Ear buds at work

Most people know that listening to music too loud on ear buds can damage hearing, but what else can happen?

Listening to music while working, especially in an industrial or high traffic environment, can make it hard to hear emergency signals or the sound of vehicles or machinery. Federal OSHA makes this recommendation in its preventing farm vehicle backover incidents fact sheet: “Instruct workers and operators not to use personal mobile phones, headphones or any items that could create a distraction.”

That ear buds can cause harm in these environments was made clear when a 21 year old lost their life after dropping their ear bud and then reaching for it, subsequently getting caught in machinery at a golf cart manufacturer earlier this year.

While OSHA rules do not clearly prohibit them, it’s clear that the risk far outweighs any benefit, especially in environments with vehicles or moving equipment.