Using Hearing Protection

• Why should I protect my hearing?
• What impacts can loud noises have?
• How does hearing protection work?
• Do I need hearing protection?
• When is hearing protection mandatory?
• How to protect your hearing
• What types of hearing protection are there?

Your ears are incredibly delicate, so any sound, if loud enough, or if you’re exposed to high decibels for a long period of time, can have an impact on your hearing. These include:

• Music (whether you’re listening at home or attending a concert)

• DIY

• Traffic

• Gardening equipment (such as lawn mowers and hedge trimmers)

• TV

This is especially true when you work in a noisy environment, such as construction, or industries where explosions (or other, one-off loud noises) are common.

As we’ve seen, loud noises - especially if you’re exposed to them over a long period of time - can have a significant impact on the nerves and tiny hairs responsible for transmitting sound signals to your brain. Once these hairs are damaged, they can’t be repaired, resulting in hearing loss. 

Loud noises don’t just affect your ears and hearing: they can also have an impact on the rest of your body too, with prolonged exposure to noises louder than 80dB affecting your concentration and sleep, which, if not relieved, can result in heart problems and high blood pressure.

But this can be prevented by effective hearing protection. 

As the name suggests, hearing protection is designed to protect your hearing over the short and long term. It does this by reducing (rather than completely blocking) the level of sound entering your ear, and therefore the level of sound reaching the sensitive nerves and hairs found in your inner ear.

There are different types of hearing protection available:

• Avoiding loud noise (though this isn’t always possible if you work in a noisy environment like construction or manufacturing)

• Standing away from speakers when you’re at concerts

• Using earplugs, ear defenders or earmolds if you’re in a loud environment

If you choose to wear ear protection, it’s essential that it fits properly, otherwise it won’t provide the level of protection that you need. In fact, wearable ear protection is most likely to be effective against high frequency sounds, such as loud music, rather than those that are measured at low frequency, so make sure you’re using the most suitable protection for your needs.

Everyone is affected by noise in different ways, and this means that the volume at which noise becomes problematic will vary from person to person. For example, you might find that traffic noise, or the noise from your TV or lawn mower doesn’t affect you too much, but your family or friends might feel the opposite.

However, noises over 80dB can be problematic, especially if you’re regularly exposed to them, and the law states that you must wear ear protection when you’re exposed to noise levels above 85dB. So if you work in an industry where you’re frequently exposed to loud noises for prolonged periods of time - such as construction and manufacturing - you must wear hearing protection.

But it’s important to protect your ears whenever you’re exposed to loud noises - such as at concerts or doing some types of DIY. While hearing loss can be temporary at first - particularly if you’re only attending a concert once in a while, for example - you can risk permanent damage if your exposure continues. 

And when it comes to your hearing, there isn’t a cure for hearing loss, so prevention is key.   

Of course, the type of protection you need varies from person to person and situation to situation, so you should bear in mind the following when considering the most suitable type of protection:

• What you find comfortable

• The size of your ear canals

• How noisy your environment is

• Your working conditions and what you do

See our custom ear protection range

By law, hearing protection must be worn in situations where noise levels exceed 85dB - and that covers both work and leisure activities.

According to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, hearing protection (whether through protective equipment or hearing protection zones) becomes mandatory when noise levels reach 85dB. 

Your employer must carry out risk assessments and information and training should be provided to employees when noise levels reach 80dB. There’s also an exposure limit of 87dB, which means you can’t be exposed to noises louder than that, even with adequate hearing protection in place.

There are a range of ways to protect your hearing, including:

By following these simple tips, you can keep your ears healthier for longer, so you won’t miss a thing!

Different situations need different levels and types of hearing protection. Here are some of the types you can choose from:

Capsule hearing protection

This type of hearing protection consists of earmuffs attached to a strap that fits over your head or helmet. This makes it a great choice of protection for industrial settings.

It protects your hearing against very loud noises and short-term exposure, and some models can be folded, making them easy to carry.

Foam earplugs

These disposable earplugs are perhaps the most familiar variety. They’re made from expandable foam, so will adapt to the shape of your ear canal, making them both effective and comfortable.

They’re great at blocking most external noise, such as snoring, but they can’t be reused as the foam can become a haven for bacteria. 

Plastic earplugs

These earplugs have grip stems and a cord, which makes them easy to insert and remove. As such, they’re particularly suitable if you work in an area where sound comes in louder bursts interspersed with quieter periods.

See our reusable hearing protection range

Earmolds

This custom-made form of ear protection is created by taking an impression of your ear canal. This makes them a very personalised form of protection, so they’re extremely comfortable, often easier to insert and suitable for use over a long period of time.

They’re also reusable (though will need regular cleaning), and are available with a range of sound filters (including for musicians, motorcyclists and swimmers), so you can choose the best method of protection depending on the situation.

See our custom hearing protection range

Cotton earplugs

These single-use earplugs are cheaper than their counterparts, but offer a good level of protection when worn for situations such as concerts.

We stock a wide range of hearing protection at Boots Hearingcare, and will be happy to advise on the most suitable protection for your needs and situation. Come along to your local branch today.