What Jobs Require Hearing Protection?

According to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health, hearing loss affects one out of every eight Americans. While a significant component of this is due to old age and hearing-related disorders, another part is due to extremely loud noise exposure, more significantly due to noisy work environments.

No matter what type of work you do, if you’re exposed to loud noises or a busy working environment for most of the day, you should wear ear protection.

Ask your manager to conduct a sound measurement if you’re unsure if your workplace is noisy enough to require ear protection. If the noise level at work exceeds 85 decibels, you should wear ear protection.

Here are some of the high-volume jobs that require hearing protection.

Factory Workers

If you work in a workshop or factory where you operate or hear the sound of loud machinery and equipment, you should always wear ear protection.

It’s most likely that your employer already requires wearing ear protection on worksites since it’s a policy for these types of work environments, but if you feel like your hearing protection is not sufficient, make sure to communicate with your employer.

If you’re exposed to anything louder than 85 Decibels on a daily during your work, then you should definitely be using some sort of hearing protection.

Of course, you won’t need ear protection everywhere in the factory, only in the sections where it is particularly noisy. As a result, everyone working in the administrative or packaging departments would not need to wear hearing protection; only those involved in the actual manufacture of parts would require it.

Airport Technicians

Ground control and maintenance employees generally hear the loud sounds of an aircraft taking off and landing. Because the loudness is often uncomfortable, it’s common for businesses to provide hearing protection. However, if you believe your hearing isn’t appropriately protected, you should definitely bring it up with your employer.

Musicians

One of the most crucial parts of being a musician is to be able to hear what you’re playing, but if you’re playing in a large venue like a stadium or arena with a lot of speakers, your ears could be damaged.

That’s why, at some times, you might want to consider using earplugs or earmuffs to protect your hearing from any loud noises that may occur. Music is lovely to listen to, but when the speakers are turned up too loud, it can permanently damage your hearing, which is why it’s critical to be aware of your health and safety as well as your hearing.

Construction Workers

Hearing protection should always be used when using power tools or around individuals who do.

Whether you operate as an independent contractor or as part of a large team on a construction site, any power tools you use could cause hearing damage if you don’t protect your ears. Therefore, every construction site should have health and safety requirements, including rules for wearing hearing protection.

Bottom Line

If you work in a loud and busy work environment such as those mentioned above, it’s essential to be cautious and always protect your hearing. Make sure to consult with an audiologist to assess your hearing and recommend you the best pair of hearing protection such as earmuffs, earplugs, or noise-canceling headphones.