Dinamitek presents the complete guide to choosing hearing protectors

Everything you need to know about hearing protectors with Dinamitek

Hearing PPE should protect you from noise , but not isolate you from your surroundings. This is the fundamental rule for working safely.
To identify the most suitable protection system, let's start with a simple but essential diagram:

Headphones : attenuation 33 – 36 dB

Earplugs : attenuation 23 – 41 dB

Earplugs : attenuation 23 – 45 dB

I want to see the range of hearing protection PPE

This list shows us how vast the world of hearing protection is.

To choose correctly, we need to understand how to protect ourselves from noise based on the situation and the user. Every worker has different needs, as does every work environment. The good news? With Dinamitek, we always find the right solution .

Let's start from the beginning: noise must be attenuated , but the worker must never be isolated. Safety also depends on the ability to perceive what is happening around them.
Imagine being in a factory: if you can't hear your machine, how could you notice an anomaly?

How do you choose the right hearing PPE?

There are four fundamental criteria, and they are the responsibility of the security manager (or yourself, if you are the first person responsible for your own protection):

1. Noise detection
2. Choosing the right protection
3. User training
4. Validation of the protection level

Your task is simple but essential: always wear the assigned PPE and use it correctly.

Today, 40 million workers are exposed to high noise levels and 13 million suffer from hearing problems (Source: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work).
Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational disease in Europe. According to OSHA, one-third of workers are exposed to potentially dangerous levels.

The safety manager must include the use of hearing protection as part of a proper hearing conservation program . This includes health surveillance and periodic audiometric screening.

When does noise become harmful?

Directive 2003/10/EC establishes precise thresholds:

• Above 80 dB : PPE and risk information must be provided.
• Above 85 dB : PPE must be worn in high-risk areas.

“The exposure limit value is the absolute maximum level that must never be exceeded, also considering the reduction achieved with PPE.”

In summary, the Directive defines:

• LEX 8h 80 dB(A) – Lower action value
• LEX 8h 85 dB(A) – Upper action value
• LEX 8h 87 dB(A) – Exposure limit value

Noise doesn't just damage your hearing: it can cause stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, and fatigue . Protecting your hearing means protecting your overall health.

And not just at work: DIY, concerts, nightclubs… even in everyday life we can expose ourselves to dangerous levels.

I want to see the range of hearing protection PPE

Decibel Scale (dBa) – Hobby

• Disco / Rock Concert / F1 Race / Chainsaw – 100 dB
• Jackhammer – 90/100 dB
• Vacuum cleaner – 80 dB
• Car interior – 70 dB
• Conversation – 60 dB
• Fan – 50 dB
• Refrigerator – 40 dB
• Rustling leaves – 30 dB
• Clock ticking – 20 dB

Decibel Scale (dBa) – Work

• Jet Engine / Jackhammer – 120/140 dB
• Sandblasting / Gas Turbine / Chainsaw – 110/120 dB
• Mechanical press / Textile production – 100/110 dB
• Tractor / Hand Drill – 97 dB
• Belt sander – 93 dB
• City traffic – 78 dB
• Air conditioner – 60 dB
• Transformer – 45 dB

Now that you know the risk, how do you choose the right PPE?

Once you've identified your protection class , choose the PPE that's most comfortable for you. Every ear is different: what's comfortable for one person may not be for another.

For home use, try different models until you find the one that works best. Always choose certified products: your health is non-negotiable.

Key questions for the security manager

• Are there any difficulties in wearing the inserts?
• Is it necessary to communicate in noisy environments?
• Are your hands often dirty?
• Are there hot or humid conditions?

PPE must be comfortable and suitable for prolonged use . If the worker tends to remove it, the protection becomes ineffective. A few minutes without PPE can drastically reduce protection.

Always ask for comfortable, effective, and certified hearing protection: your health comes first.

I want to see the range of hearing protection PPE

Protect your hearing with Dinamitek