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Double hearing protection is needed in work environments with noises that exceed 100 decibels on average over an eight-hour shift. Workers can wear ear plugs underneath their protective earmuffs to stay safe in these situations. They should also test the noise level regularly to find out if this equipment is necessary based on the exposure level. Occupational hearing loss remains a persistent problem in work zones across the U.S. Many machines and industrial processes create loud noises …

Industrial environments with high noise levels, like construction sites, can potentially damage workers’ hearing. Sound level meters that are used for acoustic measuring indicate noise levels in a workplace, and let workers know when it’s time to put on their PPE. According to OSHA, if noise level exceeds 85dB, they must put on personal hearing protection equipment to prevent hearing loss. There are three important factors that can put you at risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL): ho …

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation officially recognizing Mother's Day as a national holiday. Since then, Mother’s Day has become one of the major holidays in the USA, giving us a chance to honor the individuals in our lives who care for us. Some women will have the luxury of being pampered at home with entertainment and meals prepared for them by family members. Flowers, chocolates, jewelry are among the most popular gifts for Mothers. Flashy gifts are nice, but al …

A friend recently nudged my shoulder and pointed out a mother and her baby who were in the stands with us at an Oakland A’s baseball game. He rolled his eyes. The baby was wearing earmuffs. "Our parents never did any of that stuff," he told me with a smug look. "And we came out just fine." He and his giant foam finger turned back to watch the game. Suddenly outfielder Yoenis Cespedes hit a towering home run to center field and we jumped up out of our seats and started shouting wi …

Noise levels will be high around the San Francisco Bay this weekend. Fleet Week is here and with it the loud, loud sound of six F/A-18 Hornets flying overhead at Mach 1. It's something you can feel through your whole body, but it's your ears that are in the greatest danger. Maximum decibel levels for spectators has been measured between 100 and 115dB, which is pretty darn high. While this level is still in the realm of the acceptable for short doses during fly-over, it is still incre …

Worn properly an earplug like the Howard Leight Max NRR 33 can be used in noise up to 110 dB(A).  110 dB is roughly equivalent to someone blowing a whistle a couple feet from your ear.  Aside from being extremely irritating, it’s very dangerous for your ear.  120dB is typically recognized as the pain threshold and the point where damage to your ear can happen very quickly. On their website, the Howard Leight company writes that the best earplug is the one that is worn …

These great headphones have three main objectives: to sound good, to keep good sound in, and to keep bad sound out. Many headphones on the market these days don't adequately dampen background noise, and as a consequence people often blast the volume and unwittingly damage their hearing. And here at PK Safety, we are against that type of behavior. The good news is that Howard Leight's Sync Stereo Headphones can counter even the worst noise pollution you'll ever encounter. That's be …

We get this question regularly. The answer is as unique as the person calling. Typically, the customer has tried a few drug store variety earplugs, so I usually recommend disposable foam ear plugs. These offer the most noise reduction of any ear protector and are more compact than any earmuff, which is critical for comfort. But not all foam earplugs are created equal. There are two important factors to consider, and they have a direct impact on comfort: the size (diameter) of the e …