Noisy Environment, help?

If you work or live in a noisy environment, please read these recommendations to "protect" and "conserve" your hearing.

• Customized Hearing protection devices (HPDs), such as custom earplugs (most effective) or earmuffs (less effective) should be used correctly and whenever necessary.  It is important to understand the HPDs will not eliminate the noise completely, however if it is used properly then the noise can be reduced to safer levels
• Diminish loud sounds from their source, wherever/whenever possible. This can be done by adding to bafflers, acoustic barriers, etc. to absorb extra sound. If this is not possible in your employment, then request to be moved away from the noise source entirely. Your employer MUST comply with the OSHA regulations.
• Have your hearing screened annually? It is important to be tested to get a baseline of your hearing and compare the results annually or as warranted
• Sometimes the hearing loss will be invisible and happen without being aware of it.  Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the warning symptoms of excessive noise exposure;  temporary threshold shifts, ear discomfort after the noise exposure, ringing/buzzing in ears, fullness feeling in ears,  difficulty hearing in noise
• Take 15-minute "quiet" breaks every few hours to give your ears a rest from continuous exposure
• If you are listening to music while working, be sure to listen at a normal, comfortable levels do not try to exceed the level of the noise by cranking up the volume of your music.
• Most importantly, do not be afraid to speak up about your own hearing protection. It will be more beneficial in the long run!!