WHAT 5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A HEARING PROTECTION DEVICE VENDOR

Some of you may not know that when choosing a Hearing Protection Device (HPD) for your company, there is more than “a good product” to look for when selecting a hearing device for your workforce.

According to CCOHS & OHS-

People should wear a hearing protector if the noise or sound level at the workplace exceeds 85 decibels (A-weighted) or dB (A). Hearing protectors reduce the noise exposure level and the risk of hearing loss.

If hearing protection is required, then a complete Hearing Loss Prevention Program should be instituted. A Hearing Loss Prevention Program includes noise assessment, hearing protection selection, employee training and education, audiometric testing, maintenance, inspection, record keeping, and program evaluation.

The effectiveness of hearing protection is reduced greatly if the hearing protectors do not fit properly or if they are worn only part time during periods of noise exposure. To maintain their effectiveness, they should not be modified.

Remember, radio headsets are not substitutes for hearing protectors and should not be worn where hearing protectors are required to protect against exposure to noise.

When selecting a hearing protection provider, we have highlighted 5 elements to look for. This will directly impact during the process:

You should ask yourself of the following,

Does the Vendor:

1. Meet the standard requirements?
2. Highlight the quality of the product?
3. Have Customer and After Sales service?
4. Meet the comfort and wear requirements?
5. Have a Warranty and Product Guarantee?

1. Standards and Requirements When Choosing HPD’s

USA Hearing Protection Standard

The standard most recognized in the US market is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Hearing Protection Standards outline noise safety steps when noise cannot be sufficiently reduced through engineering. The Current Standard is ANSI/S12.6-2016; Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation of Hearing Protectors. This standard specifies laboratory-based procedures for measuring, analyzing, and reporting the passive noise-reducing capabilities of hearing protectors. More Standards found here.

Canadian Hearing Protection Standard

The Canadian Standard Association (CSA) standard on Hearing Protection is the CSA Z94.2 – Hearing Protection Devices legislation. This new version of the standard meshes more closely with US approaches, recognizing the reality of how closely our two economies are entwined and provides more guidance to health and safety professionals needing reliable information on how to select hearing protection. It should become the new standard for due diligence in selecting and using hearing protection in Canada.

The Measurement Standards includes the following criteria:

• Attenuation – (difference of SLs (sensation levels)at the threshold with and without protectors)
• Comfort – No standard as of yet
• Insertion loss (not the same) ( the difference between levels inside and outside of the ATF-Acoustic Test Fixture).

More on Standards 

2. Quality of Product

When it comes to Hearing Protection Devices there are ample products out in the market that range from ear muffs,disposables to custom hearing protection. However, when it comes to quality it is important to look at two elements; 1. adequate protection and 2. communication safety. When it comes to hearing protection, not all devices are created equally.

Just like one size fits all work boots are probably not the best choice, neither is one size fits all hearing protection. Every human ear is unique in size, shape, and depth. Therefore it makes sense that for hearing protection to be the most effective, as well as the most comfortable, it must be custom fit.

Knowing the fitting process helps determine the adequacy of the product. For Custom Protect Hearing, the fitting process usually takes about 10 minutes and typically begins with one of their highly trained and certified experts visiting the customer’s plant or workplace in order to do the fitting on-site.

To begin, the ear is inspected to make sure it is safe to take an impression.

Then an oto-dam is placed inside the ear to protect the eardrum. Impression material is prepared and carefully injected into the client’s ear (up to the depth of the oto-dam). The material hardens quickly, and moments later, the impression is gently removed. The impression creates an exact replica of the wearer’s ear canal and outer ear.

This ensures the custom hearing protector seals the ear both in the canal and around the ear.

And for interpersonal communication purposes, the proprietary frequency tuned filter allows communication without removing the HPD. People can communicate in noise more effectively while wearing their dB Blocker™ hearing protection, than if they were to remove them. Your Hearing Loss Prevention Program will not interfere with productivity, rather it will enhance it. This process uses a custom hearing device called the dB Blocker™.

3. Customer and After Service

When it comes to customer service – it is important to be able to speak with someone who can answer all your questions and eliminate roadblocks. Having a live person you can connect with is important to the HPD buying experience.  Besides going through the actual sales process some things you can check out on the company are:

• What are their Corporate Values?
• What is the process to handle Product Replacements and Returns?
• Is there a 1-800 number you can call?
• Are there forms you can fill out to order additional hpd’s on their website?

4. Comfort & Wear

It is always good to look for guarantees for Fit and Comfort.  When it comes to

custom HPD’s, fit and comfort are crucial to the wearer’s experience. Is there any type of FIT Warranty that allows for the individual to ensure the earpiece fits and seals properly? A FIT Warranty (guaranteeing comfort and wear) is particularly important to a Hearing Loss Prevention Program as it is one of the things that ensures compliance and that the individual will wear the HPD, thereby decreasing any type of liability or workplace harm.

5. Warranty & Product Guarantee

Purchasing HPD’s are an investment in your employee’s health and safety, so it is important that you get the customer service and after care service with your investment. A few things to look for:

1. How many years is the product warranted for?
2. Generally, custom HPD’s have a 1-3 year material warranty from the date of manufacture. Does it cover any tearing, cracking, or splitting of one or both earpieces?
3. The warranty claim process should be easy. Ideally, when dealing with a warranty issue – you should be able to call and deal with a real person who can walk you through the claim process.

By going through these 5 steps when selecting an HPD manufacturer, it will make your life easier, and remove any concerns when it comes to protecting your employees hearing.

To learn more about selecting an HPD vendor please contact us, and one of our representatives will be able to answer all of your questions. 

What are ear defenders and why are they needed?

Ear defenders or ear muffs are PPE (personal protective equipment) designed to protect the wearer from extreme noises. The head-band and outer covering is usually made from a hard thermoplastic or metal. The protection usually comes from acoustic foam – this absorbs sound waves by increasing air resistance, thus reducing the amplitude of the waves.

Ear defenders can be carried on a head-band or clipped onto the sides of a hard hat. Sometimes ear defenders have built in radio and music systems or two-way communications.

The process of losing sound energy, known as attenuation, can be heightened by using earplugs in conjunction with earmuffs.

There are also thermal earmuffs, worn in cold environments to keep a person’s ears warm with pads of cloth or fur; however this guide will focus on ear defenders used to protect the wearer from noise hazards in the workplace.

 

Understanding hearing protection in the workplace

By law an employer must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise so that employees’ hearing is protected. The protection chosen should reflect the level of risk.

Once a noise hazard has been identified and the risks assessed – suitable controls must be implemented. While there are many ways to reduce noise in the workplace such as choosing quieter equipment, introducing engineering controls such as silencers, moving the workplace around to position noise further away from workers; noise cannot always be eliminated and this is where hearing protection comes into play.

The level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is now 85 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which employers must assess the risk to workers’ health and provide them with information and training is now 80 decibels. There is also an exposure limit value of 87 decibels (dB), taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection, above which workers must not be exposed.

What are the action levels and limit values?

The Noise Regulations require employers to take specific action at certain action values. These relate to:

• the levels of exposure to noise of employees averaged over a working day or week; and
• the maximum noise (peak sound pressure) to which employees are exposed in a working day.

The values are:

Lower exposure action values (daily or weekly average noise exposure level at which the employer has to provide information and training and make hearing protection available.) Upper exposure action values
(daily or weekly average noise exposure above which the employer is required to take reasonably practicable measures to reduce noise exposure, such as engineering controls or other technical measures. The use of hearing protection is also mandatory if the noise cannot be controlled by these measures, or while these measures are being planned or carried out.) Exposure limit values (levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded) daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB peak sound pressure of 135 dB peak sound pressure of 137 dB. peak sound pressure of 140 dB.

The HSE’s flow chart will also help you decide what you need to do:

Making sense of attenuation levels, HML, SNR and Db

When looking at the product information for ear defenders there are many categories to choose from and it can be confusing to know exactly what protection is being offered. Below is a simple list explaining the common information you will see on product specifications for hearing protection:

What is attenuation?

The process of losing noise energy is called attenuation, and it is the attenuation data that should be examined whilst selecting appropriate ear defenders.

What is SNR?

SNR is a Single Number Rating system. The SNR value can be used to compare the level of noise attenuation offered by different hearing protectors. To determine acoustic pressure on your ears, you subtract the SNR value from the average noise level measured. For example:

The noise level measures an average of 99 dB.
You are wearing ear protection with an SNR of 19.
Thus, the acoustic pressure on your ears is on average 99 – 19 = 80 dB.

The higher the SNR, the higher the level of noise attenuation provided by the hearing protection.

What is HML?

A method of estimating the attenuation of hearing protection based on 3 parameters.

H  = High
M  = Medium
L  = Low

The terms refer to the noise reduction of the chosen hearing protector at High, Medium and Low frequencies.

What are dBs (decibels)?

dB (decibel) is used to measure the sound intensity. Because the human ear can register sounds across a huge range of intensities a linear scale is not suitable for measurement.

 

The dB scale is therefore a log scale which in very simple terms means the sound intensity roughly doubles for every 3 dB increase. An increase of 20 dB would increase the sound intensity 100 times, (ie 60 dB is 100 times louder than 40 dB)

Note – To accurately calculate the type of hearing protection needed in your workplace, see the HSE’s noise exposure and hearing protection calculators.

Selecting ear defenders for your workforce

Every person will have different requirements when it comes to ear defenders. It is essential to get the right fit, the right protection, and ensure the user understands how to use and maintain their ear defenders.

• Selecting ear defenders for the particular noise hazard

Consider the frequency, pitch and intensity of the noise hazard. In industries such as mining workers can be exposed to very low frequencies.

• Selecting ear defenders for your industry

Music, construction and airport workers are exposed to different noise and therefore have very different requirements. There are many ear defenders and headphones specially designed for musicians so that the full range of frequencies can be heard and there are specialist hearing protectors for use during firearms practice. Some ear defenders will only be suitable for indoor or outdoor use – so check before you buy.

• Selecting ear defenders based on your risk assessment

Your risk assessment should look at the task, the user, the environment, the exposure action values and limit values. The assessment should also identify what you need to do to comply with the law and identify any employees who need to be provided with health surveillance.

• Making sure you meet ratings, requirements, standards, certification and legislation

As with any personal protective equipment that you procure, ear defenders should meet the requirements of international standards and relevant legislation. CE markings, EN, ISO and BS codes show which equipment meets standards for safety, design and performance. See the legislation and standards section of this guide to understand more about the exact standards and markings you should be looking for.

Also consider decibels, Single Noise Ratings and frequencies as detailed above.

Remember some headphones will not meet the criteria of ear protection.

• Choosing the best supplier and manufacturer

Many manufactures now make PPE and ear protection and they can be bought from hundreds of suppliers. If you do not have a preferred supplier for ear protection seek advice from your peers, read independent reviews or seek advice from a networking group.  See ‘How to evaluate suppliers / manufacturers below’.

• Try before you buy

Form a user group and ask suppliers to send some trial samples. Listen to feedback from workers as it is important to have them on board with the PPE they will be wearing.

• Cost and quality – getting the right balance

As with all procurement, selecting PPE can be difficult from a cost vs quality point of view. It is a matter of your risk level and selecting appropriate equipment. You can buy ear defenders for as little as a few pounds or select products for ten times as much. The higher the noise risk the higher the quality of protection needed. This in turn may lead to a higher price.

• Ensuring comfort

See the section on below on fitting ear defenders. To get your workforce on board with using their PPE correctly it needs to offer comfort as well as protection.

• Peer reviews and recommendations

Peer reviews and recommendations are the best way to source impartial, independent feedback on products from people you trust. While review online can be helpful, it is always worth starting a discussion within a trusted network first.

 

Types of ear defender

• Standard ear defenders – There are lots of ear defenders on the market, offering a range of materials, technologies, air flow and levels of attenuation.

What is important to look at is the industry that the ear defenders are recommended for, and the noise levels. For example some ear defenders will be suitable for all industrial noise, tough environments or areas with low noise levels.

Some ear defenders come with snap-in ear cushions, which makes replacement very easy and there are variants in headbands, which you should consider depending on how long and in what environment ear defenders are being used.

If workers need to be able to talk to each other or hear fire alarms, for example, the right attenuation level needs to be selected.

While most ear defenders have a head band that goes over the top of the wearer’s head – neckband models are available for use with head mounted face or welding shields, for example.

• Electronic Earmuffs – These incorporate an electronic sound reproduction system. At low levels of noise the sound detected by a microphone on the outside of the earmuffs is relayed to a loudspeaker in the muff cup. At higher levels of impulse noise the electronic circuit cuts out, leaving the inherent attenuation of the earmuffs to provide the protection.

Electronic earmuffs deliver both passive and uniform attenuation, which blocks low and medium frequencies while allowing higher frequencies (voice, signals, and alarms) to be heard more clearly. This may provide the ability to maintain better situational awareness in intermittent and impact noise environments.

• Ear defenders worn in conjunction with a safety helmet – Hard hat ear muffs or helmet-mounted ear defenders can be worn whilst wearing hard hats and are very useful across the construction and mining industries.
• Radio / music ear defenders – allow the worker to listen to music or the radio while they work.
• Ear defenders with built in comms – Some ear defenders offer built in two-way communication systems allowing the wearer to listen and speak to other workers wearing the same headsets or on other radios operating on the same frequency.
• Other ear protection – please refer to the ear plug guide for information on other ear protection.

How to evaluate suppliers and manufacturers:

When choosing your product, consider:

• Established companies
• Recommendations from within your network
• Does the supplier provide equipment with the correct markings that meet Standards?
• Are they certified?
• Do products come with informative leaflets showing how to use the PPE safely?
• Are the products covered by a warranty?
• Is the supplier part of the Registered Safety Supplier (RSS) Scheme?
• Restrictions and warnings for use and wear on the supplier’s products.

Does one size really fit all? Meeting the needs of your diverse workforce 

When buying, using and maintaining ear defenders within your workplace, remember:

• ear defenders tend to come in two sizes, adults and children;
• the concave nature of the foam should allow for all ear shapes and sizes;
• depending on the task you may want to choose a headband or a neckband;
• click in height adjustable head bands; and
• using headbands that click onto helmets and hard harts where required.

Maintenance of ear defenders

Because parts of ear defenders (the pads and foams) can be replaced on some models; ear defenders can last a very long time. Some manufacturers recommend changing pads every six months but this would depend on the amount of use. Always follow individual manufacturer’s instructions and remember that ear defenders should be regularly inspected.

Ensure that:

• the cups and headband are not cracked or split. If this is the case the complete ear defender should be replaced;
• the foam has not become deformed foam as that can compromise the noise protection offered by earmuffs; and
• ear cushions are kept clean. Clean and sanitized replacement ear cushions are available.

Legislation, standards, ratings and markings

Legislation

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 replace the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and aim to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing and/or to suffer from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears).

The updated regulations introduce new requirements for action to be taken by employers. For example, the 2005 Regulations require employers to take action to protect workers at levels of noise 5 decibels lower than in the 1989 Regulations and now require health surveillance (hearing checks) for workers regularly exposed above 85 decibels.

Other legislation to be aware of when it comes to noise at work includes:

There are other regulations for:

International standards

A list of titles and references harmonised standards under Directive 89/686/EEC for Personal protective equipment (PPE) is available here. See below for standards relevant to hearing protection.

CEN EN 352-1:2002  – Hearing protectors – General requirements – Part 1: Ear-Muffs CEN EN 352-2:2002  – Hearing protectors – General requirements – Part 2: Ear-plugs CEN EN 352-3:2002  – Hearing protectors – General requirements – Part 3: Ear-muffs attached to an industrial safety helmet CEN EN 352-4:2001  – Hearing protectors – Safety requirements and testing – Part 4: Level-dependent ear-muffs

EN 352-4:2001/A1:2005

CEN EN 352-5:2002  – Hearing protectors – Safety requirements and testing – Part 5: Active noise reduction ear-muffs

EN 352-5:2002/A1:2005

CEN EN 352-6:2002  –  Hearing protectors – Safety requirements and testing – Part 6: Ear-muffs with electrical audio input CEN EN 352-7:2002 –  Hearing protectors – Safety requirements and testing – Part 7: Level-dependent ear-plugs CEN EN 352-8:2008  –  Hearing protectors – Safety requirements and testing – Part 8: Entertainment audio ear-muffs CEN EN 458:2004 – Hearing protectors – Recommendations for selection, use, care and maintenance – Guidance document CEN

 

EN ISO 4869-2:1995 –  Acoustics – Hearing protectors – Part 2: Estimation of effective A-weighted sound pressure levels when hearing protectors are worn (ISO 4869-2:1994)

EN ISO 4869-2:1995/AC:2007

CEN EN ISO 4869-3:2007 –  Acoustics – Hearing protectors – Part 3: Measurement of insertion loss of ear-muff type protectors using an acoustic test fixture (ISO 4869-3:2007)
There are many noise emission standards, some for specific classes of equipment such as EN 60745 series, noise emission of portable powered hand tools, and others such as BS EN ISO 4871:2009, the declaration and verification of noise emission values of machinery and equipment with more general application. Standards are available from The British Standards Institution (BSI) USA – Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is a unit of measurement used to determine the effectiveness of hearing protection devices.

CE Markings

After 30 June 1995, all PPE placed on the market in EU Member States was required to comply with the requirements of Directive 89/686/EEC and carry the CE Marking.

Conclusion

As with all PPE there are many things to consider when selecting a product for you workforce. Below is a summary of the key things to consider when buying ear defenders:

• Make sure you effectively control the risk, taking into account the task and the environment. Consider the correct level of attenuation, the level, frequency and pitch of the noise hazard.
• Do not over-protect. Cutting out too much noise can cause isolation, or lead to an unwillingness to wear the protectors. Ensure workers can safely hear alarms and that they can still communicate effectively.
• Ensure that ear defenders are comfortable and suitable for the working environment. Consider how hygienic the protectors are, whether they will be worn with any other protective equipment, and how the activity of the user can be accommodated;
• Ensure your workers understand how to use their PPE correctly.
• Ensure workers wear ear defenders at the right time – whenever there is a noise hazard present. Workers need to be told when and where to wear hearing protection.
• PPE must be readily available to all who need it and actively supplied by the employer.
• Ear protection should be properly maintained, in good, clean and undamaged condition.

This infographic

 

Further information

http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/regulations.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/risks.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg363.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l108.htm
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/ear_prot.html
http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/www99/right/handsMan/worker/hprot.html
http://www.hsmc.co.uk/uploads/free%20guides/Guide%20-%20selecting%20hearing%20protection.pdf
http://www.soundadvice.info/thewholestory/san5.htm
Registered Safety Supplier (RSS) Scheme.
http://www.ppe.org/product-testing-ppe-ce-marking/