01-27 GENERALS WINTER25 FINAL EDIT (JAN 25) - Flipbook - Page 8
HEALTH & SAFETY
BEYOND PREVENTABLE
HEARING LOSS:
How the Right Hearing Protection Can Enhance Workplace Safety
By JONATHAN CLIFFEN, Sr. Application Engineer, 3M Personal Safety Division
ROTECTING YOUR HEARING IS ESSENTIAL — but
the right hearing protection can
also help improve overall safety
on the job. The type of hearing
protection you choose influences
how well workers perceive their
surroundings, communicate with others,
and remain aware of potential hazards.
P
How does this happen?
As the American Industrial Hygiene
Association points out, “Most construction
tools and activities create noise levels
well over 85 decibels… [This can include]
highway and road construction; carpentry;
power tool operations; pneumatic tool
operation; heavy equipment operations;
saws, drill and grinder operation; work
near generators; sheet metal work; iron
work; welding; operating engineer work;
landscaping; residential construction; and
sand or abrasive blasting…” “Several [of
these tools] can generate very high sound
levels (130 to 140 decibels) that can cause
damage to the ear instantaneously. Still,
noise hazards tend to be overlooked on
construction worksites: They are more
8 the generals • WINTER 2025/2026
Courtesy of 3M Personal Safety Division
When Noise Becomes a Problem
A longitudinal study found that 73% of
construction workers were exposed to
noise levels above the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
recommended exposure limit.1 With
repeated exposure to hazardous noise,
workers are at an increased risk of noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL). Remember,
hearing loss can be permanent and can
have a significant impact on a worker’s
quality of life, both on and off the job.2
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