Which Occupations Require Ear Protection?

Your ears are amazing. They play a significant part in helping you to understand the world around you. They give you a warning when something dangerous is coming, like a fast-moving car. They help you to enjoy the finer things in life like good music, scintillating conversation and even the little things like the relaxing sounds of rain and birdsong. Without your ears, life would be so much less magical. With that in mind, it’s important for everyone to make sure their ears are properly protected. 

While we could all benefit from taking better care of our ears, there are some occupations and lifestyles that require more ear protection than others. As well as making sure your ears are protected when you go to a nightclub, noisy bar or live music venue, you should also invest in appropriate ear protection if you work in any of the following jobs:

Construction workers

Construction sites are noisy places and tend to involve the use of heavy machinery. If you are involved in the construction industry either as a salaried worker or a self-employed contractor, you owe it to yourself to invest in noise-canceling earmuffs, primarily if you work with heavy machinery regularly.

Teachers

It’s easy to neglect ear protection when you’re a teacher. After all, you need to be able to hear when your students are asking you a question. Nonetheless, when you’re sharing a classroom with 30 or more kids, it’s safe to say that the room can get a little noisy. 

Rarely do lessons require kids to work in complete silence, so it’s a good idea to wear ear protection when sharing a room with dozens of chatting kids. 

Musicians

Musicians are at tremendous risk of damage to the delicate workings of their ears, yet so few invest in the appropriate protection (at least in their early days- by the time they get wise the damage may be already done). Many musicians may eschew ear protection under the mistaken assumption that it will prevent them from being able to hear the nuances of the music they’re playing.

However, there are earplugs and ear monitors made specially for musicians which cancel out excess noise, but not at the expense of the subtleties of the music.

Whether you’re a classical musician or a rockstar in the making, you should keep your ears protected.

Mechanic

Anyone who’s been walking down the street when a motorcycle or vehicle zooms past knows that they can generate a lot of noise. In fact, the roar of a motorcycle clocks in at around 90dB. If you’re subjected to car sounds every day, you should invest in the right protection to keep your hearing healthy – and volumes comfortable. 

Airport ground crew

An airport is a fascinating and dynamic place to work, but when you’re working on the ground with planes taking off and landing all around you, that’s a lot of noise for your ears to take in. Airport ground crews are frequently subjected to noise levels well over 140 dB. Keep those ears protected!

Always consult with your audiologist to determine which is the most appropriate form of ear protection for your occupation.