Hearing Protection: Three Innovations to Follow
Three hearing protection innovations that are helping overcome workers’ resistance for wearing PPE.
- By David Kopf
- Aug 01, 2024
Like many elements of worker safety, protecting workers’ hearing requires balancing monitoring their environment, ensuring they have the right PPE, and still fostering their productivity. Fortunately, there are new innovations being developed to accomplish that balancing act.
To be sure, there’s much at stake. According to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety’s statistics on noise and hearing loss, roughly 12 percent of all workers have hearing difficulty; approximately 8 percent of all workers have tinnitus; about 25 percent of workers have been exposed to hazardous noise; and 53 percent of workers exposed to noise say they haven’t worn hearing protection.
That last stat is jarring. While OSHA might require employers to implement a hearing conservation program that includes PPE when noise exposure reaches 85 decibels or higher averaged over eight working hours, workers will eschew that gear. They do it for a number of common reasons:
- They find earplugs and earmuffs uncomfortable and ill-fitting.
- They feel the PPE makes it difficult to communicate.
- They underestimate the long-term risks posed by noisy environments, or are unaware of the risks in the first place.
Just to underscore those points, workers don’t wear hearing protection gear because of bad fit or discomfort; they have a tough time communicating while wearing the PPE; or they are unaware of environmental noise and its risks.
Fortunately, there are three hearing protection product innovations that address those reasons head-on.
Improved Fit and Comfort
Recent innovations in the design of earplugs and earmuffs have significantly focused on improving fit and comfort, which are crucial factors that encourage consistent use among workers in noisy environments. Providing more personalized and adaptable solutions not only aids in preventing hearing loss but also enhances overall safety and productivity in the workplace.
Custom-moldable earplugs. Companies such as Decibullz and Big Ear offer custom-molded earplugs that users can fit to their exact ear shape at home. This innovation utilizes thermoplastics that you can heat and mold. If the initial fit isn’t perfect, they can be remolded to achieve the desired fit. This technology not only ensures a perfect seal but also increases comfort, potentially boosting user compliance in wearing them consistently.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.