In a world filled with constant noise, protecting our hearing has become more crucial than ever. Whether it's in noisy workplaces, bustling cities, or concerts, our ears are continuously bombarded with sound. However, there is a way to protect your hearing while still staying connected to your surroundings. Sensear's smartMuff is an innovative headset that not only protects your ears but also enhances your ability to communicate and interact with others. With its groundbreaking SENS^® Technology and unmatched comfort, the smartMuff is revolutionizing the way we experience sound in everyday high noise. 

In the power and utilities industry, effective communication is critical for the smooth and efficient operation of the system, as the industry is responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity, natural gas, water, and other vital resources. Therefore, stable communication solutions are a necessity, as the energy sector employs over 2 million people. So, with an already large and diverse industry, it is necessary that the safety and communication standards continue to grow and evolve with it.

Have you ever wondered what the loudest work environment is? According to a 2018 study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries are among the most hazardous for high noise and hearing loss, with the forestry and logging industry as the most pervasive. Workers exposed to high noise in the forestry and logging industry have “a higher percentage of hearing loss (21%) than all other noise-exposed industries combined (19%)” (CDC, 2018).

There have been many advancements in hearing protection and communication technology, and probably the most well-known is active noise-canceling technology. As pointed out in a previous blog, active noise cancellation “cancels” or blocks out almost all noise coming into the headset. This causes an issue in many work environments where workers need situational awareness to prevent workplace accidents and keep them aware of potential hazards. The alternative to active noise cancellation is noise suppression. What are the differences between these two technologies?

When working in hazardous or high-noise-level conditions, it is important to have the right hearing protection. In many cases, this indicates wearing a headset or earmuff hearing protection device (HPD) with active noise-canceling technology. This analog technology functions by detecting the sound coming into the headset generates signals that are out-of-phase with the offending signals and then cancels them out. This allows any sounds generated within the headset to be understood more clearly (music, radio communications, etc.). Unfortunately, these active noise-canceling headsets have attributes that are problematic.

Noise in the modern workplace is a well-known hazard with firm laws and guidelines in the United States, Australia, and many other countries throughout the world to ensure employees have some degree of protection.