Ear Protection On Site

Date: 10/10/2022

Construction sites have all sorts of loud activities going on at any one time. Noise isn’t just a nuisance, it can permanently damage hearing. A hearing impairment can have a profound and irreversible effect on somebody’s quality of life.
Site workers are at higher risk if they regularly work in the vicinity of impact tools like concrete breakers, pokers and compactors, sanders, grinders, disc cutters, hammer drills, chipping hammers, cartridge-operated tools, scabblers and needle guns, as well as anyone who frequently works on or nearby heavy plant machinery.

A simple way to assess whether something needs doing about noise levels on site is:
o People have to raise their voices for at least part of the day when they’re working 2 metres or more apart.
o Noisy power tools and machinery are being used for more than half an hour at a time
o Exposure to noise from impact tools that is a continual noise in the background
o Consider the environment, closed spaces reflect sound waves back

Hearing protection that conforms to safety standards should be offered to employees who ask for it, but they should be encouraged to wear it only when they need it. Following any assessment, if you deem hearing protection to be a requirement, then make sure workers know how to wear it properly to effectively protect themselves.

There is a good selection of professional ear protectors available, from foam and silicone earplugs through to earmuffs, and workers should ideally be offered a choice of suitable ear protection and be able to pick their preferred option. It is worth thinking about how the ear protection will be worn with other PPE like hard hats, eye, and respiratory protection. For example, JSP InterGP™ Clip On Ear Defender fits the complete range of JSP Safety Helmets and are even compatible with the JSP Surefit visor system.


Source: hse.gov