All CG employees engaged in sandblasting must wear what level of hearing protection?

• A. Earplugs
• B. Double hearing protection
• C. Earmuffs
• D. No protection required

Answer: (B)

In a sandblasting operation, the noise level is extremely high, so protecting hearing requires maximum attenuation. Double hearing protection means wearing earplugs and earmuffs at the same time. This combination provides far greater reduction than using either device alone, which is necessary to keep exposure below safe limits and reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

Earplugs alone may not seal perfectly in dusty, gritty conditions, and earmuffs alone can be less effective if they don’t fit snugly or aren’t used properly. Wearing both compensates for these limitations and offers more reliable protection in a loud, debris-filled environment. No protection or protection with only one device would leave you vulnerable to hearing damage.