Occupational noise poses significant risks; how can one take personal protective measures?

The company provides you with protective equipment. There are two types of protective gear: earplugs and earmuffs. If the company doesn’t give it to you, then that company is nonsense. Then buy some civilian supplies for use; it’s important to protect yourself.

The use of personal protective equipment can prevent or reduce the harmful effects of noise on the human body, protect the ears from excessive stimulation, and prevent the development of various diseases. When noise control cannot be carried out or is difficult to implement at the source of noise and along its propagation paths, and when the noise level is high, personal protection is necessary. When working continuously in a high-noise environment for extended periods, personal protection is especially necessary. Common personal protective equipment includes earplugs, soundproofing foam, earmuffs, and helmets. 　　I. Earplugs are usually made of materials such as soft rubber (neoprene), soft plastics (polyvinyl chloride resin), foam plastics, and silicone rubber. The shapes mainly include cylindrical and umbrella-shaped types. Based on the size of the human ear canal, there are generally three sizes: large, medium, and small. Earplugs provide good sound insulation against mid- and high-frequency noises, but less effective against low-frequency noises. Wearing appropriate earplugs can typically reduce mid- and high-frequency noise by 20–30 dB. It achieves satisfactory noise reduction in an environment with screeching, high-frequency noise, with little impact on normal conversation. Earplugs are characterized by their low cost, durability, small size, and ease of portability. However, due to the variation in ear canals, the fit is usually not ideal; wearing it often causes discomfort, and may even lead to a feeling of fullness in the ear and pain in the ear canal. 　　II. Soundproof cotton: Soundproof cotton is made from ultra-fine glass wool with a diameter of 1–3 μm, which has been softened through chemical treatment. When in use, tear off a small piece, roll it into a cone shape with your hand, and insert it into the ear. Soundproof cotton provides better sound insulation than ordinary cotton, and its sound insulation performance improves as the noise frequency increases; it is more effective at blocking high-frequency noise. Using this soundproofing cotton in workshops with intense high-frequency noise not only does not hinder verbal communication, but it also improves speech clarity. 　　III. Ear muffs and ear covers consist of an outer shell (made of hard plastic, hard rubber, and metal plates), sealing gaskets (made of soft foam plastic covered with polyvinyl chloride film), a bow frame, and an inner lining made of sound-absorbing material. The average sound insulation level of ear muffs is generally 15–25 dB; the sound insulation at high frequencies can reach up to 30 dB, while the sound insulation at low frequencies is around 12 dB. It is mainly used to protect against intense gun and artillery pulse noise, aerodynamic noise generated by power machinery such as aviation engines, drill rigs, and internal combustion engines, as well as mechanical noises from various pneumatic tools, riveting and welding, stamping, and cold working processes. The ear muffs are large in size, making them inconvenient to wear; especially in jobs involving high temperatures or during hot seasons, wearers often feel stuffy and uncomfortable. 　　IV. Soundproof helmets mainly include soft noise-canceling caps and hard soundproof helmets. A soft noise-canceling headset mainly consists of a synthetic leather headband and ear pads. It can prevent hearing damage, and it provides protection for the head against shock, trauma, and cold. A hard acoustic shield consists mainly of an outer shell (made of fiberglass), an inner lining of sound-absorbing material, and ear pads. It can prevent strong noises from reaching the inner ear via air conduction and the skull, as well as protect against damage to hearing and the head caused by shock waves. Soundproof helmets are relatively heavy, and wearing them often causes discomfort, especially during high-temperature tasks or in hot weather. In mild cases, people feel stuffy and sweat easily, while in more severe cases it can lead to dizziness and lightheadedness. 　　V. Protective clothing composed of fiberglass or aluminum sheets, with a soft porous sound-absorbing material lining. It is commonly used to prevent damage to the internal organs of the body caused by high-intensity noise above 140 dB.

The only common one is probably earplugs. Our company is doing well; the noise level at the control room is over 60 dB, and measurements are taken throughout the facility on a weekly basis. . .

1. Add noise-reduction equipment such as silencers； 2. Set up soundproof control rooms to reduce the time employees are exposed to noise ； 3. Use personal protective equipment such as earplugs to reduce harm to the human body ； 4. Reduce employees’ working time in noisy environments ； 5. Conduct regular health check-ups for employees to prevent the occurrence of occupational diseases.

1. Wear soundproofing equipment； 2. Minimize time spent in areas with excessive noise levels ； 3. Have regular health check-ups ； 4. Maintain a good mental state.

The people upstairs all said good things, but they only focused on one aspect – protection. Actually, another way to deal with noise is to reduce the contact time.

If you feel that the level is high, you can ask the company’s HSE department to conduct on-site monitoring. If it is indeed high, you can request the company to provide basic protective equipment such as earplugs and earmuffs; our company has such items available

Wearing soundproofing devices – that’s mainly what it’s for

The best approach is to use new technologies, materials, equipment, and processes as much as possible to reduce noise, with preventive measures coming second.