Smithfield, RI -- Will doubling up or wearing dual protection—an earmuff in addition to earplugs—provide added protection against extreme noise levels? The answer is yes, according to a new Sound Source™ bulletin recently released by the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group, but perhaps not as much as you thought. The bulletin, Sound Source #11a, "Dual Protection," is authored by noted audiologist Brad Witt, and is available on the company's website at www.hearingportal.com/hearingconservation/hc-snd-ame.asp
According to Witt, who is Audiology and Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Hearing Safety Group, dual protection is not required by OSHA regulations for general industry in the U.S., but is required for mining operations governed by the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) for noise exposures over 105 dBA (8-hour time-weighted average). Similarly, NIOSH recommends dual protection for any exposures over 100 dBA, and some companies require it for employees with progressive noise-induced hearing loss despite normal protective measures.
However, Witt cautions, there are also risks associated with dual protection. "Using earplugs and earmuffs concurrently seriously isolates the wearer," he writes, "so it is warranted only in extreme noise levels." He also suggests dual protection is overused. "When a high attenuation earplug or earmuff is properly fitted and the user is motivated to use it correctly, some hearing professionals say the need for dual protection is rare."
So how much protection will doubling up provide? That depends on the fit, says Witt, but it "is not simply the combined ratings of the earplug and earmuff. There is a ceiling effect that limits the amount of combined protection. Even if wearing a perfectly fitted earplug and earmuff with ideal attenuation, we would still hear sound transmitted through our bodies and bones to the inner ear." The maximum amount of attenuation that can be attained by most people is 35-50 dB, depending on the frequency of the sound.
As for a rule of thumb for estimating the effects of dual protection, OSHA recommends adding 5 dB to the NRR of the higher rated device. But this, says Witt, "sacrifices some accuracy. An earmuff typically adds about 4 dB to the NRR of a well-fitted foam earplug, and about 7 dB to a well-fitted pre-molded earplug." He also says that an earmuff with moderate attenuation provides the same effect as a high-attenuation earmuff when either is worn over a well-fitted earplug.
"The key to obtaining maximum benefit from dual protection is proper fit," Witt writes, "especially the fit of the earplug. When a poorly fitted earplug is worn with an earmuff, the resulting dual protection is little more than the earmuff alone."
Sound Source is a periodic publication of the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group, addressing questions and topics relating to hearing conservation and hearing protection. Sound Source bulletins are offered as a public service and are freely available from the company's website at www.hearingportal.com/hearingconservation/hc-snd-ame.asp
You can also directly access this report at www.hearingportal.com/images/conservation/Sound_Source_11a_Dual_Protection.pdf
Since its beginnings as a one-man operation more than 30 years ago, Howard Leight Industries has grown into one of the largest manufacturers of in-ear hearing protection in the industrial market and is widely recognized as an innovator in protection and fit. Since 2001 Howard Leight has been a part of the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group.
Bilsom was founded in Sweden in 1968 and leads the industry in developing innovative sound management technologies that are used in some of the most challenging environments in the world.
Combining the innovation and expertise of Howard Leight® Earplugs and Bilsom® Earmuffs, the Bacou-Dalloz™ Hearing Safety Group is a world leader in hearing safety.
Bacou-Dalloz is the world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of personal protective equipment, offering a comprehensive range of safety products designed to protect people from hazards in the workplace. The Group specializes in head protection equipment (eye and face, respiratory and hearing protection), body protection equipment (clothing, gloves and footwear) and fall protection equipment. With a worldwide presence and over 6,000 people, Bacou-Dalloz endeavors to contribute to ongoing improvements in workplace health and safety by providing innovative, comfort-engineered products that workers want to wear. The Group's products are sold through a worldwide network of distributor partners for use in all sectors of activity (construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, homeland security, petrochemicals, medical, public services, etc.). Bacou-Dalloz is listed on the Premier Marché of the Euronext stock exchange in Paris, and is part of the SBF 120 index.
For additional information, visit the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group website at www.hearingportal.com
