State of Montana Health Care & Benefits Division sent this bulletin at 03/02/2026 11:31 AM MST
March 2, 2026
March Safety Tip
Preventing Hearing Loss
Exposure to loud noise while at work can damage your hearing. Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses and is permanent.
Image and content provided by Made Safe NL, a Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Newfoundland and Labrador initiative.
Hierarchy of Hazard Controls
The Hierarchy of Controls is a step-by-step approach to eliminating or reducing workplace hazards by ranking controls from the most effective to the least effective level of protection. When choosing a control method, start from the top and assess the feasibility of the first layer of controls before identifying other controls needed to protect workers from noise hazards. Continue this process until you reach the bottom of the pyramid and have identified as many controls as need to protect workers from the hazard.
Elimination: Eliminate the noise by physically removing the hazard
Substitution: Substitute noisy equipment with a quieter alternative
Engineering Controls: Isolate workers from the noise using barriers or booths
Administrative Controls: Limit the time workers are exposed to the noise
PPE: Provide hearing protection such as muffs and/or ear plugs
The state medical surveillance contract with Benefis gives state employees access to hearing testing for only $40 per employee! Contact Rob Virts to get your employees registered.
