Hearing is one of the most important and sensitive sensory organs. It is exposed to a wide range of noise levels every day and is therefore permanently stressed. Noise-induced hearing loss due to chronic exposure to noise is one of the most common recognized occupational diseases. It usually develops gradually and painlessly - which is why it is often recognized too late. To prevent hearing loss, it is important to choose the right hearing protection, especially in noisy environments. This must be suitable for the working conditions and the volume.
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What are insulation values?
Two factors are decisive in determining the right hearing protection device: the noise level in the working environment and the insulation level of the hearing protection device. In terms of insulation values, a distinction is made between HML values and the SNR value. The HML values indicate the insulation performance at high (H), medium (M) or low (L) frequency respectively. The SNR (single number rating) value indicates the average insulation performance. Calculation using the SNR value is decisive in selecting the correct hearing protection device.
The noise level minus the insulation value results in the residual sound value. This should be in a range below 80 dB to prevent damage to hearing. Normal performance can be reduced due to incorrect wearing. This is because the insulating performance of the hearing protection device can be reduced by having a beard or longer hair, wearing goggles, by contamination or where ear plugs are incorrectly inserted.
