Keep your hearing sharp in noisy environments

Ever find yourself shouting to a coworker just to be heard over background noise? That’s a clear sign that the noise is too loud, and it might be taking a toll on your hearing. Here are nine tips EMC Insurance recommends you can follow to protect your ears:

1. Be aware of your noise sources: Pay attention to the equipment, tasks, or areas that produce high noise levels. Regular exposure to moderately loud equipment, like sanding or power tools, can damage your hearing over time. High-decibel equipment, such as chainsaws, impact wrenches, compressed air, and jackhammers, pose even greater risks.

2. Know employer responsibilities: Under OSHA regulations, employers must provide a safe work environment which includes the prevention of hazardous noise exposures. Some responsibilities include measuring noise exposures, implement noise controls, administer a hearing conservation program, and offer suitable hearing protection options for your noise environment.

3. Take action: Hearing damage is irreversible. So, limit exposure to noise by distancing yourself from loud noises as much as possible, reducing equipment speeds and keeping up with routine maintenance. Using soundabsorbing materials in your space also can help.

4. Gear up: Noise over 85 decibels is considered hazardous and can cause permanent hearing loss. Use earplugs or earmuffs, or both, if you’re frequently in loud environments. They’re essential for keeping hearing intact.

5. Use them right: If using roll down earplugs, roll them into a tight cylinder, pull your ear up and out, then insert the plug and hold it in place until it expands. Flanged ear plugs have a pre-molded material, so you can usually just stick them in your ear. But make sure they’re inserted far enough to close your ear canal. Earmuffs should fit snugly yet comfortably over the ear, ensuring they seal well without pinching. Be sure to follow manufacturers’ instructions to ensure you’re properly wearing hearing protection.

6. Ear buds aren’t enough: Most ear buds or other listening devices don’t have a noise reduction rating (NRR) and aren’t hearing protection devices. Many also do not have noise limiting capability. These can actually increase the likelihood of hearing loss. Invest in proper earplugs or earmuffs to ensure adequate shielding from harmful noise.

7. Know that chemicals can play a role in hearing loss: Exposure to certain chemicals (called ototoxicants) can increase your hearing loss, especially when also exposed to elevated noise levels. Examples of ototoxicants include certain solvents, metals, carbon monoxide, pesticides, and certain pharmaceuticals. Assess your chemical exposures to determine if this can affect you.

8. Be mindful of your recreational exposures: If you enjoy hunting, carpentry, metalworking, mechanics, concerts, or other loud venues, remember that your total noise exposure causes hearing loss. So wear appropriate hearing protection at home or at work.

9. There are no such thing as tough ears: Your ears don’t adjust to loud noise—they just get further damaged. Protect your hearing now to prevent irreversible harm later.

Stay alert to these tips, and keep those ears in tip-top shape, no matter how noisy it gets. Your future self will thank you! Find the latest news, insights, and actionable safety tips—all carefully curated by our team of experts—at emcinsurance.com/losscontrol. ABI