Toolbox Talk: Hearing Protection

Before you start

Bring foam earplugs for everyone so they can practice fitting them during the talk.

Read this to your crew

Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, and it happens so slowly that most people do not notice until it is too late. It is also completely preventable.

Today we will talk about when you need hearing protection and how to wear it so it does its job.

Key points

Know the warning sign. If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone an arm's length away, the noise is probably loud enough to damage your hearing.
Know the limit. OSHA requires a hearing conservation program when noise averages 85 decibels or more over an 8-hour day.
Fit foam plugs right. Roll the plug into a thin tube, pull the top of your ear up and back, insert it, and hold it for 20 to 30 seconds while it expands.
Wear it the whole time. Taking protection out for even a few minutes in loud noise cuts the protection you get across the day.
Watch for signs. Ringing in your ears or muffled hearing after work means you were exposed to too much noise.

Ask the crew

Which jobs or tools on this site are the loudest?
Have you ever had ringing in your ears after a shift?
Which do you prefer, plugs or muffs, and why?

Picture this

A machine operator stops wearing earplugs because he says he is used to the noise. Years later, he cannot follow a conversation in a busy restaurant. The damage happened slowly, one shift at a time.

Print this page to use the sign-in sheet, or skip the paper and record attendance digitally in SafetyIQ.

Name

Company / crew

Signature

Talk leader: ______________ Date: ______________ Site: ______________