Safety hazards in the oil and gas industry are inevitable. It is a high-risk sector that poses various risks to workers due to the environment and labor work, with a recorded 20 employee deaths in the industry in 2021 (JPT, 2022). Beyond that, an estimated 14% of noise-exposed workers in the oil and gas sector have hearing loss (NIOSH, 2019). Inadequate hearing protection in the oil and gas industry leads to accidents and injuries. Workers who cannot hear warning signals or instructions are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents that can be fatal or have a long-lasting impact. Therefore, to mitigate safety hazards, it is necessary to identify threats and take the right steps to prevent them before it is too late. 

Would you believe it if you were told that about 61% of mining, oil, and gas workers have been exposed to hazardous noise on the job (NIOSH, 2019)? The oil and gas industry is especially a high-risk working environment, where workers are exposed to various hazards daily, including constant exposure to extreme noise. More often than not, oil and gas workers aren't adequately protected. As such, the need for effective intrinsically safe communication and hearing protection devices in the oil and gas industry that support worker compliance cannot be overemphasized.

The paper and pulp industry is one of the largest industries in the world, with the U.S. playing a major role in its market. According to Fortune Business Insights, the North American paper and pulp industry market was valued at USD 64.51 billion in 2022, accounting for nearly 20% of the global paper and pulp market size (Statista, 2023). It is also one of the most dangerous industries globally, as paper dust is highly combustible, leading to the risk of explosions within manufacturing plants. Additionally, there are several other health hazards that can put employees at high risk but can all be mitigated. 

Mining presents many risks to all involved, from the financial and investment level, down to the frontline worker in the mines. In the public's mind, the risk of a mining shaft cave-in far outweighs the risks to physical health over time. When health risks are discussed, it has commonly only been about diseases such as black lung disease. However, according to the CDC, "One out of every four mine workers has a hearing problem. Even worse, four out of five mine workers have a hearing impairment when they reach mid-60s retirement age" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Furthermore, 76% of miners are exposed to hazardous noise daily, which is more than any other major industry.

Industry leaders in every field value the importance of safety for employees and managers. This emphasis on safety is even more important in fields that include extremely high levels of occupational noise exposure, such as mining or oil and gas. However, in these extremely loud environments, traditional methods of hearing protection just don't provide enough noise reduction. That's where double hearing protection (DHP) comes in.