The job ends. The ringing doesn’t.

From Brandon Glenn’s Safirst newsletter on LinkedIn.

You spend years building a career in construction. That work should pay for your future, including the years when you finally get to slow down.

Protecting your hearing today is part of protecting that future.

Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing in the ears. Many experienced superintendents and tradespeople live with it after years around loud equipment. It can affect sleep, focus, mood, and daily life. Noise is one possible cause, though tinnitus has other causes too. NIH's tinnitus guidance

October is National Protect Your Hearing Month. I want to use this edition to challenge how we think about noise on the jobsite. NIH

The shooting range test

Think about a day at the shooting range. Before you sight in a rifle, hearing protection is part of the prep.

So why do we treat a concrete saw, a grinder, or repeated impact noise differently?

The sources differ. The need to protect ourselves is the same.

"It's only going to take a minute."

That's an easy excuse when the earplugs are back in the truck.

But exposure depends on how loud and how long. A short task can still be a big exposure. Several noisy tasks in a day add up.

NIOSH recommends a limit of 85 dBA over eight hours. Every 3 decibels louder cuts the recommended time in half. At 100 dBA, it's just 15 minutes, and the rest of the day's noise still counts. NIOSH's noise-exposure guidance

OSHA's construction rule starts at 90 dBA for eight hours. The 85 dBA figure is NIOSH's more protective recommendation. It is not the OSHA construction limit. Above OSHA's limits, employers must use feasible engineering or administrative controls first. If those aren't enough, they must provide hearing protection and run an effective hearing conservation program. 29 CFR 1926.52

My recommendation: identify hazardous noise early, and control it before crews build up exposure.

Make hearing protection work in the field

1. Measure the exposure. Identify noisy tasks and the workers nearby. Use sound measurements and personal monitoring when needed. Task length alone can't tell you if an exposure is acceptable.
2. Reduce the noise at the source. Consider quieter equipment, maintenance, barriers, and distance between noisy work and other crews. Earplugs should back up those controls.
3. Have protection ready before work starts. Keep hearing protection where crews need it. Include supervisors, visitors, and anyone passing through noisy areas.
4. Check the fit. Handing someone earplugs doesn't mean they're protected. Teach proper fit, offer options, and use fit testing to verify it. Earmuffs must seal properly when worn with other PPE.
5. Keep communication working. Crews must still hear alarms and instructions while protected. Don't assume entertainment earbuds or noise-canceling headphones protect your hearing on the job. NIOSH's hearing-protection guidance

Take the same habits home

Wear hearing protection in the garage, around loud yard equipment, and at the range. Noise off the job counts too.

If you notice ringing, muffled hearing, or trouble following conversations, see a healthcare professional. Tinnitus has different causes, and help is available.

For experienced leaders, the example matters. When the superintendent puts on protection before entering a noisy area, everyone else follows.

This week's toolbox-talk question

"Which task are we treating as 'too quick' for hearing protection, and have we actually measured it?"

We work hard to build a future for our families. Let's protect our ability to hear the conversations, laughter, and everyday moments that make it worth enjoying.

— Brandon Glenn