Hearing Conservation
US & Canada General Construction
Why it matters
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, painless, and accumulates one shift at a time.
Key points
- Rule of thumb: if you must raise your voice at arm's length, you need hearing protection.
- Saws, grinders, jackhammers, and compressors all exceed safe limits.
- Foam plugs must be rolled, inserted deep, and allowed to expand.
- Muffs over plugs for extreme noise (powder-actuated tools, demolition).
- Keep protection in for the whole exposure - removing it briefly destroys most of the benefit.
Discussion
Which tasks today are loud enough to need protection?
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