How to Protect Your Hearing from an Explosion in a Hazardous Location

Several industrial environments are at risk of harmful explosions due to the presence of flammable gases, vapors, dust, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during their refinement or manufacturing processes. Industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, mining, chemical, pharmaceutical, paper mills, grain silos, and grain processing must be vigilant when deploying electrical technologies that could potentially release enough energy to ignite these dangerous substances.

Intrinsically Safe Equipment

Intrinsically Safe (IS) equipment is specifically designed to operate safely in hazardous areas, such as those found in the oil & gas, mining, paper, pulp, and chemical processing industries. Certified IS technologies prevent the ignition of flammable materials, significantly reducing the risk of explosions.

With stringent safety laws and guidelines mandating the use of IS equipment to protect employees and prevent explosions, the demand for intrinsically safe solutions has seen rapid growth. This includes smart headsets, which play a crucial role in workplace safety.

SENSEAR_IS extreme noise protection

What Does Intrinsically Safe Mean?

Let’s define intrinsic safety. The term "intrinsic" refers to something essential. Intrinsically safe headsets are designed to protect what is essential—the safety of the headset user. These headsets are electrical devices that, if not properly designed, could generate sparks or heat, posing a risk in explosive or hazardous environments. In the presence of gases, VOCs, or flammable materials, even a small spark from a headset could lead to a catastrophic explosion.

Users of the Sensear SM1P-Ex experience significant advantages in their ability to communicate clearly, thanks to its versatile wired and wireless capabilities. This device facilitates not only direct, face-to-face conversations but also ensures that users can protect their hearing. Moreover, it enables them to remain aware of their surroundings, an essential feature in dynamic work environments.

The integration of our innovative SENS® Technology enhances this experience, making it ideal for those working in hazardous settings. Specifically, the Sensear SM1P-Ex is perfectly suited for environments where explosive chemicals, fuels, and combustible powders are present, providing a comprehensive solution for safety and communication in these challenging conditions.

Hearing loss, tinnitus, or hyperacusis, is a common symptom after blast exposure – presenting a loud noise a workplace hazard for short-term and long-term hearing loss.

To ensure safety, IS headsets must be engineered so that their wiring, circuitry, batteries, and other components are incapable of releasing enough electrical energy to ignite flammable materials. It's important to note that even if the batteries are IS certified, the circuitry of the headset, radio, or connected devices must also be safe to prevent electrical discharges. To protect workers fully, the entire communication system—from hearing protection to connected devices—must be intrinsically safe and compliant with relevant standards.

Intrinsically Safe

All IS products must be certified by reputable certification agencies to ensure they meet the required standards. The products should carry the appropriate markings for the country or region in which they are used.

The four main certification agencies include: ATEX (Europe), CSA (Canada), IECEx (Global), UL (USA)

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SM1PBIS

Product Highlight: SM1P-IS

The SM1P-IS elevates Sensear’s portfolio of smart headsets by providing features and benefits that improve safety, reliability, and efficiency in hazardous locations. This industrial headset offers a robust design adhering to higher noise reduction standards of up to 27dB NRR depending on the headset wearing style. It’s Bluetooth® module allows for the streaming of audio to the headset, a valuable feature for users that listen to music during long work shifts in high-noise environments. The headset uses Sensear’s SENS® Technology to enhance speech and suppress noise while the noise-canceling boom mic filters out background noises so that only speech is transmitted through the microphone. The cable connection at the ear cup allows you to use it as a wired headset along with Bluetooth® and Short-Range or unplug the cable and use it as a completely wireless headset via Bluetooth® and/or Short-Range.

Certifications: Hazardous locations

Sensear’s Hazardous Location IS and Ex headsets are independently certified to meet the stringent requirements of all four major standards (ATEX, UL, CSA, and IECEx). By choosing Sensear, you ensure a truly safe work environment.

With Sensear’s headsets and in-ear devices, workers can communicate seamlessly whether face-to-face, over short-range, or via two-way radios or Bluetooth-enabled devices. All the while, their hearing is protected with high-quality noise suppression technology.

Sensear’s range of Two-Way Radio and Bluetooth® headsets and earplugs are powered by groundbreaking SENS® (Speech Enhancement, Noise Suppression) Technology, allowing workers to hear speech clearly while staying protected in high-noise environments. This advanced technology enhances communication, improves safety, and provides 360° situational awareness on the job site.

Learn More About Sensear’s Hazardous Location IS and Ex Headsets.


Product Highlight: SM1R and SM1R-IS

The SM1R and SM1R-IS (for hazardous locations) are specifically built to enhance two-way radio communication in high-noise environments. The headsets are unique from the rest of Sensear’s product portfolio in that they contain no battery and are powered by the radio, making the units lighter and more comfortable for users.

Similar to the rest of Sensear’s portfolio, they pair Sensear’s patented SENS® Technology and noise-canceling boom mics to allow users in high-noise environments to communicate either via face-to-face or two-way radios while maintaining 360° audible awareness of their surroundings and protecting their hearing.

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sit·u·ation·al aware·ness

Situational awareness refers to the ability to remain aware of your surrounding environment while wearing hearing protection. Sensear’s headsets enhance this by allowing users to hear critical environmental sounds, alarms, and voices while blocking out harmful noise, ensuring safety and awareness in high-noise areas.
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