Sound protection is often overlooked, when considering one's own safety. Safety glasses are obvious, because you can see the danger flying right in front of your face. Cutting guards are also commonly used today due to the advanced designs that make them easy to use, as well as very effective in providing protection for the operator, and observer alike. But protecting your hearing can be easily ignored, because the threat isn't in front of your eyes, and the damage isn't immediately apparent, save a seemingly temporary ringing that won't manifest itself until you have found a quite place to sit down and reflect. Remember hearing loss cannot be repaired once it is lost.
Sound protection is primarily in two forms, ear plugs and ear muffs. There are also safety earbuds, which block out noise, but they also pipe in music from an IPOD for instance. This may be desirable, but it will also add distraction, when all your attention should be with the machine, and the project.
Ear plugs are available in reusable and disposable styles. They can be found corded, in pairs to hang around your neck for easy use, and reuse, and non corded separate plugs, packaged in pairs. Both styles are available as reusable plugs made of soft plastic, usually with a custom carrying case for storage, when not in use, and disposable, made of form material that should be thrown away after you remove them from your ears. Either choice is relatively inexpensive, so you might want to experiment with different types and brands until you find the one that suits you the best.
Earmuffs are a bit more expensive, but they also offer the best rated noise protection in the market. Although they are very lightweight, they are not unlike wearing a hat, and can be bumped out of position and trap sweat, a small price to pay for the best protection around. The price range varies considerably here, starting around 20 dollars for a basic model, to over a hundred dollars for earmuffs that fold away, or attach to your work helmet, in commercial applications, or have stereo speakers built in, that connected to an IPOD, AM/FM radio, or other cabled, and Blue Tooth transmitted sources, but like earbuds, as stated before, prudence dictates that; less distraction when operation equipment, is the safest way to work.
When purchasing any noise protection look for AO safety rated, or National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) approved brands. They typically lower the noise intrusion level down to a quiet 30 db (decibels), and have been certified to offer the protection they state, and the protection you need.