Imagine, for a moment, that you must strain to hear ...
the sounds of your favorite TV program or CD, or play them so loudly they drive everyone else from the room. Imagine that you have trouble hearing your family members from across the room or co-workers from 20 feet away. Imagine that you must also wear a hearing aid to hear your grand kids’ laughter.
Unfortunately, for many workers in construction, manufacturing and other industrial settings these situations are all too real. They suffer significant hearing loss after 15 to 20 years of being subjected continually to noise from machinery, day-to-day activities, tools and traffic. Hearing loss has a dramatic impact on quality of life and also can pose safety problems on the job and off.
Fortunately, hearing loss in industrial settings and construction also is completely preventable through a combination of quieter equipment, hearing conservation programs, and use of proper hearing protection.
Hearing protection products from ISEA members meet the EPA Noise Control Act of 1972 (40 CFR 211) and set the world standard for reducing harmful noises while allowing workers to stay in touch with their surroundings and communicate effectively with co-workers. Click on the links below to find manufacturers of these types of hearing protectors:
Active Noise Canceling Headsets use an electronic system to cancel unwanted background noise while at the same time enhancing the quality of audio delivered through the headset. They are used primarily for in-flight noise reduction.
Band Type Hearing Protectors come on a flexible plastic band that is worn under the chin while the protectors are in the ears. The band can be left resting around the neck while the protectors are not in use. They are designed for convenience in work areas with varying noise levels.
Communication Headsets block unwanted noise while at the same time allowing the wearer to communicate clearly with co-workers. Special microphones suppress environmental noise to aid in two-way communications.
Ear Caps seal the opening to the ear without entering the ear canal. Similar to band-type hearing protectors, they usually come on a band that can be placed around the neck when the caps are not in use for convenience in work areas with varying noise levels.
Ear Muffs suppress unwanted noise by completely covering the outer ear.
Disposable Ear Plugs are made of formable material and are designed to be inserted into a person’s ear canal, where they expand and conform to the shape of each individual’s ear canal.
Reusable Ear Plugs usually are premolded and made from silicone, plastic or rubber and are available in several different sizes. Workers sometimes refer to them as "Christmas tree plugs" because of their appearance. They often come in a carrying case to keep them clean when not in use.
