Ear Plugs & Ear Muffs

Ear Protection
Hearing is something many of us take for granted, especially when we are young. Daily life exposes us to a rich variety of sounds, some pleasant, some not. But the reduction or elimination of the capacity to hear is a terrible loss that is for the most part preventable. Using ear protection should become a habit, like using sunscreen. The effects of over exposure are subtle and easy to ignore over time.

It is now considered routine to be offered hearing protection devices by your employer. The effects of occupational noise on hearing loss are well documented. But what about the intrusion of harmful noise upon other aspects of our life? Consider power tools, such as a router in the wood shop, or a chainsaw out in the yard. These sounds are not only loud, they are high pitched. That is, the combination of high frequency sound and high sound pressure level are the most damaging to delicate parts of the ear.

If you go to a rock concert, and the sound seems to be harsh and high pitched, the same problem exists since it is almost a given that it will be quite loud. You would probably be right to suspect that the folks running the system that night have had way too many hours under these conditions, with a resulting reduction in their ability to hear these high frequency sounds. To them it may sound just fine. This doesn’t have to happen to you. Taking precautions on a regular basis will help keep your hearing in top shape.

Having a hearing examination, whether at work or through your doctor, is a good first step to determine where you stand now. Depending on what you have been exposed to, it can be a real eye opener (so to speak) to realize that you may already have significant hearing loss. And, if nothing else, realize that you may not be able to trust your ears to warn you of high sound levels in the future.

Rick Pedley
pks-store@pksafety.com