Noise on site: choosing hearing protection

On an average building site you hear machines all day: an angle grinder, a circular saw, a breaker, a hammer drill or a concrete mixer. Many of those sounds are well above the level at which your hearing is damaged. The treacherous thing is that hearing damage develops slowly, does not hurt and does not recover. Ringing ears after a working day are a warning. In this blog you will read how to choose the right hearing protection and how to wear it so that it really protects you.

👷 Good hearing is more than comfort for a professional. You hear a machine that sounds different, a colleague shouting a warning or a vehicle reversing. Craftsmanship also means protecting your own tools, and your hearing is one of them.

How much noise is too much?

In the Netherlands, three limits from the Working Conditions Decree apply to noise at work, measured as an average over an eight-hour working day:

• 80 dB(A), the lower action value: the employer must make hearing protection available and provide information.
• 85 dB(A), the upper action value: wearing hearing protection is mandatory and the employer takes measures to reduce the noise.
• 87 dB(A), the limit value: the noise at your ear must not exceed this level, not even with hearing protection.

A rule of thumb on site: if you have to raise your voice to be understood by a colleague at arm's length, you are probably above 80 dB(A). When grinding, sawing, breaking or working with a hammer drill or a 125 mm angle grinder you quickly go far above that.

⚠️ Decibels do not simply add up. Three dB more means roughly a doubling of the sound energy. That is why the time you may work unprotected becomes much shorter at higher levels.

Source first, then PPE

According to the occupational hygiene strategy, you tackle noise at the source first. Choose quieter machines and working methods, keep tools well maintained, screen off noisy workplaces and plan noisy work so that as few people as possible are nearby. Hearing protection is the last step, but on most building sites it is an essential one. General rules for working safely are in our blog on safe working on the construction site.

Earmuffs or earplugs?

Both protect well, as long as you choose and wear them correctly.

Earmuffs

• Quick to put on and take off, handy when you alternate between noisy and quiet work.
• Easy to check: everyone can see whether you are wearing them.
• Examples: earmuffs (SNR 29 dB), Nobo earmuffs (SNR 27.6 dB), Veron earmuffs (SNR 27.5 dB) and the foldable Nellore foldable earmuffs (SNR 32.1 dB), which easily fits in your jacket pocket.
• For heavy noise there are Thor earmuffs, with noise reduction of up to 35 dB.
• If you wear a helmet, choose Thor D helmet-mounted earmuffs: you fit them directly onto the safety helmet, so helmet and hearing protection work well together.

Earplugs

• Light, cool and easy to combine with glasses, a mask or a helmet.
• earplugs made of self-adjusting polyurethane foam have an SNR of 34 dB.
• They only protect well if you insert them correctly: roll the plug thin, use your other hand to pull your ear slightly up and back, insert the plug and hold it for a moment until the foam has expanded.
• Handle disposable plugs with clean hands and do not reuse them when they are dirty.

Reading the SNR value

The SNR (Single Number Rating) indicates in one figure how many decibels a hearing protector attenuates on average. A few points to note:

• Not too little: the noise at your ear should end up below 80 dB(A).
• Not too much: too much attenuation isolates you. You hear warnings and colleagues poorly and are more tempted to take the protection off. Aim for a level of roughly 70 to 80 dB(A) at your ear.
• Practice is less than the lab: the SNR is measured under ideal conditions. Poor insertion, hair under the cups or the arms of glasses reduce the attenuation in practice.
• Very noisy work: with extreme noise, double protection may be needed, so earplugs and earmuffs together. Decide this together with your employer or safety expert.

Wear it properly and consistently

The best hearing protection is the one you wear all the time. A few minutes without protection in loud noise can already be a large part of your daily dose.

• Put the protection on before the machine starts, and keep it on as long as there is noise, also when a colleague next to you is grinding.
• Check that earmuff cushions are intact, supple and seal well. Replace worn cushions or cups.
• If you combine them with safety goggles, choose glasses with thin, flat arms so the cups keep sealing properly.
• When grinding, wear a Horizon face shield or glasses, work gloves with nitrile coating and, if needed, an FFP2 dust mask in addition to hearing protection. Read more about dust when grinding and sawing in our blog on dust and quartz on site.
• Keep earmuffs clean and dry, not in a dusty toolbox.

Combining with other PPE

Hearing protection must work together with the rest of your equipment. Helmet-mounted cups prevent a headband from pushing the helmet out of position. Read more about choosing a helmet in our blog on safety helmets for professionals. A general explanation of hearing protection when grinding, sawing and breaking is in our blog on hearing protection.

Signs of hearing damage

• Ringing or whistling in your ears after work.
• Finding conversations harder to follow, especially in noisy rooms.
• Turning the TV or radio up louder than others find comfortable.

If you notice any of these signs, have your hearing tested via the company doctor or your GP. Acting in time prevents the damage from getting worse.

Read also: Safety glasses for tradesmen and tradeswomen, Safety footwear S1, S1P, S2, S3 explained and How to choose safety shoes: S1P, S3 or S5?.

Frequently asked questions

Are ordinary earplugs for music or sleeping also suitable for construction?

Choose hearing protection intended for work and with a known attenuation, such as earplugs and earmuffs with a stated SNR value.

May I listen to music under my earmuffs?

Preferably not. Music adds noise and you hear warnings less well. Follow the agreements at your workplace.

How often do I replace earmuffs?

Check the cushions and headband regularly. If cushions are hard, torn or no longer seal properly, replace them. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.