Occupational Hearing Loss
Every day, millions of workers are exposed to noisy working conditions. Almost 25% of them will suffer from long-lasting hearing impairment. 3M recognizes this problem. That’s why we offer you better insight into this problem, along with the right tools to help you implement an effective hearing conservation program, understand the regulatory needs and select the right hearing protection solutions for your workers.
People may need hearing protection at work because they are exposed to loud noises or sounds that can cause hearing damage or loss over time. Some common workplaces where loud noise is a problem include construction sites, factories, and airports.
Continuous exposure to high noise levels can cause damage to the delicate structures within the ear, leading to hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Hearing protection, such as earplugs or ear defenders /earmuffs, can help reduce the amount of noise that enters the ear and prevent damage to the hearing.
It’s important for workers to wear hearing protection as directed and to ensure that the protection is properly fitted and maintained, as per the EN352 Guidelines.
3M have developed a toolkit including assets and tools that answers questions like:
- “What do I need to know about EN 352 and the regulatory update?”
- “What are the main changes and how is that affecting how I see the data?”
- “What factors do I need to consider when selecting hearing protection?”
- “How can I easily find a hearing protection solution that fits my needs?”
