Hearing Protection

One popular device for protecting your hearing when using a tool or device that is noisy is the foam plug, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These are first rolled between thumb and forefinger or across the palm to make a thin tube. About half the length of the tube is placed in your ear canal and the foam then expands to block noise from entering the ear. Women, who tend to have smaller ear canals than men, may need to look for a small size plug.