive, advanced electronic hearing protection devices like the Navy Seals wear.
Q: What is the best type of hearing protection?
A: One that a worker will actually wear. And part of that lies in the hands of employers and safety officers. It's their job to put hearing front and center for the safety of their employees. Part of doing that is knowing the type of hearing protection available and their access to it. In today's market, tons of hearing protection devices are available, and they shouldn't be seen as a chore to wear—they're comfortable and convenient and protect you! On the flip side, I'd like to point out to employers and safety officers that there are even benefits for them and their businesses. These devices help to increase your workers' productivity, reduce the number of claims from hearing loss and workman's comp, and they can even be eligible for tax deductions!
Q: What is the hot topic among hearing specialists in 2023?
A: Auditory Situational Awareness—or the ability to accurately locate sound around you while protecting your hearing. Combine it with clear communication capabilities and you solve a decades-old problem.
Q: What new tech and wearables are becoming available to solve historical problems with jobsite hearing protection?
A: New, advanced technologies are getting into the game. CLEAR 360 PRO is a good example. This new technology has been developed by doctors, audio engineers, and construction-industry experts. It enables workers to overcome jobsite issues when operating in high-noise environments. It combines high-level hearing protection, accurate 360° sound location, and patented speech intelligibility algorithms that are already proven in aviation and medical communication systems. It is lightweight, offers hearing protection with Bluetooth connectivity, and has a 16-hour battery life with fast recharge. It has new, advanced technologies that surpass even military-grade solutions.
Q: How do you think we can bring more awareness to the impact that loud noises have on workers, and why do you think it does not get the same exposure as other safety issues?
A: It starts with education. An educated public brings awareness to the issue, and an educated small business owner brings awareness to their employees. How many people have ringing in their ears? How many are exposed to high-noise environments and do nothing about it? Companies like Zoro.com are industry leaders at the forefront of educating people about the issue, and they communicate with customers who really need to know. Other organizations that are dedicated to hearing health awareness and getting the word out include the National Hearing Conservation Association, the CDC, NIOSH, and OSHA.
Q: What is the primary difference between hearing safety and other workplace safety issues?
A: Many other safety issues have relatively simple solutions. Steel-toe boots, hard hats, and protective eyewear come to mind. Until recently, combining proper hearing protection with the ability to locate sounds and communicate clearly has been a challenge. American ingenuity and technology advancements have solved decades-long issues associated with noise exposure and companies like Zoro are on the leading edge of bringing these fresh solutions to their customers.
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We hope our interview with Dr. Stan Phillips educates you on the importance of hearing and ear protection, the role of noise in hearing loss, and the steps you can take to prevent it on the job.
Dr. Phillips’ expertise highlights the need to make everyone—from small business owners and safety officers to employees and the general public—aware of their individual hearing health. When you’re aware, you can consciously think about and be proactive regarding your safety and know that a solution exists if there may be a problem.
We also encourage you to stay on top of the latest safety precautions for employees that work in high-noise environments. As Dr. Phillips says, it starts with education.
To learn more about this topic, check out these educational videos.
Product Compliance and Suitability
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