Protect Your Hearing: Don’t Lose The Soundtrack of Your Life

Remember the song (you know, that song) that you heard when you were out, and you instantly grabbed your friends and hit the dance floor (bet you’re smiling just thinking of it?)

Remember the song that played when you first got in the car alone after passing your driving test (Freeeeedom!!!)

Remember the song you heard at your first gig, and then every time you hear it you get your phone out and no matter what time it is, 2am even, and you ring your friend it reminds you of so they can hear it too (smiling, maybe giggling to yourself right now, right?)

Remember the song you danced to at your wedding (remember that feeling)

Hearing loss can steal those moments, those memories, away.

This Deaf Awareness Week, we want to raise awareness about protecting your hearing as there are enough people in the world who do not have the ability to hear at no fault of their own, and for those that have noise-induced hearing loss because of working in unsafe environments, we owe it to them to do everything we can to protect ours.

Do you know that noise that induced hearing loss is the most common, permanent, and irreversible injury in the world?

In the UK, employers are legally required to protect workers from harmful noise levels. This means assessing noise risks, taking steps to reduce noise, and providing hearing protection if needed.

It’s about going home from work the same way you came in: healthy. At uvex it is our mission; protecting people.

So, this deaf awareness week, we are asking you to pledge to do everything you can to protect your hearing? Will you join the pledge?

Hearing Loss: The Silent Thief

Hearing loss can creep up on you slowly, but the consequences can be life-altering. It’s not just about turning up the volume on the TV or not catching the punchline of a joke on your favourite TV programme. It can make everyday activities like conversations difficult. The heartbreaking possibility of missing the precious first words of a child or grandchild.

Think about these moments for one second and imagine the impact it would have on your life.

Hearing loss can happen for various reasons – some temporary and some permanent.
Here’s the harsh truth: hearing loss is irreversible. Hearing aids are amazing tools, but they can’t restore what’s already gone. They amplify remaining sounds, not create new ones. This is why protecting your hearing is so crucial.

Protecting Your Hearing at Work

Now let’s look at work related noise-induced hearing loss which is a serious issue but preventable. It’s within our control, if we understand it and protect ourselves from it.

Understanding noise, the regulations, the standards, along with its effects is crucial for both employers and employees and how each person plays a part in protecting your hearing. 

It’s also important to know how to select the correct hearing protection and how to fit it. 

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 requires employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. 

Employers must:

• Assess the noise in the workplace and any risk it poses to employees.
• Take action to eliminate the noise at source and where this is not reasonably practicable, reduce to as low as is reasonably practicable (Hierarchy of Control).
• If, after noise reduction measures have been taken, one of the Exposure Action Values is exceeded then the relevant actions concerning protecting employee’s hearing must be actioned.
• The provision of hearing protection is a last resort. Hearing protection zones must be marked, and employees must be trained in the correct fitting and wearing of the protection. 

Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.

The Technical Bit: Understanding the numbers and abbreviations

Just like any Personal Protective Equipment, hearing protection needs to meet specific standards to ensure effectiveness. 

Think of it like buying a car. You want to be sure it’s safe. Similarly, certified hearing protection ensures it can truly protect your hearing (if cared for and worn correctly).

In the UK:

• EN 352: This is the general standard for hearing protection.
• Earmuffs vs. Earplugs: Depending on the type you choose (earmuffs or earplugs), there will be additional specific standards they need to meet.
• BS EN 13819-2:2020 measures how well hearing protection reduces noise. This is called “attenuation.”
• Decibel (dB) – The deciBel (dB) scale is a logarithmic scale where a doubling of sound pressure corresponds to a 3 dB increase in level, so every 3 dB increase is twice the sound!
• Single Number Rating (SNR): This number summarises the average noise reduction a protector offers (if worn correctly).
• HML values are the high, medium, and low frequency values of the hearing protection.
  

Selecting the Right Protection

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right hearing protection.

From:

• the type of environment 
• compatibility with other PPE
• the noise reduction offered
• the ability communication or hear warning signs and
• the wearer

to name but a few.

It is important to understand that a daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB the employer must provide information and training and make hearing protection available, and the employee has the right to request suitable hearing protection.

At a daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB the employer is required to take reasonably practicable measures to reduce the noise. If the noise cannot be controlled the use of hearing protection is mandatory. The employee has a duty to wear the hearing protection and report any defects.

Noise must not exceed a daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB or a peak sound pressure of 140 dB.

This is why the noise survey is a requirement as it will give tangible data to work with as with hearing protection it is just as important not to overprotect.

Overprotection can lead to the wearer not being able to communicate, not hear warning signals or alarms, or moving machinery, which could result in an injury, or worse. Overprotection can also lead to the wearer feeling isolated and potential to impact their wellbeing.

The Single Number Rating (SNR) indicates the average noise reduction (when fitted correctly). But there’s more to consider:

• Higher SNR = More Protection: We want to protect but not overprotect. Choose hearing protection with an SNR that reduces noise to a safe level (under 80db but above 70 dB). Don’t go below 65 dB as this would be overprotection and can hinder communication and awareness.

• Matching Noise Frequency: Noise surveys identify dominant frequencies (high, medium, low). Hearing protector data often includes HML values showing noise reduction for each frequency. Choose protectors that effectively target the dominant frequencies in your workplace. Remember, a 3 dB increase doubles the noise pressure level!
  

For example, you have a noise level of 100 dB, you need to get between 70 – 80 dB but no lower than 65 and the hearing protection chosen has an SNR of 27.

100 (dB) – 27 (SNR) = 73 😊

Otherwise known as sufficient hearing protection!!

Fit Matters

Proper fit is crucial for hearing protection.

If you are needing to wear other forms of PPE, make sure your hearing protection is compatible, so it offers you the attenuation levels needed to protect your hearing.

A common sight is seeing earplugs sticking out of people’s ears? Improperly fitted earplugs significantly reduces the protection levels. 

Employers are legally required to provide training on fit, care, and storage of hearing protection but it is just as important as an employee, that if you need to wear hearing protection, you participate in any training, know how to fit it, and look after your hearing protection, and if it does get damaged, to report it.

Summary – What can you do?

• Understand the noise levels in your work environment
• Employers must assess noise levels and take action to reduce them.
• If noise cannot be reduced to a safe level, they must provide hearing protection.
• Employees must take reasonable care of themselves – it isn’t just down to your employer.
• Education , Education, Education – Understand the consequences of not wearing hearing protection, fitting it correctly etc.
• Get involved!! Help support your company choose the correct hearing protection for you by getting involved in the selection and trial process.
• Wear your hearing protection properly! It’s only when you wear it properly fitted that you are protected!
• Look after your hearing protection – report it if there is a defect!
  

Don’t wait until it’s too late – Will you join the pledge?