Steel Manufacturing

The steel industry is one of the world’s noisiest industries, which can predispose workers to hearing loss. The noise from blast furnaces, melting, presses, rollers, and cranes can all exceed safe limits of 85 dB(A) as recommended by OSHA. In a recent study of steel workers in Egypt nearly 71% of noise-exposed workers had hearing impairment, and 47% had noise-induced hearing loss.

There are many sources of high-end industrial noise within steel plants that employers and employees have to contend with, including blast furnaces, melting, rolling mills, power plants, compressors, blowers, draught fans, conveyors, pneumatic tools as well as as grinding, arcing, crushing, punches, etc.

While multiple hazards exist for steel workers on the job, noise and hearing loss is not considered as critical as dangers like slips, trips and falls. Because hearing loss is more gradual and not typically immediately noticeable, it is not as recognized as other injuries.

Hearing damage is preventable, but it cannot be undone. There is no surgery or cure for noise-induced hearing loss. Repeated exposure to high noise levels, such as working near machinery, operating heavy equipment or standing near conveyor lines can lead to permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. 

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires steel manufacturing industry employers to provide hearing protection to their employees when noise exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dB(A) or more. 

There are a variety of different processes, equipment and activities within a steel manufacturing facility that can create significant and harmful noise levels, particularly with long-term exposure. That is why providing workers with Sensear’s noise-cancelling headsets is critical to mitigating the serious risk of hearing loss.

Reducing high-noise levels to safer decibel dB(A) levels to protect steel workers is only part of the mission at Sensear to keep workers safe on the job. In addition to our industry-leading noise-reduction headsets, we also provide workers with 360° situational awareness of their environment. 

Sensear’s range of Two-Way Radio and/or Bluetooth^® Headsets and Earplugs are powered by groundbreaking SENS^® (high noise communication) Technology that elevates speech and suppresses dangerous background noise, so workers can hear speech and stay protected in high-noise environments. The result is increased job site safety with enhanced communications and vital 360° situational awareness.

Workers can have seamless conversations whether they are face-to-face, connected via short range, or on their two-way radio or Bluetooth-enabled devices, all while protecting their hearing using high-quality, noise-canceling headsets. Sensear headsets also provide protection and clear communications between operators inside vehicles and throughout the steel manufacturing facility. 

Sensear offers a variety of headset solutions to provide the best protection for workplace communication and safety, including dual-protection headsets where exposures may exceed 95 dB(A), intrinsically safe headsets for volatile environments and in-ear bone conduction headsets that are ideal for workers required to wear respirators who need to communicate effectively. 

Sensear is the perfect solution to protect hearing for steel manufacturing workers.

With some of the best hearing protection solutions for steel manufacturing applications, Sensear is solving high-noise communication problems for many of the world’s leading steel manufacturing companies.

To get the best solution for communication, speech enhancement and noise suppression for manufacturing plants, schedule a free consultation today and we’ll help you find the ideal hearing protection solution for your facility.