HEARING LOSS: WHAT IMPACT IS IT HAVING ON YOUR WORKERS’ WELLBEING?

Leading providers of custom earplugs, ProtectHear are exhibiting at the Health & Safety exhibition at the NEC between 25th and 27th April 2023 and looking forward to discussing the importance of protecting your workers’ hearing with you.

How does hearing loss affect us?

It is well documented that people with hearing loss are more likely to experience emotional distress and loneliness. The condition is said to double the risk of developing depression and sufferers are twice as likely to develop dementia.

Hearing loss can have a highly detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of individuals, both physically and emotionally. Sufferers are less likely to participate in social activities and it may have a negative impact on their working lives. This often leads to a loss of confidence, spending less time with friends/family and more time feeling isolated.

The main causes of hearing loss

There are several different reasons why people might lose their hearing. Sudden hearing loss in one ear may be down to earwax, an ear infection or a perforated eardrum. Sudden hearing loss in both ears may be due to damage from a very loud noise, or taking certain medication. Gradual loss of hearing in one ear may be due to fluid inside the ear, bone growth (Otosclerosis) or a build up of skin cells (Cholesteatoma). Gradual loss of hearing in both ears is usually caused by ageing or exposure to loud/persistent noise over a period of time.

Preventing hearing loss

There are a number of things individuals can do to protect their hearing such as not exposing themselves to excessive noise in our social lives, not inserting things into ears (fingers, cotton buds, cotton wool etc.) However, as business owners providing hearing protection for workers exposed to consistent levels of industrial noise is a must.

Disposable ear plugs, ear defenders and moulded ear plugs are the main types of hearing protection available.

ProtectHear Moulded Ear Plugs

ProtectHear is a custom moulded ear plug that does not over-protect or under-protect the ears because the passive, acoustic filter allows safe noise to pass through. This means when wearing this uniquely moulded ear protection your workers can still have conversations with colleagues and hear warning sounds, without jeopardising their hearing protection. ProtectHear moulded ear plugs have a 5-year lifespan, making them incredibly cost-effective.  There are options available to integrate factory radio communications with them too.

Vented vs Solid Ear plugs

Depending on your unique working environment, different levels of protection may be required in different working situations. With ProtectHear you have a choice of Vented vs Solid ear plugs, and both are suitable for different reasons.

 

Vented ear plugs

ProtectHear vented ear plugs are available with many different levels of attenuation with 14, 18, 23 and 29 SNR (Single Number Rating) product being offered. This attenuates noises to a safe level, allowing users to hear warnings, alarms and conversation. Operatives can work safely and effectively whilst not being over protected nor under protected. Vented ear plugs are seen as the best solution when needing to hear colleagues/warnings. Hence they are great for teams working together. ProtectHear 29 SNR ear plugs are ideal for working environments such as Rail, Engineering and Steel.

Solid ear plugs

ProtectHear solid ear plugs are a 31 SNR (Single Number Rating) product. They block out more of the external noise in the industrial environment. This product is used in higher noise environments to give better protection, lessening the noise your workers can hear. The performance level of solid ear plugs is similar to the protection your workers would get from a pair of ear defenders. Solid ear plugs are used for environments with particularly high noise levels, such as ship engine compartments and compressor houses.

Let’s get Technical

For the vented ear plugs ProtectHear use a design which allows noise to pass through the ear plugs carrying the external noise as sound waves, before entering a passive acoustic filter. Whereas solid ear plugs have no vent or filter, so do not allow external noise to pass through the ear plug.

You can find more detailed technical information here, regarding the difference in attenuation ratings.

Communicate Safely

You can communicate with ProtectHear vented ear plugs through conversation with colleagues whilst in a noisy environment. There is no need to take out your hearing protection and be exposed to the noise. As well as conversations with ProtectHear vented you can communicate through radios/phones, ProtectHear supply a wide range of communication accessories called SpeakHear.

ProtectHear solid has no vent giving you extra protection but communication accessories cannot be connected.

What are the advantages?

Whether you choose vented or solid, ProtectHear ear plugs give users maximum comfort, with a great fit and allows the ears to ‘breathe’. ProtectHear ear plugs can be worn with all types of Personal Protective Equipment such as hard hats and safety glasses. With a 5-year lifespan there are significant cost savings to be had compared to disposable earplugs, calculate your savings on the cost savings calculator here.

Free Trial on offer to anyone who visits the ProtectHear stand at the 2023 Health & Safety Exhibition. For any Health & Safety Executive considering vented vs solid ear plugs, don’t forget if you’re unsure which option would suit for your factory environment best, you can trial ProtectHear.  The trial is for an 8-week period within your organisation’s unique environment, and you can include up to 10 people to participate.

Visit the Team at ProtectHear on Stand 2/C4 at the show. Alternatively call 01507 604322, or email via enquiries@protecthear.co.uk. There is lots of information about the many benefits of ProtectHear custom earplugs on the website – www.protecthear.co.uk.