Can You Hear Me Now? Noise and Your Employees’ Hearing

Too much noise can affect employees’ safety and health. We know that excessive noise can damage fragile structures in the ear. But noise can also make employees stressed and tired, and it could even prevent them from hearing important safety instructions.

And it’s not only volume that affects hearing. High-pitched noises are more likely to damage hearing than low-pitched sounds. Noise that is both loud and high-pitched is known to have the worst affect on hearing.

There’s no medical cure for loss of hearing. Once hearing is lost, it’s gone. Hearing aids can provide some relief, but the damage usually can’t be surgically repaired, and there are no pills to treat hearing loss. That’s why prevention is so important.

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BLR’s OSHA Training System offers a completely prewritten, affordable program to handle hearing protection and dozens of other mandated training needs. Try it at no cost. Get the details.

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Which PPE Is Best?

When high noise levels can’t be sufficiently controlled by other means, the solution is hearing protection. Which type of protection is best depends on noise levels, duration, the kind of noise, and many other factors. But here’s a quick rundown of available hearing protection.

Earplugs are often a good choice because of their many advantages. They are:

• Small
• Inexpensive


• Portable


• Comfortable, even in hot environments


• An excellent form of hearing protection

Earplugs do have few disadvantages, however. They can be hard to fit. They can introduce dirt into the ear canal. And the level of protection can vary among individuals.

Earmuffs also provide excellent protection, and one size usually fits all. But they can be bulky and uncomfortable in the heat.

Canal caps are soft pads on a headband. They seal the entrance to the ear without actually entering it. A snug fit is essential. Advantages:

• Comfortable


• Cool


• Lightweight


• Certain models can be worn for long periods

Disadvantage: They don’t provide as much protection as earplugs or earmuffs.

On occasion, to reduce noise to safe levels, employees may need to wear two types of hearing protection at once—for example, earplugs and earmuffs.

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Try OSHA Training System for a complete solution to your mandated training needs. You can do so at no cost or risk. Read more.

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Training—The Ultimate Protection

Of course, hearing protection only works if employees actually wear it, and fit and maintain it properly. To do that, they have to be trained—and that’s where the OSHA Training System comes in.

As its name implies, the OSHA Training System is a complete system to meet your full training needs. All the materials are prepared in advance, so no prep time is required. All you do is reproduce what you need and put it to use. Materials include:

• 32 complete safety units, meeting every key OSHA standard. Each includes full background for trainers, a ready-to-use safety meeting, and follow-up handouts. View a Table of Contents.


• Quizzes, handouts, and copies of 27 different employee booklets, coordinated to the safety meetings. (Booklets can be bought in any quantity at a discount.)


• A complete training recordkeeping and tracking system that tells you which employees need what training, and then tracks your program to ensure they get it.


• Quarterly updates, included with the program. You receive at least 4 new safety units every 90 days, covering new OSHA standards and training needs.

If you share the common problem of never having enough time or the right materials for training, we’d suggest you examine the OSHA Training System program. We’ve arranged for you to do so for up to 30 days at no cost or risk. Just let us know and we’ll be happy to make all the arrangements.

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