Hearing Protection: The Importance of Hearing Protection in South Africa

In part 2 of our final episode for Season 1, Jarryd Swanepoel, National Sales Manager at uvex, discusses the importance of hearing protection in South Africa. He provides practical guidance on what safety managers and employees can do to effectively prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Did you know that noise exposure for an 8-hour shift should not exceed 85 dB? When noise levels surpass this threshold, employers must either implement noise control measures or supply effective hearing protection such as earmuffs or earplugs.

1. Importance of baseline audiometric tests at employment start to track hearing loss.
2. Audiometric tests should be conducted annually and upon employee exit.
3. Larger companies generally comply; smaller companies often overlook this due to cost, knowledge, and compliance gaps.
4. A shift in perspective needed: from compliance-focused to personal quality-of-life importance.
5. Explanation of decibel levels (whispering ~30-40dB, normal conversation ~50-60dB, yelling ~70-80dB, power drill ~90dB, jet engine ~130dB).
6. Clarification of hearing protection misconceptions, including incorrect calculation of combined protection (earplug + earmuff).
7. Overview of hearing protection types: reusable earplugs, disposable earplugs, earmuffs, custom-moulded plugs.
8. Emphasis on correct usage for genuine protection rather than merely compliance.

Are your teams aware that combining hearing protection doesn’t add the ratings together? For example, using a 30 dB earplug and a 35 dB earmuff doesn’t equal 65 dB protection? Read more on this by downloading our Toolbox Talk.

Hearing Protection Toolbox Talk

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