Construction workers are most likely to struggle with hearing loss. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) roughly calculated that 22 million workers have harmed their ears due to high noise levels. Please don’t avoid protection, stay safe.
According to OSHA Laws & Regulations, the noise exposure should be no more than 85dB for an 8-hour working shift. Every decibel above it starts to damage the ears.
It’s not ok to hear ringing or humming noises after your work shift is done. Hearing Loss in Construction is quite common. There are many things you can do to prevent that, and of these things is using proper headphones.
These headphones mentioned down below will drastically drop the work ambient noise to prevent any health issues that can come with much noise exposure. Besides, you aren’t only protecting your ears, but also your vibe with music will engage throughout the day.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Noise Reduction  | 8.6 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Comfort  | 8.5 | Check Latest Price | |
Best For Teamwork  | 9.1 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Budget  | 8.8 | Check Latest Price | |
Best Overall  | 8.6 | Check Latest Price |
Presenting The Top 5 Best Headphones For Construction Workers
5. Wulfpowerpro FM MP3 Headphones – Best Noise Reduction
Wulfpowerpro FM MP3 is designed with durable materials and is a mix of black and orange colors. The comfy ear muffs that are so thick and cushy provide a full comfort ear zone. Even after a long time of wearing, these noise cancelling headphones won’t disturb your ears or put pressure on them.
With an LCD Display and MP3 Bluetooth Technology, you can connect to your phone wirelessly together with other available Bluetooth devices. Alternatively, FM Digital Radio has plenty of channels in case your phone battery dies.
Every construction worker deals with noisy environments, for that reason Wulfpowerpro FM MP3 created an effective Noise Reduction feature at 29dB. This is most suitable for those workers who are exposed to construction sites, lawnmowers, weed wacker, airport workers, operating machinery, shooting, and other extra loud environments,
Wulfpowerpro FM MP3 has a microphone for hands-free calls. You can perfectly hear what the other person is saying, and it switches to a Bluetooth connection immediately after finishing the call. There are only 4 buttons for easy cooperation.
Wulfpowerpro FM MP3 has cordless construction and works with a 3.7V rechargeable lithium battery. The battery life is around 10 hours.
Why Should You Buy It?
The high noise cancellation at 29dB will prevent the hearing loss over time that loud noises create. Wulfpowerpro FM MP3 is super comfy and has a Bluetooth connection. As a backup, FM radio is here too. Plus, you can answer your beloved ones’ phone calls while working hands-free. A great set of noise canceling headphones.
4. PROTEAR Digital Headphones – Best Comfort
PROTEAR Digital Headphones are extremely convenient and light. It is designed for a perfect fit to your head and is adjustable. The padded ear cushions and headband will make your boring working day more entertaining. The durability of the steel wire is impressive, it’s built to last for years and you can place it comfortably under your safety casket.
Easy operation and LCD display give you easy access to 8 AM/FM radio stations to be up to date with the current trendy music list. You also have audio jack input for MP3/MP4 players that you can connect from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
The full-size earcups block the noise by 25dB and only 55dB can infiltrate inside your ears. Working in any loud environment is quiet now, PROTEAR Digital Headphones are great for hunting, mowing, racing, shooting, indoor gunfire, construction sites, and other outdoor noisy ambient.
As for the battery life, PROTEA Digital Headphones are powered by 2AA batteries that are not included in the box. You have to purchase them separately. You can carry a few extra batteries with you so you can replace them when they run out, so you can extend the battery life. Definitely, the best headphones for construction workers when it comes to ear cup comfort.
Why Should You Buy It?
The noise level in the air is 85dB, and PROTEAR Digital noise canceling headphones can reduce to 55dB which is way down than recommended level. The comfort level is above all, wear all day long without feeling that your ears are covered. You have a radio and MP3/MP4 features for the full joy of music. The affordable price point will push you even more to purchase it.
3. 3M Pro-Protect – Best For Teamwork
3M Pro-Protect Headphones have a bulky design which is typical for construction workers to cover up loud noises. The ergonomic design with an adjustable vented headband has a nice decent sound quality.
The premium gel ear cushions are exceedingly soft making your workflow efficient. With the hard hat compatibility, you can place any type of safety hat and still will be at the ideal comfort level.
If you work in teams or groups, 3M Pro-Protect are your go-to noise cancelling headphones because it lets you communicate at low noise and the external microphone placement will intensify by increasing situational awareness. You will clearly hear what other teammates have to say with blocked loud noises coming from machines.
Besides the external mic, 3M Pro-Protect noise cancelling headphones have an internal microphone too to help you make and receive phone calls during your shift. The Noise Cancelling Boom Mic ensures the noises are clean while the environment sound is like a house party.
The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is 26dB. This amount is just right enough not to deal with ear damage over time. The electronic hearing protector earmuffs amplify quiet noises, so you can hear a certain range of your master’s commands.
The battery of 3M Pro-Protect noise cancelling headphones is powered with 2 AA batteries, so the battery life depends on how often you change them.
Why Should You Buy It?
If you work in a team or groups, 3M Pro-Protect noise cancelling headphones are the best ones you can find because of the external microphone that helps you be aware of the surrounded situation while protecting your ears. Not many headphones provide that. Other features like Bluetooth, radio, and 25dB noise reduction.
2. ProCase Ear Muffs – Best Budget
The ergonomic feel and the adorable color option like red, blue, camo green, army green, grey and purple provides breathability. The imitation of leather earcups that blocks all the sounds are super soft for all day comfort.
The compact size and weight is makin ProCase Ear Muffs portable anywhere. The headband is adjustable at 360 degrees and is covered in rugged foam underneath it for best comfort to age groups. Just pull and push the metal string until you find the perfect position.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) ProCase Ear Muffs is 28dB. That amount will surely protect your ears against any potential harm caused by loud noises. They are useful primarily for construction workers and also great for shooting, hunting, sports events, studying, woodworking projects and lawn care.
These noise canceling headphones are really good headphones for construction workers, because they are really good at blocking unwanted background noise.
This quality at this affordable price is like a handout with the sound quality and features. At last the battery, it doesn’t require any.
They are probably the best budget noise canceling headphones you can get right now.
Why Should You Buy It?
No battery requirement and the bargained price is surprising. The noise isolation works perfectly fine to block the noises out at 29dB. ProCase Ear Muffs give different color options and the earcups are made of 3 layers (leather, noise-damp foam, and ABS shell). The 360-degree adjustable earcups address any type of age group from kids to adults. Plus, the headphones can be folded for easy portability.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4- Best Overall
Sony WH-1000XM4 are high-quality active noise cancelling headphones that included all the high-end features and looks that a single headphone can possibly take. When I say everything, I mean literally everything. Let’s see what I’m talking about.
The sound quality in Sony WH-1000XM4 is beyond perfect because the Edge-AI is in cooperation with Sony Music Studios Tokyo. Every beat will be on fire. Touch Sensor controls allow you easily to play or pause, control the volume and pick up phone calls.
Sony WH-1000XM4 also features Speak-to-chat technology which automatically drops the volume when the conversation with coworkers is in question. The ambient sound control feature still allows you to hear crucial sounds for your safety purpose at work. Also, the music stops when you take off the headphones.
The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) in Sony WH-1000XM4 is 29dB. This will drop the unnecessary harmful background noises, leaving you to work peacefully. Plus, Adaptive Sound Control and Smart Listening detects the venture and behaves according to the situation.
Personally, i would say that these are the best active noise canceling headphones you can get, and they are very versatile. They are not just your regular noise canceling headphones that offer ear protection, but they have amazing sound quality too. In fact, these wireless headphones probably have the best sound quality in this category.
For better phone calls and communication, the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones combine 5 microphones that are packed with strong signal processing. Lay back and wait for your virtual assistant Alexa to do the work for you, so you don’t have to interrupt your work to answer the call.
Lastly, the superior battery life lasts up to 30 hours of playback. Charge for 10 min and get extra 5 hours. Nice. The battery life of these Bluetooth headphones should be more than enough to last you a few working days.
Definitely the best headphones for construction workers when it comes to sound quality.
Why Should You Buy It?
If you’re sick and tired of constant battery drain, the solution is Sony WH-1000XM4. Noise Cancellation blocks the unnecessary harmful noises to provide the needed amount of whispering. Superior call quality, superior sound quality, and many reach features are included. Alexa is here to serve you by using your voice only.
Occupational Noise Exposure
The environment noise level as measured in the air is 80dBA. This is safe for your ears. Usually, construction work exceeds this level every day at work. For that reason, the Legal Information Institute stated that Permissible Noise Exposures for 8 hours of work shift is 90dBA. The recommended average is between 70-85dB.
If you want to measure the sound levels in your workspace, some apps and tools are measuring the loudness precisely. Doing this will help you reduce the chances of permanent ear damage and reduces occupational noise exposure damage.
The Impact of Loud Noise Exposure on Health
The constant loud noise exposure certainly harms your ears. If you still hear noises after your shift is done, please go and consult with an otolaryngologist.
According to OSHA, if you don’t use the required protection, you can end up with a permanent hearing loss or you can’t hear limited sound frequencies. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight, but after a certain period, it will be noticeable.
In order to prevent that from happening, hearing protection devices are a must for healthcare. Besides, it would be more enjoyable to work while listening to music by your favorite singer and a podcast that interests you.
How Loud is Too Loud for a Noisy Work Environment?
The noise is measured with the unit named decibels (dB/dBA). There is a limited frequency that a human being can perceive. The sounds become more noticeable when they hear a soft whisper from 5ft away at 40dB. The normal everyday conversation from a few feet away is 60dB.
In a minute you enter the construction sites, you encounter a 100dB noise level which is excessive. The number goes up to 120dB when heavy machines or equipment starts working. The threshold of hearing can reach 140dB which can leave its scar to chronic hearing damage.
If you still don’t use one of them, get a pair as soon as possible, it’s better late than being sorry.
Don’t Listen to Music too Loudly While Working in Construction
I know it’s tempting when your favorite song pops up, but listening to music at high volume makes you reach the same point of hearing damage. As we mentioned the risk of too loud music and the recommended decibels that should be somewhere between 70-85dB, you need to know this rule applies to music too.
Since a nightclub is excessive at 110dB is way above the recommended sound level. Listening to music like you are in a nightclub will do even more harm because we leave the nightclub for 2-3 hours, but we use the bluetooth headphones for 8 hours straight. Be more careful.
Note: These Sound Levels are measured by NIOSH Sound Level Meter App
Final Words
Wearing ear engineering protection is a must if you are working in construction. Excessive exposure to loud noises can cause permanent hearing damage or you won’t be able to hear at a certain level of frequency. Be safe and wear your noise-canceling headphones. Try to choose the comfortable ones, your ears need to breathe throughout 8 hours of work.
Alternatively, if you can stand them, you can get wireless earbuds or Bluetooth earbuds, but those won’t offer you any protection like the other Bluetooth headsets we recommended in this article.
Further Reading
If none of these above suits your requirements, because your head is too big to fit, then feel free to check these Headphones For Big Ears.
There are also Headphones For People With Glasses that cause trouble to too many people, check them out for best comfort.
If you are low on a budget, click these Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $50.
Equipment Tester & Reviewer
I’m an unbiased audio equipment tester & reviewer, dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in audio gear.
