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Limitations of personal hearing protection
| Earmuffs: advantages | Earmuffs: limitations |
|---|---|
| Easy to supervise because they are visible | Uncomfortable when worn for a long time |
| Less chance of ear infection | Must be inspected, cleaned and maintained routinely |
| Higher protection is possible across all frequencies, and bone transmission is reduced | Efficiency can be reduced by long hair, spectacles or earrings |
| Can be combined with other PPE, such as safety helmets | Incompatible with some other items that are worn |
| Reusable | Need dedicated storage |
| Earplugs: advantages | Earplugs: limitations |
|---|---|
| Cheap | Hard to see when fitted, so supervision and enforcement are difficult |
| Can be disposable | Risk of infection if dirty or cross-contaminated when inserted |
| Often more comfortable to wear | |
| Do not interfere with other items worn, such as PPE |
Attenuation. Attenuation describes the reduction in sound reaching the ear. Laboratory ratings support selection, but actual protection depends on fit, use, condition, the noise spectrum and compatibility with other equipment.
The noise that gets through to the ear must be assessed to make sure it is below the relevant exposure limit. This needs information on:
- the noise characteristics of the workplace
- the attenuation characteristics of the hearing protection, which come from the manufacturer
Neither earmuffs nor earplugs are always superior. Select the required attenuation for the measured noise, check fit and compatibility, and avoid overprotection that prevents hearing essential warnings. Hair, eyewear or other items can compromise earmuff seals.
Product information may include a single number rating (SNR) and frequency-dependent attenuation. Use a recognised selection method rather than assume the labelled number can always be subtracted directly from a workplace reading. Combining plugs and muffs does not mean adding their ratings.
The role of health surveillance
Health surveillance, in the form of hearing checks, must be introduced for every employee likely to be regularly exposed above the upper exposure action value, or at risk for any other reason, for example because they already have hearing loss or are particularly sensitive to damage. It serves to:
- warn when employees may be showing early signs of hearing damage
- give a chance to stop the damage getting worse
- check that control measures are working
Consult employee representatives and the employees concerned before starting health surveillance. They need to understand that its aim is to protect their hearing, and their understanding and cooperation are needed if it is to be effective.
Summary notes for Element 5 · Cheat sheet · Glossary. A study aid, not published or endorsed by NEBOSH.