A trial program now under way in some Amazon warehouses lets workers listen to music, podcasts, and other audio using Bluetooth-enabled earplugs, when working on tasks where it’s deemed safe.
The trial addresses a longstanding request from Amazon workers to loosen the current prohibition on personal music devices in the company’s fulfillment centers, sortation centers, and delivery stations.
Amazon employees in the trial are using earplug-style headphones that were specially made for the company under two brands, Elgin and Plugfone. The specific devices in the trial come with a series of custom features designed to ensure safety and compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.
- They have built-in volume limits (about 80 decibels) to ensure that employees don’t damage their hearing, and so that they don’t miss important safety cues like alarms.
- Unlike some off-the-shelf versions of these products, they do not include microphones, so associates are not able to use them to make phone calls.
- The Bluetooth devices in the trial come with the option of either standard silicon or foam-style plugs.
- Although they are designed for ear protection, they do not include electronic noise cancelling.
The cost to employees is between approximately $33-$50 depending on which style they choose.
As part of its normal safety practices, Amazon provides traditional earplugs for use by employees in noisy parts of its warehouses.
Amazon confirmed that it’s conducting the trial after GeekWire spotted online forum posts by fulfillment center employees whose sites are part of the program.
“Our employees have asked to listen to audio content while working, and we’re answering their request by trialing a state-of-the-art, comfortable, user-friendly solution,” Amazon spokesperson Maureen Lynch Vogel said via email.
“We’re trialing this option because, when used appropriately, it would provide employees with what they’re seeking while still meeting our high safety standards. While not all areas of our sites are eligible to participate in the trial at this time, we will continue to evaluate if there are solutions that allow additional areas to be eligible in the future,” she said.
The company has been conducting the trial since earlier this year. It’s expected to evaluate the results from the trial before deciding on next steps, which could include possible expansion to additional sites.
