hearing Archives - ProtectHear® Moulded Earplugs, Hearing Protection, Custom Ear Plugs

28 Jul 2017

What is over protecting?

What is over protecting?

Protecting yourself from harmful sounds is very important, to avoid loss of hearing and deafness. But over protecting is something that needs to be considered in relation to noise levels within your working area. Over protecting can lead to isolation, difficulty in communicating and not being able to hear warnings and signals. This may lead to employees removing hearing protection to communicate and then not being protected.

The HSE advises that you should not reduce the level of noise with ear plugs to 70dB, as this is seen as over protecting. ProtectHear® offers you the appropriate protection levels, whilst being aware of your surroundings. This gives you the ability to keep your hearing protection fitted at all times.

We offer a range of SNR levels such as 14, 23, 29 and 31. For example, if you’re just above the action level at 85dB then the 14 SNR would be the best option, as the 23 would over protect. Our most popular option is the 29 SNR with customers such as Network Rail, British Steel and Phillips 66. The 31 SNR is a solid version that blocks out the noise. The level of protection can be dependent on whether it’s a low frequency working area, you should always refer on to your Octave band analysis noise survey.

The HSE has an article on overprotecting you can browse through.

03 Jun 2016

Industrial Deafness – It can be stopped!

Industrial Deafness – What is it?

Industrial deafness is hearing loss due to a working environment where you are not fully protected from high levels of noise. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have Noise: Employers responsibilities – legal duties that if a workplace is 85 dB or above, hearing protection is mandatory – if the levels are 80 dB then advice and options should be given. Companies must now abide under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.

How Can it be Prevented?

Noise Control – The noise can be controlled by reducing or eliminating it at source, so the noise will be below the mandatory/advisory level.

Hearing Protection – providing hearing protection to employees is another option, there are many forms of protection used such as disposables, ear defenders and custom moulded ear plugs.

How can ProtectHear® help?

Our ear plugs fully protect all users as they are perfectly suited to each individual. The soft silicone makes it a comfortable product that can be worn all day, yet still allow communication, whilst attenuating loud noises to a safe level. Our main product is a step in the right direction for preventing any future claims as a result of industrial deafness.

If you are already affected by industrial deafness we do have solutions for you… Our electronic products act as a hearing protector for the hard of hearing in the working environment. This clever technology allows you to communicate when needed with the product, and is equipped with volume settings.

Contact us for more information.

24 May 2016

Listen UP – Hearing Protection is important!

The HSE Listen UP is a hearing conference that was held in Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport which commenced the 2nd March 2016. The event discussed the importance of hearing and why it shouldn’t be taken for granted. This was a great opportunity for all the Health and Safety enthusiasts to reach out to others, and share knowledge and experience.

Employers have a duty of care to protect employees, by providing the correct hearing protection. This is a forever growing issue which needs to be stopped in its tracks, to prevent the amount of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) claims and look after health. Hearing is not something to take for granted; it is equally as important as any other of our senses.

Our product is perfectly designed to tackle these issues, as they guarantee protection. ProtectHear® perfectly fit the ears, protecting you but also allowing noises that pass through to be attenuated to a safe level. This allows users to be protected yet still enable them to hear warning signals and conversation. Made from a soft material that can be worn all day without discomfort. We also strive to provide education with our hearing protection solution, offering toolbox talks across companies. Our product has a 5 year lifespan with a 12 month warranty. With ProtectHear® you are not just buying a product, you are buying access to a high level of service as well.

Contact us for more information on how to implement best of breed hearing protection into your organisation.

06 Nov 2015

The personally moulded earplug ‘impression’ process

Before deciding to throw away those disposable earplugs for good and switch to personally moulded hearing protection, many of our clients ask us how the whole personally moulded earplug scenario works.

So that we can cleverly make your very own bespoke pair of earplugs, that fit comfortably and protect you from noise (whilst still being able to hear those important things like warning signals or your colleague’s speech), we have to take an ‘impression’ or mould of your ear shape.

A common question is “what does this process involve and what does it feel like when you take an impression or moulding of my ear?”

So here is the lowdown…. thanks to model Steve for this demo.

Sit comfortably and relax.
Our qualified practitioner (who has the same level of expertise as an audiology nurse performing the same process) will then take a quick look inside your ear using a device with a tiny light, just to check that everything looks OK.
The practitioner then carefully inserts a small foam barrier into your ear very gently, you will hardly feel this and it has a string on it so it won’t get lost in there!
The fun then begins. The practitioner gently fills your ear with a non-toxic soft silicone moulding material – Barbie would love the pink! This feels a bit like inserting your usual foam earplugs so you will then be unable to hear very well once the moulding material is in there.
You wait around 3 minutes for the mould to set.
Hey presto, we gently remove the moulding material and tiny foam plug and you’re all done.
We send off the impression, and your personally moulded earplug set arrives within a couple of weeks!

The process takes no more than 5 minutes to complete from start to finish, not bad for a pair of earplugs that last five years.

Book a trial here.

Add up the cost savings here using our online calculator (instant results).

30 Sep 2015

Form to Enter our Competition to win tickets to the SHE Show North East

17th November 2015, at the Newcastle Marriott, Gosforth Park.

29 Jun 2015

A Breath of Fresh Air for Hearing Protection, Avoiding Wax!

People who are required to wear hearing protection for prolonged periods of time will testify that one of the worst by-products of that is a build-up of ear wax. This wax can often lead to discomfort, dizziness, hearing impairment and even the onset of infection in some cases, and due to hearing protection being mandatory in many workplaces this is something that many of us have had to put up with for years. ProtectHear® and its vented design offers a solution that may help improve symptoms.

Don’t sweat it!

If you wear hearing protection at work, typically you are blocking or covering your ear or the ear canal to achieve protection from damaging external noise. The problem with this is that it reduces your ear’s ability to “breathe” and creates an environment which is hot and sweaty, particularly in the summer months, and unfortunately this is just the sort of place that wax and bacteria love! ProtectHear® and its vented design allows for a continual flow of air whilst being worn, attenuating external noise to a safe level as it passes through the passive filter within, but crucially allowing your ear to breathe promoting a healthier, cooler and happier ear!

Wax Lyrical!

Ear wax (Cerumen) is produced by the sebaceous glands and apocrine sweat glands which are situated in the outer parts of the ear canal. The amount of earwax produced varies from person to person and is naturally produced to protect the ear from the ingression of dirt, dust and microbes and bacteria that can lead to infection, whilst keeping the ear lubricated and clean. Ear wax will normally migrate out of the ear over time by itself but sometimes, particularly when using earplugs or hearing aids, it can be pushed back in to the canal often resulting in discomfort, a blocked feeling, tinnitus and hearing loss for the sufferer with the need to seek professional medical advice.

ProtectHear® vented earplugs are washable and have a replaceable dust cover which is specifically designed to prevent dirt and dust migrating into the ear whilst being worn in the workplace. This can significantly improve ear health and in some cases reduce the amount of wax produced, thus improving many of the common symptoms endured by the wearers of hearing protection.

For more information on hearing protection, contact us or request a no-obligation trial of ProtectHear® hearing protection for your workforce.

Archives: hearing