What Is the Best Way to Prevent Hearing Loss?

Construction sites can get noisy. Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment in this industry is higher than it's been for a decade in 2022, which means more people receive exposure to loud environments.

A 10-year study that followed 1.5 million American workers in the construction industry found that hearing loss is at the second-highest rate for all career options. Constant exposure to loud noises can cause significant impairment in a short time.

What can a construction worker do to protect their hearing? How are employers helping to prevent this issue from becoming an epidemic?

How Fast Does Hearing Loss Occur?

Noise-induced hearing loss can impact anyone at any age. It can be a temporary issue or a permanent problem.

About 26 million adults in the United States have experienced or are currently dealing with issues related to noise-induced hearing loss. The loud sounds from a construction site impact the cochlea the most as membranes and cells become damaged with the exposure.

Many construction workers that experience hearing loss from noise exposure experience one or more of the following symptoms.

• An inability to hear higher pitches, such as birds or people singing.
• Speech becomes distorted or muffled in regular conversation tones.
• Buzzing or ringing sounds occur in the ears even though there isn't an environmental cause for that noise.
• Feelings of pressure and fullness occur in the ear.

Even if a worker's hearing returns to normal, the inner ear's cells could still be damaged or destroyed. If this issue becomes repetitive, the condition could be permanent.

What Are the Employer's Responsibilities?

Hearing loss is preventable within the construction industry. OSHA requires all employers to implement conservation programs whenever noise exposure is at or above 85 decibels, averaged across an eight-hour shift.

These hearing conservation programs must work to prevent the initial occupational loss, protect a worker's remaining hearing, and equip people with knowledge and protection devices that offer additional safeguards.

Hearing protection falls into the personal protective equipment category. When this option works with investments in quieter machines, sound isolation, and exposure limitations, fewer issues with hearing loss typically occur.

How to Prevent Hearing Loss While Working

Workers must still implement hearing loss prevention programs and use appropriate equipment while on a job site. When you use the following techniques, you're less likely to have your life adversely affected by this issue.

1. Remove Yourself from the Environment

Workers should do their best to avoid loud environments when they aren't on the job. Even going to a concert without hearing protection after a long shift can cause sound exposures equivalent to a jackhammer.

Try to remove yourself from loud environments at or away from work as quickly as possible. You can avoid speakers, place barriers between you and the noise, or cover your ears with your hands to take a break from the sound.

2. Use Personal Protective Equipment

Hearing protection can come in several forms. The type of PPE used to prevent injury might depend on your responsibilities. Here are some of the top products your employer may provide to complete your duties – or the items you can purchase to preserve your hearing.

• Hearing Protection Earmuffs
• Ear Plugs
• Foam Earplugs
• Metal Detectable Earplugs

Always follow the instructions written on the PPE or its packaging to ensure you're using the item correctly.

3. Maintain Healthy Habits

If you're a smoker or vaper, please consider quitting the habit. It's not just about keeping your lungs healthy or cancer risks low. Smoking suffocates the cells in your body, including those in your ear, causing the chances of noise-related hearing loss to increase.

High blood sugar levels can also damage your body's cells. That's why people with unchecked diabetes often have issues with their hearing or sight.

Your doctor can help you check your blood sugar levels and advise you on quitting smoking or vaping.

4. Use Different Headphones

When construction workers operate in a noisy environment, they often listen to music to block out unwanted sounds. That means cranking up the music to cancel out the noise, creating exposures that could be louder than what is present at the job site.

Instead of blocking out the machinery sounds with loud music, consider investing in a pair of high-quality noise-canceling headphones. Even if you use white noise and active microphones to reduce sound exposure, you'll reduce the strain on your ears.

5. Prevent Ear Canal Damage

You can prevent many forms of hearing damage by ensuring nothing is ever placed directly in your ear canal. That includes devices that work to remove wax or cotton swabs. Accidental eardrum injuries from these activities are surprisingly common.

How to Wear Hearing Protection Correctly

Soft foam earplugs are a common tool used on construction sites to prevent hearing damage or loss. Workers receive the best protection from this resource by remembering to roll, pull, and hold them according to the product's instructions.

1. Start by rolling the earplug into a small snake with your fingers.
2. Pull the top of the ear up and back with your opposite hand to straighten the ear canal.
3. Hold the product in place until it expands to create a good seal.

If you prefer earmuffs for hearing protection, the cups should be fitted and adjusted correctly to your ears and head size.

The cups should entirely enclose the ears on the PPE. Adjust them up or down to ensure the headband fits as expected across the crown of your head. When you press them toward the skin, you should not experience a significant reduction in noise levels.

It helps to check the cushions for proper fitment regularly. They need regular cleaning with a damp cloth to maintain a tight seal. Any signs of deterioration or damage should be reported immediately, and the hearing protection should be replaced.

When you proactively stop loud noises from affecting your work, you can prevent hearing loss while staying focused on your duties. Since this PPE option is so affordable, it helps to stock up on supplies to ensure you're prepared for whatever might come your way.

The Importance of Having High-Visibility Clothing in the Workplace

 Several careers and industries have dangers to consider when workers cannot be seen on the job site. Construction is one of the most dangerous, experiencing more workplace fatality incidents than any other in 2020.

Although workers have no influence on the choices of others, there are some ways that they can control the controllable. That includes investing in high-visibility clothing and workwear. Workers with hi-vis rain jackets, pants, hats, and helmets are easier to see in potentially dangerous circumstances.

Visibility is only one benefit to consider when investing in hi-vis apparel. Here are some of the other reasons why this option makes sense.

1. Fewer Accidents Occur

High-visibility clothing reduces the risk factors for individual workers and accidents. Although safety apparel doesn't prevent every situation, many items offer a protective quality that people don't receive when wearing "regular" shirts, pants, and shoes.

Workers can approach each job more confidently when feeling safer and more protected. This benefit delivers more productivity and improves morale. Projects can be completed more efficiently, ensuring deadlines are met while working conditions improve.

2. Easier to Recognize

When workers have a hi-vis hat, coat, vest, and pant options to wear on public job sites, they're easier to see from a distance. This benefit isn't negated by poor conditions or nighttime hours because the material is bright and reflective.

Although safety apparel won't stop every accident, this investment does make it easier for drivers and others to spot workers where impacts could occur.

When drivers see construction workers wearing high-visibility clothing, it can keep them safer because they recognize that road conditions are changing.

3. Weather Protection

Have you ever stood outside on a cold day without gloves or mittens on your hands? Did you blow into them to keep them warm?

When people work in uncomfortable conditions, they tend to focus on how they feel more than the job they've been assigned. Today's best high-visibility clothing keeps people warm while helping others recognize that someone is outside trying to complete a project.

Poor weather conditions make it harder for employees on a construction site to see their co-workers. A high-visibility hat or helmet can protect from falling objects while being color-coded to communicate the worker's role on the site.

4. Several Product Solutions

The options in the high-visibility worker apparel category are plentiful today. In the past, workers had access to simple vests, hard hats, and some accessories.

Today, it is possible to purchase almost any apparel option with this feature for workers and others who require more visibility. Companies and individual workers will find high-visibility clothing, high-visibility vests, high-visibility jackets, hi-vis rain jackets, high-visibility pants, high-visibility hats, and hi-vis hard hats – and that list isn't extensive.

If you're a construction worker or serve your community as a general contractor, you'll find that today's high-visibility apparel proactively works to stop tomorrow's accidents while keeping costs affordable.

From a business perspective, investing in this protective gear is better than having worker's compensation claims and short shifts that put you behind schedule.

5. Fast Identification

High-visibility clothing is crucial for emergencies when they arise at any job site. Most manufacturing and construction industry positions have hazard exposures on some level, whether from chemicals, equipment, or falls.

When something unexpected happens, it helps to have everyone wearing hi-vis apparel to ensure no one is missing.

Imagine having a commercial building catch on fire during its construction. If workers are in high-visibility items, the first responders coming to the scene can identify people and potentially initiate a rescue.

This benefit is available even in dark buildings. You can also use different colors or types of high-visibility clothing to identify specific positions, such as the foreman, for faster recognition when briefings are needed.

6. ANSI-Approved Gear

Today's best high-visibility clothing is approved by the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI. This agency was created to help set safety standards for the modern workplace.

When you review today's best workplace apparel with high-visibility features, you'll see that there are three different classes available for clothing.

• Class 1 (Type O). This hi-vis apparel offers minimum visibility materials to differentiate workers from their environments. It's considered appropriate for off-road environments, but would not be suitable for job sites where traffic movements occur.
• Class 2 (Type R or P). ANSI considers this option the minimum protection level for workers who require roadway access or operate in temporary traffic control zones. These garments have more hi-vis materials to make it easier for others to see that humans are out there.
• Class 3 (Type R or P). Additional visibility is available to the wearer with this option, even in complex backgrounds or environments. Workers receive a full range of movement with the apparel while the combined retroreflective performance works to provide safety.

High-visibility apparel doesn't meet the requirements of the different class standards when someone wears them alone. If you wear a Class E item with a Class 2 or a Class 3 garment, the overall classification for the entire outfit typically qualifies as Class 3.

Enhanced visibility items are different from hi-vis apparel. These products do not have an ANSI rating, meaning the benefits listed in this guide differ from what you'd otherwise receive.

Now Is the Time to Buy High-Visibility Clothing

Hi-vis clothing is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to increase workplace safety. When you create a culture that emphasizes visibility through protective apparel, each worker is more likely to safely make it to the end of their shift.

The goal of high-visibility clothing is simple. It makes each person more visible, protecting them from potentially dangerous situations.

Our team provides a wide range of high-visibility clothing, including vests, coats, hi-vis rain jackets, pants, hats, and hi-vis hard hats, with appropriate ANSI ratings to ensure your goals are met. Please reach out to one of our friendly representatives at your convenience to discuss suitable options for your setting or to get answers to any questions you may have.

Why Is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Important?

 The pandemic months with COVID-19 reinforced the importance of having personal protective equipment (PPE) available to everyone. Healthcare workers during that time had an almost 12-time higher risk of testing positive for the virus, and those without PPE were 23% higher than that.

Although we often think of PPE as something for healthcare or food-related settings, every business and industry can benefit from this resource. When worn correctly, personal protective equipment functions as a barrier between you and infectious materials, including bacterial and viral contaminants.

Proper PPE protection prevents unwanted items from contacting your skin, eyes, nose, or mouth.

What Is Personal Protective Equipment?

The best way to describe PPE is that it is a tool that prevents work-related illnesses, injuries, or death. Businesses use it in commercial and industrial settings, but you can also experience home-based benefits in certain situations when personal protective equipment is available.

Several types of PPE are available to use to meet today’s complex needs. Here are a few examples of the protective gear that businesses are using today to keep employees safe.

• Face shields and masks that protect the nose and mouth.
• Respirators that prevent dangerous fumes and odors.
• Gloves that stop fluids and prevent cuts.
• Helmets, goggles, and work boots that prevent transfers.

Some workers find that a full-body suit is the best form of PPE because of their professional responsibilities. Although you don’t always see this option used in the construction industry, you would want to use it for tasks like asbestos removal.

Another PPE option that doesn’t get as much attention involves fall protection. When construction workers wear a harness or tie-off while working in risky situations, they operate with personal protection devices to keep them safe.

When you work with today’s best PPE suppliers, you’ll get the personal and professional equipment needed to be safer in virtually any environment.

How Important Is It to Have PPE Equipment?

People in every occupation face several risk factors that could trigger an illness or injury. The most common reasons for an unwanted exposure involve chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical hazards.

In healthcare settings, you could add radiological and medical exposures to that list of potential risk factors.

Several organizations have established specific safety regulations that involve personal protective equipment based on standards set by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA).

If you want to be more proactive about controlling hazards, the first step is to invest in high-quality PPE for each employee or person in your home. After that, these four steps can help you manage the environment better.

1. Start by physically removing potential hazards from the environment. Something dangerous that has already caused injuries should be taken away by an experienced professional.
2. Replace the hazardous item with a safer substitute. If a construction site experiences an issue with a specific tool, it would be appropriate to bring in a safer or more effective one that accomplishes the same tasks.
3. Look for ways to complete the work without exposing others to the potential hazard. Avoidance is always the best policy.
4. Ensure that everyone has the appropriate PPE available to complete their tasks without an increased injury risk.

Personal safety equipment can look different in various professional settings. To stay safe, a healthcare worker might wear a full-body suit with a face shield, mask, and shoe coverings. Someone working in the construction industry might need a hard hat, respirator, and work boots with steel reinforcements.

Even when you work in the garden at home, you might wear gloves and use knee pads when pulling weeds. That’s also PPE!

When everyone can understand and recognize how necessary PPE is in each setting, the risk factors for each person can be substantially mitigated.

Have You Created a PPE Management Plan Yet?

It is highly recommended that all businesses create a risk assessment that identifies potential hazards to analyze what might happen if an incident occurs. This evaluation allows managers to determine the adverse impacts that could impact a large-scale plan.

Several hazards are easily identifiable and seem like common sense, but they should still be included in a PPE management plan. Here are some examples.

• Natural disasters, such as a flood, hurricanes, or earthquakes.
• Power outages that last for more than a few minutes, especially in care-critical scenarios.
• Issues with job site water access, gas leak risks, or sewage problems.
• Spills that include hazardous materials or mixing chemicals that create hazardous combinations.

An overlooked area of a corporate PPE plan involves technical issues. What would happen if your business had a software or hardware issue? Would there be risk factors to mitigate in that situation that personal protective equipment could solve?

Some businesses feel that completing a risk assessment eliminates the need for PPE equipment, but that’s not the case. If anything, it shows you the areas where the most support is needed so that you can stay safe.

As the management plan develops, setting goals for the workplace is crucial. These outcomes can also apply to residential settings. Consider looking at how individuals receive protection, where PPE adheres to company guidelines, and understand your budget limitations for this investment.

Some businesses may need to comply with local, regional, state, or national regulations. PPE choices that work in one environment might not be suitable for another, so think about what is feasible when creating these plans.

Do You Have the PPE Needed for a Safe Workplace?

Personal protective equipment provides a proactive resource that prevents worker illnesses and injuries. It is usable in numerous settings, and the benefits even extend to the home.

It only takes a second for an emergency to develop. You only need a few extra seconds to put on the PPE that could keep you safe during that situation.

Although nothing is 100% infallible, workers with PPE face significantly fewer risk factors than those without this resource. Invest in the safety and protection devices your workplace and home need today to ensure everyone can work safely.