National Safety Month
June is National Safety Month, organized by the National Safety Council, and it focuses on the protecting lives and preventing injuries in the workplace and the world beyond its’ boundaries [1]. This month helps to raise awareness about the many jobs that may put employees at risk for hearing loss if they do not protect their hearing in the workplace.
Common professions at risk
Here are some common professions that are at risk for hearing loss and how you can protect hearing in the workplace.
Hearing protection
If you are exposed to dangerous levels of sound at work (or at home), it's important to protect your ears from damage by wearing hearing protection. Below is a list of each type of hearing protection and the pros and cons to each. Use it as your handy guide to selecting the hearing protection that's right for you.
Disposable earplugs
These are usually made of a pliable foam that are rolled by hand into a thin tube then placed in the ear canal that then expand to seal off the ear.
- Affordable
- Easy to find online and in stores
- Ready for use (no custom or medical fitting required)
- No maintenance (throw away after use)
- Need to be rolled and placed correctly to ensure proper seal
- Must clean hands before handling them to avoid dirt or germs from getting in the canal
- Need to be replaced after each use (soft foam retains the oil and dirt in canal
- Must purchase more to restock supply
Reusable earplugs
These are made of a pre-molded flexible silicone or rubber that are usually flanged or cone-shaped. There are a variety of sizes to fit different wearers and some are joined by a cord or headband.
- Variety of sizes
- Reusable (just need to wash)
- Easy to insert and remove
- Maintenance required (wash, rinse, fully dry)
- Unable to expand or mold to ear
- Need to replace periodically
Earmuffs
Earmuffs look similar to stereo headphones; they completely cover the outer ear. The cushions in the muffs are usually filled with a foam or liquid and are connected by a headband that adjusts to fit the wearer.
- Reusable
- Covers ears instead of feeling “plugged up” by ear plugs
- Variety of sizes and styles
- Ready to wear (no custom or medical fitting)
- Can be combined with earplugs for additional protection
- Some have Bluetooth technology
- May feel hot and heavy over time
- Maintenance (cleaned and aired out)
- Equipment such as helmets, hats, or glasses can break proper seal
- Less portable
- More expensive
Custom molded earplugs
These are a perfect balance of comfort and proper sound protection because they are custom made for the wearer. While the initial purchase is more expensive, they are specifically made to fit the unique shape of your ear canal and last several years.
- Extremely comfortable
- Work for several years
- Easy to create proper seal due to custom fit
- Variety of styles for different activities
- Higher initial investment
- Require custom mold fitting
- Maintenance (routine cleaning)
Virtual Hearing Assessment
Hearing loss is more prevalent than you may think. Learn how noise may have impacted your hearing by requesting a virtual hearing assessment to see if you should seek treatment from a professional.
Good hearing matters
