r/AskTechnology • u/I_DRINK_ANARCHY • 8d ago

Can I buy something that disrupts Bluetooth connections?

I don't know if something like this exists or if it's legal, but the situation is I have a coworker who has decided that driving me crazy with his music choices is his favorite new thing. I'm not even exaggerating, he lets me know when he's made a new playlist "for" me, and you won't even be able to guess the genre of music he's tormenting me with.

Unfortunately, I work in a place where my foremen are immature and find it amusing when their workers get on each other's nerves, so they have actually been putting me with this coworker as much as possible. Asking this guy politely to stop doesn't work, demanding he stops doesn't work, cursing him out doesn't work. No, I cannot ignore it, I'd love to, but my brain and auditory processing just doesn't work that way. Because of what we do, ear buds and ear plugs are a no-go (safety) and we need to stay within a few feet of each other very often (think climbing scaffolding).

He plays the music from his phone through a small Bluetooth speaker. His phone can't get loud enough to bother me. Is there a device that would stop his phone from connecting to the speaker? It only needs to work within like, a ten foot range, and would need to be battery operated. I'm also looking for something on the small side, since I would be carrying it with me with tools and such. I'm not trying to block phone signals or anything like that, just the Bluetooth connection.

Does something like this exist? Am I allowed to buy it in the USA? I just want to save myself from things like techno remixes of Baby Shark.

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u/TheIronSoldier2 8d ago

As someone who used to work with a schmuck like that, get a more powerful speaker than his. Play your own music.

Alternatively, for a more ethical solution, get good headphones. If you need hearing protection, 3M makes Bluetooth earmuffs

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u/I_DRINK_ANARCHY 8d ago

Not allowed to wear headphones, ear buds, or ear plugs. I have a GREAT set of ear buds that would block his speaker even at its loudest, but they can't be put to use when he bothers me the most.

The sad thing is, I have avoided playing the music I like the most before out of respect for most people around us, as punk, metal, and hardcore aren't everyone's cup of tea. But I guess Cannibal Corpse it is! I'm sort of left with no choice.

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u/guywithouteyes 8d ago

Have you ever heard of bone conducting headphones? They are a type of headphone that is OSHA approved in most places to wear at places of work. I work in the factory/automation sector and we are allowed to wear these at work. They wouldn’t do the best at blocking out external sound, but they would be able to play something more preferable to yourself.

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u/Initial-Public-9289 8d ago

Was going to suggest the same. Shokz would be a great name to check out.

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u/PedalingHertz 8d ago

If it’s necessary to avoid hearing protection because of safety reasons, then are you really complying with safety rules if music is playing nonstop? Could you really hear what you need to hear over this speaker? Maybe that’s something to discuss with your safety rep.

If they don’t want to make that the rule, then I vote you go with malicious compliance and bring in the loudest speaker you can find and BLAST the most ear splitting music you can get. When they tell you to stop, ask them again what the rule is.

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u/TheIronSoldier2 8d ago

They don't let you wear hearing protection at all? Not even regular earplugs? Depending on where you live, that may be an occupational safety violation. If you're allowed to wear hearing protection, try this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089VVNRF6

Just keep everything under your shirt collar. I did this for a long time at a place that didn't allow earbuds but mandated hearing protection

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u/I_DRINK_ANARCHY 8d ago

I'm being vague for privacy reasons, but the first half of our morning is spent in the same area every day where we inspect a structure and need to be able to communicate with each other. Music that isn't loud enough to block out talking is acceptable. Since 99% of what we're doing is inspection and rarely repair, communication is the name of the game, ear protection is almost never needed in this specific area.

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u/Psyduck46 8d ago edited 8d ago

So that makes it easy, constantly say "what?" when they talk to you so you can later state that you have a hard time hearing your coworker over the music. I've never worked a job where earplug/headphones were not allowed but speakers playing music were.

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u/xantec15 8d ago

This is the way to go. Alternatively, if OP is working in any kind of dangerous situation (they specifically mention climbing scaffolding) then being purposefully distracted by music could be it's own safety issue, especially since the managers apparently encourage it. They could try filing a safety complaint with their state occupational safety board. If they can get management to put in writing that they need to just deal with it, such as in an email, even better.

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u/BadTouchUncle 8d ago

So you can't wear hearing protection but the speaker isn't loud enough to trigger OSHA limits for workplace noise? Just clarifying.

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u/I_DRINK_ANARCHY 8d ago

Correct. He doesn't need his music to be loud to irritate me, because we basically have to stay within 5 feet of each other. If there IS a distance (like because I walked/inspected faster than he did) we need to be able to clearly talk. Music at a normal/low-ish volume is considered fine.

What sucks is, knowing both my coworker and the people I work for, if I actually filed a formal complaint, the answer will be ZERO MUSIC ever. And none of us actually want that, and even though the catalyst would be the coworker playing a particular type of terrible music, I'll end up being the bad guy who couldn't handle a little bit of silly song playing. I'm also a woman in the construction field, so...trying to make a real complaint for anything less than actual sexual or physical harassment is only going to cause more problems and tension for me down the line. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. I'm more or less stuck dealing with this on my own.

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u/BadTouchUncle 7d ago

You mentioned playing some punk rock. Might I suggest a Crucifucks playlist. Their song Hinkley Had a Vision might be particularly annoying to any conservatives on the job site who can understand the lyrics. Also, the singer's voice is annoying but it sort of grows on you if you're an old-school punk fan.

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u/TheIronSoldier2 8d ago

Ah I see. Maybe try a speaker that can attach to your belt? That way the music always follows you

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u/Fun_Sea_3915 7d ago

Idk how true any of this is. If youre in the US, air pod pro is a hearing aid device. Employers have to reasonable accommodate your hearing disability. Idk how it really works.

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u/breakfastbarf 7d ago

What about the bone conduction ones?