Toolbox Safety Talk
Don’t take your ability to hear for granted.
If you are not careful, you can lose your hearing. If you are exposed to very loud noise or moderately
loud noise for an extended period, you must take some form of hearing protection precautions.
When must hearing protection be provided and worn?
- The “Best Practices” approach to hearing protection requires that whenever a worker’s noise
exposure is at or above an 8-hour average of 85 decibels, hearing protection should be worn. - The best defense against hearing loss is to use engineering and work-practice controls to eliminate
the excessive exposure wherever possible. - If you are exposed to loud noises intermittently – wear protection.
- Rule of thumb: If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone, you are in an area where the
noise level is at or above 85 decibels, and you should be wearing hearing protection.
How can noise exposure be reduced or eliminated through engineering and work-practice
controls? - Periodic rotation of workers to less noisy areas.
- Adding or replacing mufflers on motorized or pneumatic
equipment. - Following equipment maintenance procedures to keep
bearings and other moving parts lubricated. - Isolating loud equipment such as compressors and
generators away from work areas. - Replacing older, noisier equipment with newer, quieter
models. - Installing sound absorbing materials on walls and ceilings.
What are the types of hearing protectors? - Foam plugs: Disposable and cheap with good noise
reduction ability. Insert correctly to ensure the plugs expand
for maximum hearing protection. - Reusable plugs: Provides protection similar to foam plugs, but are made of PVC or a polymer
blend. Good for people who are allergic or sensitive to foam plugs. - Canal caps: Designed to fit into the outer ear and to be held in place by a headband. Good for
situations where protection must be removed frequently. - Ear muffs: Come in a range of noise reduction levels to meet different needs. More comfortable
than plugs or canal caps.
Know the noise level of the job and how long your exposure will be. Then use the information
provided by your safety supplier to select the best hearing protection.