Attenuated Ear Plugs Protect Against Hearing Damage
There is no doubt that since the implementation of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations,1989 and 2006, together with the successful prosecution of employers who failed to protect their workforce from noise induced hearing loss, many workplaces conditions around the UK have shown significant improvements in reducing the risk of industrial deafness. The wearing of ear protection is now much more a routine procedure and the creation of sound proofed containment areas for excessively noisy machinery is much more likely to be enforced.
However, it has been estimated that there could be 1.2 million workers in the UK still at risk of suffering permanent hearing damage because of the continued existence of excessive noise levels within the workplace, and more than 170,000 individuals are unaware they may have undiagnosed hearing loss.
While the wearing of ear protection has become standard within many building sites, engineering works and manufacturing plants, there are still many factories, industrial units and other new types of occupational spaces, such as call centres, where lack of information and confusion over the correct type of ear protection prevails.
Measuring the extent to which ear defenders and earplugs can reduce sound is described as attenuation, expressed as a single, simplified noise-level reduction (SNR) figure. The level of attenuation – or decrease in sound level – ear protectors provide, is measured for different frequencies and therefore, sufficient attenuation must be given to fully protect from the possibility of any hearing damage.
As a rule, manufacturer testing of ear defenders intended to provide protection at the higher frequencies of 4–8kHz produces figures under ‘ideal conditions’, rather than would be expected in the real workplace. Sound level frequency is usually measured in dB(A), a decibel scale to more accurately correspond to the different sensitivity levels and sound pitch of the human ear.
Earplugs designed to give sufficient hearing protection against noise will have an SNR figure of at least 20dB. Most industry-standard earplugs produced carry an SNR figure of between 25 and 32dB, but if noise levels are excessive, high-attenuation ear defenders will be required. In conditions of very high noise levels, ear defenders and earplugs should be worn together to provide 10 to 15dB additional protection than if either was separately worn. Many of the types of earplugs sold by chemists and sports shops are solely intended for swimming or to simply reduce irritating background noise, and will give inadequate protection against excessive noise levels.
Soft disposable earplugs are usually made of foam, mineral wadding, or soft silicone, which need to be rolled between the fingers, inserted into the ear and held in place until they expand to fill and seal the ear canal. Reusable earplugs are made from foam, soft plastic, or rubber which can be washed and used again. Pre-moulded, re-usable earplugs are very durable and hardwearing but may not fit as securely as custom-made earplugs and are unlikely to give quite as much protection.
Ordinary cotton wool is not recommended for any type of ear protection, at any time.
Visit http://www.hearinglossadvice.co.uk for more information and advice.
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