Noise and Hearing

Protection Fact Sheet

O
HS04-050C (10-20)

ne in 10 Americans
has a hearing loss that
affects his or her ability
to understand normal speech.
Excessive noise exposure is
the most common cause of
hearing loss. Some workers
with long-term hearing loss
have developed ways of
adapting to the gradual onset
of the disease. The effect
of noise is real and can be
devastating. Workers who also
develop tinnitus (constant
ringing in the ears) can find
which leads to the brain. to dead nerve endings; the
this to be unbearable. The
damage is permanent.
important thing is that no Any source of sound sends
matter what your present vibrations or sound waves How Does Noise
level of hearing loss, it is never into the air. These funnel Affect Hearing Loss?
too late or too hard to prevent through the ear opening,
further damage. Workers who down the ear canal, and strike Can Noise Really Hurt
already have serious hearing your eardrum, causing it to My Ears?
loss have even greater reason vibrate. The vibrations are Yes, noise can be dangerous.
for saving the hearing they passed to the small bones If it is loud enough and lasts
have left. The following of the middle ear, which long enough, it can damage
information should provide transmit them to the hearing your hearing. Hearing damage
reasons for eliminating nerve in the inner ear. Here, can be caused by several
noise hazards at work and in the vibrations become nerve factors other than noise, but
everyday life. impulses and go directly to noise-induced hearing loss
the brain, which interprets the is different in one important
How Does the impulses as sound: music, a way, it can be reduced or
Ear Work? slamming door, a voice, etc. prevented altogether.
The ear has three main parts:
the outer, middle, and inner
When noise is too loud, Can I “Toughen Up”
it begins to kill the nerve My Ears? No. If you think
ear. The outer ear (the part
endings in the inner ear. As
you can see) opens into the you have grown used to a
the exposure time to loud
ear canal. The eardrum loud noise, it probably has
noise increases, more and
separates the ear canal damaged your ears, and there
more nerve endings are
from the middle ear. Small is no treatment—no medicine,
destroyed. As the number of
bones in the middle ear help no surgery, not even a hearing
nerve endings decreases, so
transfer sound to the inner aid—that completely restores
does your hearing.
ear. The inner ear contains your hearing once it is
the auditory (hearing) nerve, There is no way to restore life damaged by noise.
How Can I Tell If a Noise est note on a large pipe organ, to 20,000 Hz, such as the high
Is Dangerous? shrill of a dog whistle that many people are unable to hear.
People differ in their sensitiv- Human speech, which ranges from 300 to 4,000 Hz, sounds
ity to noise. As a general rule, louder to most people than noises at very high or very low fre-
noise may damage your hear- quencies. When hearing impairment begins, the high frequen-
ing if you have to shout over cies are usually lost first, which is why people with hearing loss
background noise to make often have difficulty hearing the high-pitched voices of women
yourself heard, the noise hurts and children. Loss of high frequency hearing also can distort
your ears, it makes your ears sound, so that speech is difficult to understand even though
ring, or you have difficulty it can be heard. People with hearing loss often have difficulty
hearing for several hours after detecting differences between certain words that sound alike,
exposure to the noise. especially words that contain S, F, SH, CH, H, or soft C sounds,
Sound can be measured scien- because the sound of these consonants is in a much higher
tifically in two ways. Intensity, frequency range than vowels and other consonants.
or loudness of sound, is mea-
sured in decibels. Pitch is mea- What Are Decibels?
sured in frequency of sound Intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB). The scale runs
vibrations per second. A low from the faintest sound the human ear can detect, which is
pitch, such as a deep voice or labeled 0 dB, to over 180 dB, the noise at a rocket pad during
a tuba, makes fewer vibrations launch. Decibels are measured logarithmically. This means
per second than a high voice that as decibel intensity increases by units of 10, each increase
or violin. is 10 times the lower figure. Thus, 20 decibels is 10 times the
Sound in the workplace can intensity of 10 decibels, and 30 decibels is 100 times as intense
be measured with a Type II as 10 decibels.
sound level meter (accurate to Decibel Scale
within one decibel) and a field
calibrator. A less expensive, 0 dB Faintest sound heard by human ear.

but less accurate alternative is

a sound level meter available Faint
as a smartphones app. 30 dB Whisper, quiet library.

What Does Frequency of 60 dB Moderate Normal conversation, sewing machine, typewriter.

Sound Vibration Have to Lawnmower, shop tools, truck traffic; 8

Do with Hearing Loss?

hours per day is the maximum exposure to
90 dB Loud protect 90% of people.
Frequency is measured in
cycles per second, or Hertz Chainsaw, pneumatic drill, snowmobile; 2
hours per day is the maximum exposure
(Hz). The higher the pitch of 100 dB Very Loud without protection.
the sound, the higher the Sandblasting, loud rock concert,
frequency. auto horn; 15 minutes per day is
the maximum exposure without
Max. Unprotected Exposure protection.
Young children, who general- 115 dB
Gun muzzle blast, jet engine;
ly have the best hearing, can noise causes pain and even brief
exposure injures unprotected
often distinguish sounds from ears. Maximum allowed noise
about 20 Hz, such as the low- 140 dB Threshold
hreshold of Pain with hearing protectors.

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation

www.txsafetyatwork.com
2 HS04-050C (10-20)
How High Can the that loud music along with increased use of portable radios
Decibels Go without with earphones may be responsible for this phenomenon.
Affecting My Hearing?
Many experts agree that Can Noise Affect More Than My Hearing?
continual exposure to more A ringing in the ears, called tinnitus, commonly occurs after
than 85 decibels is dangerous. noise exposure, and it often becomes permanent. Some people
Hearing protection is advised react to loud noise with anxiety and irritability, an increase in
for sound at or above 85 pulse rate and blood pressure, or an increase in stomach acid.
decibels. Very loud noise can reduce efficiency in performing difficult
tasks by diverting attention from the job.
Does the Length of Time
I Hear a Noise Have Noise Pollution and Workplace Safety
Anything to Do with the
Danger to My Hearing? Who Should Wear Hearing Protectors?
It certainly does. Impact If you must work in an excessively noisy environment, you
sounds such as those pro- should wear protectors. You should also wear them when
duced by gunshots and using power tools, noisy yard equipment, firearms, or riding a
stamping presses are partic- motorcycle or snowmobile.
ularly damaging to hearing.
High-powered rifles generate What Are the Laws for on-the-Job Exposure?
impact sounds in two ways: • Habitual exposure to noise above 85 dB will cause
from the explosion of the a gradual hearing loss in a significant number of
powder charge and the su- individuals, and louder noises will accelerate this
personic crack of the bullet damage.
departing the barrel. Also, the
• For unprotected ears, the allowed exposure time
closer an individual is to the
decreases by one-half for each 5 dB increase in the
source of intense noise, the
average noise level. For instance, exposure is limited to
more damaging it is.
8 hours at 90 dB, 4 hours at 95 dB, and 2 hours at 100
Every gunshot produces a dB.
noise that could damage the
• The highest permissible noise exposure for the
ears of anyone in close hear-
unprotected ear is 115 dB for 15 minutes/day. Any
ing range. Large bore guns
noise above 140 dB is not permitted.
and artillery are the worst
because they are the loud- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
est. But even cap guns and Standards 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.095 (General
firecrackers can damage your Industry) and 29 CFR 1926.52 (Construction Industry) states that
hearing if the explosion is each employer will implement and maintain a written Hearing
close to your ear. Anyone who Conservation Program for their respective industries. In order
uses firearms without some to determine if a hearing conservation program is needed, a
form of ear protection risks site noise evaluation must be done. This can be accomplished
the potential for hearing loss. by conducting a noise evaluation, noise monitoring, or Job
Hazard Analysis (JHA). If during these tests a noise is found to
Recent studies show an alarm-
be 85 dB or higher, a written conservation program will need
ing increase in hearing loss in
to be written. OSHA requires a yearly hearing test for the
youngsters. Evidence suggests
approximately five million workers exposed to an average of
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
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HS04-050C (10-20) 3
85 dB or more of noise during
an 8-hour workday. If noise
is found to be greater than
95 dB, hazard controls must
be used. All persons should
be reminded that OSHA
Standards represent statutory
minimums. An employer may
exceed these minimums, and
at times must do so to ensure
employee safety. This might
entrail mandating hearing
protection at or above 85
decibels.
Ideally, noisy machinery
and workplaces should be and throat physician so the entire circumference of
engineered to be more quiet (otolaryngologist). the ear canal is blocked, and
or the worker’s time in the they are held in place by an
noise should be reduced; What Are Hearing adjustable band. Earmuffs will
however, the cost of these Protectors and How not seal around eyeglasses or
actions is often prohibitive. Effective Are They? long hair, and the adjustable
As an alternative, individual Hearing protection devices headband tension must be
hearing protectors are decrease the intensity of sufficient to hold earmuffs
required when noise averages sound that reaches the firmly around the ear.
more than 90 dB during eardrum. Hearing Protectors
an 8-hour day. When noise Properly fitted earplugs or
come in two forms: earplugs
measurements indicate muffs reduce noise 15 to 30
and earmuffs.
that hearing protectors dB. The better earplugs and
are needed, the employer Earplugs are small inserts that muffs are approximately equal
must offer at least one type fit into the outer ear canal. in sound reductions, although
of earplug and one type They must be snugly sealed, earplugs are better for low
of earmuff without cost to so the entire circumference frequency noise, and earmuffs
employees. If the yearly of the ear canal is blocked. for high frequency noise.
hearing tests reveal hearing An improperly fitted, dirty or
Simultaneous use of earplugs
loss of 10 dB or more in worn-out plug may not seal
and muffs usually adds 10 to
higher pitches in either ear, and can irritate the ear canal.
15 dB more protection than
the worker must be informed They are available in a variety
either used alone. Combined
and must wear hearing of shapes and sizes to fit
use should be considered
protectors when noise individual ear canals and can
when noise exceeds 105
averages more than 85 dB for be custom made. For people
dB. The National Institute of
an 8-hour day. who have trouble keeping
Occupational Safety and Health
them in their ears, they can be
Larger losses of hearing (NIOSH) recommends double
fitted to a headband.
and/or the possibility of hearing protectors (earplugs
ear disease should result Earmuffs fit over the entire plus muffs) for noise at or
in referral to an ear, nose, outer ear to form an air seal, above 100 decibels.
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
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4 HS04-050C (10-20)
Why Can’t I just Stuff My Ears with Cotton? Even if earplugs and/or muffs
Ordinary cotton balls or tissue paper wads stuffed into the are worn continuously while
ear canals are very poor protectors; they reduce noise only in noise, they do little good if
by approximately 7 dB and are not considered as adequate there is an incomplete air seal
protection. between the hearing protector
and the skin.
What Are the Common Problems of Hearing
When using hearing
Protectors?
protectors, you will hear your
Studies have shown that one-half of the workers wearing
own voice as louder and
hearing protectors receive one-half or less of the noise
deeper. This is a useful sign
reduction potential of their protectors because these devices
that the hearing protectors
are not worn continuously while in noise or because they do
are properly positioned.
not fit properly.
A hearing protector that gives an average of 30 dB of noise Can I Hear Other People
reduction if worn continuously during an 8-hour workday and Machine Problems
becomes equivalent to only 9 dB of protection if taken off for If I Wear Hearing
one hour in the noise. This is because decibels are measured Protectors?
on a logarithmic scale, and there is a 10-fold increase in noise Just as sunglasses help vision
energy for each 10 dB increase. in very bright light, so do
During the hour with unprotected ears, the worker is exposed hearing protectors enhance
to 1,000 times more sound energy than if earplugs or muffs speech understanding in very
had been worn. noisy places. Even in a quiet
setting, a person with normal
In addition, noise exposure is cumulative. So the noise at home hearing who is wearing
or at play must be counted in the total exposure during any hearing protectors should be
one day. A maximum allowable while on-the-job exposure able to understand a regular
followed by an exposure to noisy lawnmower or loud music will conversation.
definitely exceed the safe daily limits.
Hearing protectors do slightly
reduce the ability of those
with damaged hearing or poor
comprehension of language
to understand normal
conversation. However, it
is essential that persons
with impaired hearing wear
earplugs or muffs to prevent
further inner ear damage.
It has been argued that
hearing protectors might
REDUCE a worker’s ability to
hear the noises that signify
an improperly functioning
machine. However, most
workers readily adjust to the
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
www.txsafetyatwork.com
HS04-050C (10-20) 5
quieter sounds and can still If you have any of these activities generate enough
detect such problems. symptoms, you may have noise to cause hearing loss,
nothing more serious than with a little awareness and
What If My Hearing Is impacted wax or an ear reasonable care, most people
Already Damaged? How infection, which might be can expect to maintain their
Can I Tell? easily corrected. However, it hearing throughout their life.
Hearing loss usually develops might be hearing loss from Exposure to noise causes
over a period of several noise. In any case, take no hearing damage and is almost
years. Since it is painless and chances with noise—the always preventable.
gradual, you might not notice hearing loss it causes is
permanent. If you suspect Remember to practice safety.
it. What you might notice is
a hearing loss, consult Don’t learn it by accident.
a ringing or other sound in
your ear (called tinnitus), a physician with special
training in ear care and Information for this fact sheet
which could be the result of
hearing disorders (called an was provided by the American
long-term exposure to noise
otolaryngologist or otologist). Academy of Otolaryngology-
that has damaged the hearing
This doctor can diagnose Head and Neck Surgery
nerve. Or, you may have
your hearing problem and Association, the Occupational
trouble understanding what
recommend the best way to Health and Safety
people say; they may seem to
manage it. Administration, the National
be mumbling, especially when
Institute of Occupational
you are in a noisy place such
It is possible for you to Safety and Health, and
as in a crowd or at a party.
enjoy an active lifestyle and the Texas Department
This could be the beginning of
protect your hearing from of Insurance, Division of
high-frequency hearing loss; a
damage. While many everyday Workers’ Compensation -
hearing test will detect it.
Workplace Safety.

Safety Violations Hotline

1-800-452-9595
[email protected]
The Texas Department of Insurance,
Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)
E-mail [email protected]
or call 1-800-687-7080 for more information.

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted, this document was produced by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
(DWC)-Workplace Safety using information from staff subject specialists, government entities, or other authoritative sources. Information
contained in this fact sheet is considered accurate at the time of publication. For more free DWC publications on this and other safety topics and
for free occupational safety and health audiovisual loans, visit www.txsafetyatwork.com, call 800-252-7031, option 2, or email resourcecenter@
tdi.texas.gov.

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation

www.txsafetyatwork.com
6 HS04-050C (10-20)