personalprotection || hearing protection€¦ · personalprotection || hearing protection volume 2...

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PERSONAL PROTECTION || Hearing ProtectionVolume 2 Issue 17

According to OSHA, twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at workeach year. U.S. businesses pay more than $1.5 million in penalties annually for not protecting workersfrom noise, and hearing loss directly impacts the quality of life not only for those workers but also theirfamilies.

Workers who are exposed to high levels of noise can suffer permanent hearing loss and thensometimes not even surgery or a hearing aid can help. In addition, even repeated exposures to loudnoise for just short periods of time can add up to permanent damage to hearing.

OSHA Standard 1910.95(c)(1) The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program…whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85decibels… without regard to… the use of personal protective equipment.

Safety signs from Mysafetysign.com (*1)



OSHA Standard 1910.95(i)(1) Employers shall makehearing protectors available to all employees exposed toan 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greaterat no cost to the employees. Hearing protectors shall bereplaced as necessary.

➢ Workers must be protected fromhazardous levels of noise.

➢ Workplace noise is measured using specialnoise monitoring equipment and the levelsare displayed in decibels.

➢ Normal speaking voice is usually around 70decibels (dB) and operating a loudconstruction excavator is usually around110 dB.

➢ OSHA regulations state that 85 decibels(dB) is the action level where workers mayneed to use hearing protection.

Diagram of various sound levels and examples.



➢ Hearing protection must be provided for the level and/or range ofnoise that workers will be exposed to during their work hours.

➢ Different types of devices may be used depending on the workenvironment as well as the hazardous noise.

➢ Where noise levels are extremely dangerous or potential impactnoise levels are present workers may have to wear two layers ofhearing protection such as a combination of ear plugs and ear muffs. Ear muffs (*3)

Example packages of ear plugs with rating levels and limits on the labels. (*2)

OSHA Standard 1910.95(i)(3) Employeesshall be given the opportunity to selecttheir hearing protectors from a variety ofsuitable hearing protectors provided bythe employer.

Ear plugs (*4)


➢ Never improvise hearing protection by stuffing cotton, tissue, wax or other items into your ears.

➢ Items can get stuck in the ear canal and in severe cases puncture the ear drum.

OSHA Standard 1910.95(i)(4) The employer shall provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectorsprovided to employees. 1910.95(i)(5) The employer shall ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use ofall hearing protectors.


Cotton stuffed into the ear as hearingprotection can be very dangerous! (*5)

Worker using proper ear plugs. (*6)



Remember these important tips to avoid hearing loss while on the job:

• Workers who are exposed to high levels ofnoise can suffer permanent hearing loss.

• Workers must be protected from hazardouslevels of noise.

• Workers must pay attention to all signs andwarnings of potentially dangerous noiselevels.

• OSHA regulations state that 85 decibels (dB)is the action level where workers may needto use hearing protection.

• Hearing protection must be provided for thelevel and/or range of noise that workers willbe exposed to during their work hours.

• Never improvise hearing protection bystuffing cotton, tissue, wax or other itemsinto your ears.

• Proper personal protective equipment suchas ear plugs or ear muffs must be maintainedand worn correctly at all times.

(*7)

(*8)

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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMERThis material is the copyrighted property of Weeklysafety.com, LLC. Purchase of this material from Weeklysafety.com, LLC grants the owner the right to use this material for workplace safetyand education purposes only. Use of this material for any other purpose, particularly commercial use, is prohibited. This material, including the photos, may not be resold.Weeklysafety.com, LLC does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or processdisclosed in these materials. Photos shown in this presentation may depict situations that are not in compliance with applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safetyrequirements. These materials are meant for informational purposes only and it is not the intent of Weeklysafety.com, LLC to provide compliance-based training. The intent is more toaddress hazard awareness in the construction and related industries, and to recognize the potential hazards present in many workplaces. These materials are intended to discuss FederalRegulations only, as individual State requirements may be more stringent. Many states operate their own state OSHA and may have standards that are different from information presentedin this training. It is the responsibility of the employer and its employees to comply with all pertinent OSHA safety rules and regulations in the jurisdiction in which they work.

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• (*1) Photo Credit – Free signs created at Mysafetysign.com

• (*2) Photo Credit – Your Best Digs. Noise reduction ratings on ear plug packages. https://www.flickr.com/photos/yourbestdigs/30930866894

• (*3) Photo Credit – OSHA.gov. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/shipyard/standard/ppe/general_ppe/hearing_protection.html

• (*4) Photo Credit – OSHA.gov. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/shipyard/standard/ppe/general_ppe/hearing_protection.html

• (*5) Photo Credit – David Goehring. Cottoned. https://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/6928923747

• (*6) Photo Credit – flickr.com public domain.

• (*7) Photo Credit – public domain. http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com

• (*8) Photo Credit – stephen boisvert. Plug Your Ears. https://www.flickr.com/photos/srboisvert/149876856

Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/


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