October 26, 2011

Cost is an important consideration in choosing personal protective equipment (PPE). In general, when it comes to PPE for hearing protection, ear plugs tend to be the cheapest option. However, there are times when it's worth the money to spring for a good set of earmuffs. Here are a few.

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1. Intermittent use: If hearing protection is only needed for short periods of time (for example, when a machine is operating in a machine shop) ear muffs can increase compliance - they're quick to put on and take off. Also, for visitors to an area requiring hearing protection, ear muffs are a good option. Again, they're easy on/easy off. Additionally, one size fits most people, and ear muffs require little "know how" to use them properly, making it simple for visitors (just remember that if they're a shared resource, you want to have appropriate disinfecting wipes on hand to swab them between uses).
2. When ear plugs are uncomfortable: Most people can wear ear plugs. However, there are some people for whom ear plugs are very uncomfortable because of ear canal differences or sensitivities, or who develop infections easily when wearing ear plugs. For these employees, ear muffs can be a better choice for hearing protection.
3. When communication is necessary: Hearing protection blocks out noise - which includes speech. If your employees need to communicate regularly or clearly with each other while working in a noisy environment, ear muffs with special attenuation properties or equipped with radios can be used to reduce noise exposure but still allow communication.
4. To increase protection levels: If the noise reduction rating (NRR) on your ear plugs just isn't enough for a particular application, you can get additional protection by wearing ear muffs in conjunction with the ear plugs. Remember, however, that the NRR achieved using this method is not the sum of the two NRRs, but about 5 to 10 decibels above the higher rated of the two devices.
5. When it's going to take a beating: Ear muffs on the whole are more durable than most types of ear plugs - and they are larger and easier to find. For ear muff parts that do wear, you can often get replacement parts rather than replacing the entire ear muff. Durability and size can be benefits if your employees are traveling to different job sites where hearing protection will be needed.