Ear Protection
Having the right hearing protection is essential for many industrial work environments in order to satisfy regulations and keep employees safe. According to OSHA, approximately 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels every year which affects a workers ability to concentrate. This lack of concentration can result in reduced productivity, accidents caused by unheard warning signals and in the worst cases, permanent loss of hearing. AFT Fasteners is here to help. From single-use earplugs to industrial earmuffs, AFT offers the hearing protection products you need to ensure a safe work environment. You'll find ear protection from trusted brands such as Moldex, 3M and Howard Leight by Honeywell. Both corded and cordless earplugs are available in a variety of colors and shapes including bell, bullet, cylinder, flanged and pill. Earmuffs come in over-the-head or hard hat mounted styles. Ensure employee acceptance by offering several styles of ear protection so that workers can select the one they are most comfortable with. Contact us for help selecting the best hearing protection options for your jobsite. We're here to help!
Earmuffs vs. Earplugs
The primary advantage of earmuffs is that they are easy to fit. Because they are easy to slip on and off, they are perfect for tasks that require intermittent use, such as landscaping work. However, because they sit over the ears and aren't inserted directly into the ear canal, earmuffs offer less hearing protection than earplugs. One exception, is that earplugs are often not worn correctly, greatly lessening their effectiveness. This is rarely a problem encountered with earmuffs. Earmuffs can also add comfortable warmth in cool climates, but can be uncomfortably warm in summer months. When worn in combination with safety glasses, hearing protection can be negatively affected if the temple pieces of the glasses are too thick. Shoot for temples that are no more than 2mm thick.
Properly fitted earplugs offer the best hearing protection. With many varieties on the market, workers are sure to find the fit and style that is most comfortable as well as the right rated capacity for their particular work environment. No-roll earplugs are an easy-to-fit option that is also ideal for dirty work environments as hands will not come in contact with the portion of the earplug that fits into the ear canal. For maximum protection, earmuffs and earplugs can be combined; however, it is erroneous to think that the rated capacity will be doubled when wearing double the ear protection. Combining the two only enhances noise attenuation by 3-5 dBs.
