Hardwood Floors April May 2018

Becky Schumann, 3M Industrial Hygienist; Jason Lunn, 3M Sr. Technical Service Engineer

without hearing protection, even these can cause hearing damage. In fact, if it’s loud enough, it can actually cause damage with just one exposure. So don’t think that a quick cut with a chop saw is no big deal. Wear your hearing protection. It’s important to remember, once you sustain hearing loss, it is permanent and does not heal or get be er. With all of the choices out there, it can be hard to know what type of product to choose to help protect your hearing. So, let’s talk about the two most common types of hearing protection on the market: earplugs and earmu s.

When should you wear hearing protection? A general rule of thumb is to wear hearing protection for any noise that’s louder than 85 decibels. Earmuffs like these can help prevent permanent hearing loss.

Earplugs are a simple and cost-e ective option that have been around for more than 40 years. ey’re so and conform to your ear canal and can provide surprisingly good a enuation with the proper t. Many options are available including the classic roll-down, push-in, banded- and corded-style, and even reusable and washable earplugs. Ge ing the proper t with an earplug is critical, though. It’s not as easy as simply stu ng it in your ear. ere’s a certain technique to it since earplugs actually need to go deeper in the ear canal than some people might realize. For example, when a disposable foam earplug is inserted correctly, someone looking directly at you should typically not be able to see the earplug extending out. Make sure to read the directions before using. If you can’t nd an earplug that ts comfortably in your ear canal, you may want to consider an earmu instead.

Keep in mind that t is just as important for an earmu as it is with an earplug. To help achieve a proper t, make sure there is no gap between the headband and the top of your head. If the cups don’t press against your head rmly and seal completely around the ears, you may not achieve the expected level of protection. Also, anything interfering with the seal of the earmu cushions and the side of your head (including a baseball hat, hair, glasses, a pencil) can potentially cause noise leakage, which can reduce the product’s ability to decrease noise. In a lot of cases, you may be wearing safety glasses with your earmu s, so make sure you nd safety glasses that are compatible and comfortable with those earmu s. Want to have some fun while protecting your hearing? Look for an entertainment hearing protector. ese earmu s allow you to listen to AM/FM radio or stream your favorite music from your cell phone all while helping protect your hearing from hazardous noise, which is a great way to break up the monotony of a tedious task. Look for one with a built-in decibel limiter so you can’t crank up the music and potentially damage your hearing with the product trying to help protect it. With all of the options out there, you are almost certain to nd a hearing protector to help meet your needs. Jason Lunn is Sr. Technical Service Engineer at St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M. He can be reached at jtlunn@mmm.com. Becky Schumann is Industrial Hygienist within the Personal Safety Division of St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M. She can be reached at blschumann@mmm.com.

Earmu s are a versatile option because of the way they t. For one, they completely cover your ears, and for some, this is a more comfortable t than earplugs. ey also have an adjustable headband to t a variety of head sizes and shapes. Earmu s are reusable too, and many o er replaceable sealing rings to help extend the life of the mu . Although you may invest more upfront, earmu s may be a be er long-term option.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

103