Hearing damage occurs because the cilia in the inner ear become damaged. This can happen from too much exposure aam loud noises. The limit at which sound can become damagingly loud is 80 dB, which is really not tremendously loud. Think of a hair dryer, city noise or a noisy classroom. With short exposure, there is nothing to worry about, but at more than 8 hours a day, these daily noises can cause damage.

If the daily dose exceeds 85 dB(A), the employee is required to use hearing protection.

Of course, the employer is required to provide the hearing protection.

Note that at 83 dB(A), the sound volume is already twice as high as at 80 DBA and the time in which one can be exposed to it without risk goes down by half. So only 4 more hours a day without hearing protection and the remaining hours without high noise levels. The limits are generally less far than you think.

First signs of hearing problems.

One of the reasons why people are sometimes casual about hearing protection is that hearing damage is by no means always immediately noticeable. Often others have to alert you to your impaired hearing:

• Hello, can't you hear me? You are addressed by others when you do not respond. You hear soft sounds less and less so you have indeed not heard them.
• Can you turn the radio down a bit? If you influence the volume, turn the knobs a little further and further. For you, the volume is normal; for someone else, that radio is (too) loud.
• What do you say? Sounds change, distort, sound dull and unintelligible and make it difficult to understand your interlocutor, despite a high volume.

You yourself may experience hearing damage through tinnitus or a constant beeping. If you work in a noisy environment, do a hearing test once a year. Then you will know if your current hearing protection is adequate.

Preventing hearing damage

You can prevent hearing damage from loud noise in two ways:

• Reduce noise at the source. In a workshop, this can be done, for example, by working (where possible) with a fiber wheel instead of a deburring wheel. Or by adding a muffler to the machine. With pneumatic tools, an over-hose over the air hose also works to reduce noise.
• By moving the high-risk work to a shielded area, then at least bystanders are not at risk.
• Limit exposure per worker by alternating work activities.
• By wearing hearing protection such as earplugs or ear muffs. (Last resort!!!)

Hearing damage caused by ototoxic substances

That hearing loss can occur from too loud noise most people know. But did you know that heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and manganese can also damage the cochlea or the auditory nerve? Certain organic solvents are also not safe for your hearing. If you use these substances, use hearing protection.

(Mis)communication in a noisy environment

The risks of accidents due to not understanding each other are real. But taking off your hearing protection for a moment to be able to understand your colleague is already a big risk for your hearing. Nowadays there are plenty of possibilities to combine communication and hearing protection. Also, you can often set which sounds or tones should be muted, so that you are not completely cut off from your surroundings. Being able to hear well can prevent accidents.

What hearing protection do I need?

We distinguish:

Passive hearing protection:

Essential noise-canceling hearing protection. We all know the ear muffs and the yellow or orange single-use earplugs. These Ear Classic plugs from 3M are soft polymer memory foam earplugs with 28 dB of attenuation. You roll them between your fingers into a tip, which you then insert into your ear with two hands. There, the foam expands and seals your ear canal.

3M had the industry's first foam model with the 3M™ E-A-R™ Classic™ Earplugs and now it is available in a new version, the E-A-R Flexible Fit Earplug.. Item number 3MHA3281000

The new caps are already pre-formed into a tip and fitted with a rod that allows you to insert the caps hygienically with one hand. The filth that is often on your hands in a workplace no longer rolls into your ear. After use, rinse your plugs under the tap, store them in a box and easily keep them in your pocket or desk drawer for next time. You can easily request a sample using the form at the top right of this page.

Active hearing protection

With active hearing protection, contact with your surroundings remains possible by maintaining environmental awareness. But you can also communicate with colleagues or connect to your phone or radio. We often see that when mutual communication is needed, the hearing protection is taken off for a short time. Such a brief exposure to noise can already be harmful. And how easy is it when with one push on your hearing protection, you can answer your phone!

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