If you work somewhere noisy, and the decibel level is over 80dB(A), you’re trained & educated to understand the risks involved in working in that kind of noisy environment and hearing protection is made available. At 85dB(A) and above hearing protection should be provided.
But in social environments, there are no rules, so at a gig or in a club you might see musicians wearing hearing protection, the bar staff may have earplugs in – but no one would tell you to wear them. Earplugs won’t usually be provided – so out of everyone there, you’re the one at risk.
The facts — Decibel level and maximum exposure time.
A decibel dB(A), is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound - 85dB(A) and above is the level at which noise becomes unsafe without the use of hearing protection.