Hearing protection device, collision warning system and method of retrofitting a hearing protection device with a detection unit

A collision warning system for use in a noisy workplace environment comprising

• a. a hearing protection device, comprising:
• two earmuffs or ear plugs configured to attenuate sound from multiple noise sources in the noisy workplace environment,
• an indication unit comprising at least one loudspeaker for providing an audible indication to a user wearing the hearing protection device, wherein the two earmuffs or ear plugs comprises the loudspeaker, wherein the loudspeaker is within an attenuated environment of the two earmuffs or earplugs;
• a detection unit comprising
• a transmitter for sending out a first detection signal;
• and,
• a receiver for receiving, in response to the first detection signal being sent, a second detection signal from an external device,
• wherein the detection unit is configured to assign a distance value representing the physical distance to the external device based on the second detection signal;
• wherein the hearing protection device is configured such that the detection unit controls the at least one loudspeaker in the indication unit to audibly alert the user of the hearing protection device if the assigned distance value is at or below a predetermined threshold distance value;
• and wherein the assigned distance value at or below the predetermined threshold distance value indicates that the movable device is approaching the user while the user is engaged in tasks at a workstation within the noisy workplace environment;
• b. the external device comprising
• a second detection unit comprising
• a second transmitter for sending out a second detection signal;
• and,
• a second receiver for receiving the first detection signal sent by the hearing protection device, wherein the external device is associated with the movable device that perform mobile transport operations within the noisy workplace environment.

A method of retrofitting a hearing protection device for use in a noisy workplace environment with a detection unit, the method comprising:

• a) providing a hearing protection device comprising:
• i) two earmuffs or ear plugs configured to attenuate sound from multiple noise sources in the noisy workplace environment, and
• ii) at least one loudspeaker within an attenuated environment of each earmuff or ear plug;
• b) providing a detection unit comprising:
• i) a transmitter for sending out a first detection signal;
• and
• i) a receiver for receiving, in response to the first detection signal being sent, a second detection signal from an external device, the external device being associated with a movable device that performs mobile transport operations within the noisy workplace environment;
• wherein the detection unit is configured to:
• (1) assign a distance value representing the physical distance to the external device based on the second detection signal,
• (2) control the at least one loudspeaker to audibly alert a user wearing the hearing protection device if the assigned distance value is at or below a predetermined threshold distance value, and
• (3) indicate that the assigned distance value at or below the predetermined threshold distance value indicates that the movable device is approaching the user while the user is engaged in tasks at a workstation within the noisy workplace environment;
• and
• c) attaching the detection unit to the hearing protection device.