How to wash noise canceling headphones?

Workers are always exposed to many risks that can harm their health. Wearing personal protective equipment or PPE is therefore strongly required for your safety. However, these employees perform their duties in noisy places, hence the need to wear Personal Protection Against Noise or HPCD. Like all PPE, the noise-canceling headphones needs maintenance to keep its effectiveness, but its cleaning varies according to the types of hearing protection used.

How noise canceling headphones work

The risk of occupational deafness depends on the duration of exposure to noise, the distance between the worker and the noise source, its frequency and intensity, and the person's sensitivity to noise. This is why hearing protection is mandatory for workers operating in a place where the sound level exceeds 80 decibels. The noise-canceling headset constitutes a physical barrier between the ears of the wearer and the noises coming from his entourage by attenuating sound intensities from 27 decibels to 35 decibels depending on the model and the effectiveness of the device.

The noise-canceling helmet is generally composed of a headband or a hoop passing over the head, with two large insulating headphones. It is designed for daily use whether professional (construction, aviation, metallurgy, etc.) or personal (gardening, DIY, concerts, etc.). This accessory must be comfortable, non-irritating, adjustable and suitable for both men and women.

The different types of noise canceling headphones

There are various models of ear muffs on the market, but the choice is made according to the needs of the worker. There are active or passive noise canceling headphones, with an integrated radio communication function or Bluetooth technology, and noise canceling headphones. Broadly speaking, this type of HPD is grouped into four categories.

Earplugs

They are among the PICB to be used occasionally because of their lack of comfort, even if they are easily worn and transported with or without a headband. By the way, earplugs are less noticeable and can be used for sleeping, work in an office, travel or see concerts.

There are several models, including foam, silicone, acoustic filter and custom. It is also possible to combine the earplugs with noise canceling headphones for more protection.

Passive noise canceling headphones

This is the most commonly used model in the professional field. It consists in attenuating external noise for the worker operating alone and not needing to communicate regularly with his colleagues. This is a reusable HPD with pads and foam inserts to be changed at least every year to guarantee its tightness.

Active noise canceling headphones

The active noise canceling headphones have a communicating system intended for professionals who need permanent protection against noise while remaining attentive to their surroundings. This type of helmet analyzes the outside sound and sends a signal in phase opposition to vary the noise perceived by its wearer. It amplifies low sounds such as conversational voices and attenuates disturbing noises.

Noise-canceling headphones

This model works with an option for music or radio broadcasting in addition to the attenuation of external noise. It is used much more by individuals than by professionals.

The essential criteria of a good noise-cancelling headset

During a working day in a noisy environment, wearing noise-canceling headphones is essential, but sometimes has its limits. For this, the employer must choose the right model for the sound environment and the sound pressure level of the work area.

Helmet comfort

If the noise canceling headphones are not comfortable, the employee will tend to take them off often, increasing the risk of hearing loss. The weight of the helmet plays an important role in its comfort. Passive headphones are mostly made of stainless steel, PVC and other resistant materials with insulating foams. The more the weight of the latter or the quantity of the foam increases, the heavier the helmet will be.

For active headphones, the microphones placed on the shells, as well as the batteries or batteries increase this weight. Apart from that, the pressure exerted by the helmet on the ears is very important, it must be constant for optimal and effective protection. The feeling of compression is felt after a few hours of wearing, and this unpleasant feeling pushes the worker to remove his helmet to relieve himself. In addition, in case of high heat, the pressure exerted by the pads favors the accumulation of humidity due to perspiration in the ear.

Wearing a helmet and communication

With noise canceling headphones, it is sometimes difficult to communicate normally without removing the device or raising an earpiece. A model with high sound attenuation certainly protects hearing from harmful noise, but also isolates sounds essential to safety such as alarms, approaching machinery and risky machinery. It is therefore important to know the sound levels to which the workers will be exposed and to choose the helmet with an attenuation rate adapted to each situation.

Helmet adjustment

Like all PPE, the size of ear muffs should be suitable for each employee, even if most of these HPDs have adjustable headbands. Moreover, it should be compatible with other equipment such as protective headgear, goggles and masks.

Maintenance of noise canceling headphones

Caring for your noise-canceling headphones helps extend its lifespan and ensure its effectiveness. It must be regularly cleaned with a frequency that depends on the work environment, but also when shared with colleagues. As a standard cleaning approach, it is recommended to simply wash the ear muffs with mild soap and water.

However, you still need to follow some instructions to maintain its quality and functionality. You should only wash the outside and avoid immersing the helmet in water. Alcohol, acetone, waterless hand cleaners, and products containing lanolin are strictly to be avoided. Then, do not wear the noise-canceling headphones in an environment exceeding 55�C.

There are several ways to care for noise canceling headphones. There are also specially designed hygiene kits to extend the life and comfort of this equipment. noise protection, easily following the procedure provided by the manufacturer.

After each use, remember to check and examine the ear muffs for any damage. In the event that this occurs, it is important to replace the damaged parts such as the pads and the insulating foam. You should also make sure that no dirt or particles remain on the pads by using cotton swabs soaked in soapy water or a mild detergent.