Aware was founded to address one of the most persistent and preventable threats facing the U.S. Military — the epidemic of noise-induced hearing loss. Decades of combat operations, weapons training, and exposure to extreme impulse noise have made hearing loss the leading service-connected disability among veterans. From the start, Aware’s mission has been to protect and preserve warfighter hearing without compromising situational awareness or communication, ensuring that protection never comes at the cost of performance.
Our hearing protection technology has been proven in the field, delivering mission-critical reliability under the most demanding operational environments and earning the trust of elite military units across multiple service branches. By capturing the exact geometry of each individual’s ear through advanced 3D ear scanning, Aware provides a precision-fit seal that enhances comfort, communication clarity, and protection consistency — essential in both combat and training environments where milliseconds matter.
As we expand beyond defense, we are now scaling this same military-grade innovation for industrial and commercial sectors, where chronic noise exposure continues to endanger millions of workers. This paper highlights why optimal hearing protection is not just a military necessity, but a universal standard for human performance, safety, and long-term health — demonstrating how Aware’s defense-proven solutions are setting a new benchmark for hearing protection in every high-noise environment.
Overview: Noise and Lead Exposures at Outdoor Firing Ranges
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a comprehensive Health Hazard Evaluation to assess noise and lead exposure among firearms instructors and trainees at an outdoor federal training range in California. The investigation revealed that instructors and students were routinely exposed to impulse noise levels exceeding 160 decibels (dB) during live-fire exercises—well above the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for impulse noise of 140 dB. Even though these levels did not exceed OSHA’s permissible exposure limit, they still pose a substantial risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) due to the short-duration, high-intensity impulses produced by gunfire.
To mitigate these risks, NIOSH strongly recommended the use of dual hearing protection—earplugs combined with earmuffs—and implementation of a comprehensive hearing conservation program in compliance with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.95. The report also emphasized the need for annual audiometric evaluations for all range personnel to detect early hearing threshold shifts and prevent permanent damage.
In addition to noise exposure, NIOSH measured airborne and surface lead contamination during the training sessions. While personal air samples for lead did not exceed OSHA or NIOSH occupational exposure limits, measurable amounts of lead were detected on firearms, door handles, and outdoor picnic tables where employees ate lunch. These findings indicate a potential ingestion hazard, especially if workers eat or handle food without washing their hands after range activities. Hand wipe tests demonstrated that proper handwashing effectively removed lead contamination, highlighting the importance of consistent hygiene practices.
The study further noted that exposure variability could be influenced by meteorological factors such as wind direction and speed, which affect the dispersion of gun smoke and lead particulates. NIOSH also raised concerns about ototoxic interactions—the combined hearing effects of noise and chemical exposures, including lead and solvents used for firearm cleaning.
Overall, the report concluded that firing range environments require enhanced health and safety controls, including:
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Dual hearing protection for all personnel during weapons fire
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A formal hearing conservation and monitoring program
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Use of non-lead ammunition and primers as feasible alternatives
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Strict handwashing and surface-cleaning protocols to reduce lead ingestion risk
These findings underscore the importance of integrated occupational health management at firing ranges—addressing both acoustic and chemical hazards to protect long-term hearing, neurological, and systemic health of range instructors and trainees