Noise Cancelling Earplugs: A Workplace Requirement?
As bizarre at it seems, problems due to noise pollution have created an industry for noise cancelling headphones. It would be easy to mistake noise cancelling headphones as a tool to cut down on noise: they do, but with a twist.
Noise cancelling headphones allow the user to listen to their music while blocking all other noise. The user only hears what is coming through the headphones. Another type of noise cancelling earphone exists for people working in industrial situations where there is a lot of noise. These are better known as earplugs and they are a specialized type that is made to measure.
You can arrange for someone to come to your workplace and measure you up for these specialized earplugs. They put a putty-like substance in your ear and it forms a mould. Your earplugs are made to the mould dimensions and arrive in the mail about 10 days later. When you use these earplugs, they cut out the noise of machinery while still allowing you to hear conversations from your workmates.
This type of ear protection can fall under workers health and safety requirements. Noise cancelling headphones that enhance your enjoyment of music do not.