Ear Protection

[Jimmyp5]

Originally Posted by AchingBack

For my money you can't beat a good old combination, hard hat/ear muffs, as used for chain saw, and other 2 cycle engine work. The face shield has even saved me from flying debris while bush hogging.

ditto... I keep it all hanging up with the keys... not that I put on the hard hat all the time... when cutting the fields., but when it time to clear brush out of the tree line... falling limbs = hard hat time!

I can put in my ear buds with my ipod type decice and not have to crank the sound up to max to hear! Like I have to do rideing the Harley!

[Foozle]

I find the chart below (published by OSHA) to be handy. For example, a chain saw generates 110 decibels of sound, so anything over 30 minutes of exposure could cause permanent hearing damage. I use a fairly cheap decibel meter to test sounds around the farm. For example, the sound level in the cab of my tractor is around 70-80 decibels, so I know I'm safe to go without ear protection. Of course, I generally use ear protection for anything "loud" even if the charts says I'm ok -- I wouldn't use a chain saw unprotected, even for 10 minutes.

I plan to get some custom molded ear plugs, but haven't yet. I've tried the generic soft plugs but have a difficult time getting a good seal sometimes and also worry about damaging my inner ear by forcing the plug in there. I also run into loud sounds elsewhere so would find them handy. For example, on an airplane, I've clocked some of the safety announcements at close to 100+ decibels. Interesting that the "safety" announcements create a different sort of safety hazard themselves (to hearing).


Sound (decibels) Hours Exposure
_________________________________________________
80................................... 32.0
81................................... 27.9
82................................... 24.3
83................................... 21.1
84................................... 18.4
85................................... 16.0
86................................... 13.9
87................................... 12.1
88................................... 10.6
89................................... 9.2
90................................... 8.0
91................................... 7.0
92................................... 6.1
93................................... 5.3
94................................... 4.6
95................................... 4.0
96................................... 3.5
97................................... 3.0
98................................... 2.6
99................................... 2.3
100.................................. 2.0
101.................................. 1.7
102.................................. 1.5
103.................................. 1.3
104.................................. 1.1
105.................................. 1.0
106.................................. 0.87
107.................................. 0.76
108.................................. 0.66
109.................................. 0.57
110.................................. 0.50
111.................................. 0.44
112.................................. 0.38
113.................................. 0.33
114.................................. 0.29
115.................................. 0.25
116.................................. 0.22
117.................................. 0.19
118.................................. 0.16
119.................................. 0.14
120.................................. 0.125
121.................................. 0.11
122.................................. 0.095
123.................................. 0.082
124.................................. 0.072
125.................................. 0.063
126.................................. 0.054
127.................................. 0.047
128.................................. 0.041
129.................................. 0.036
130.................................. 0.031

[Runner]

I found another good time to use my earmuffs (HF, $1.99 specials) - while working in my uninsulated metal building during a rainstorm. The noise is deafening, but with the muffs on, peace and quiet.

[MReeb]

I use a pair of these for most of the motorcycle riding that I do.Etymotic Research, Inc. - ER-6i Technical Specifications
They work very well for eliminating wind and engine noise but they are not the cheapest out there (definitely not the most expensive). If I want things really quiet while on the tractor, I slap a pair of Peltor earmuffs on over them. I usually go with one or the other because I kind of prefer to hear some of the noises the tractor and implement are making.

[daTeacha]

Midway USA has some electronic noise cancelling muffs for less than $30. They work well and allow you to hear things like conversation while running noisy equipment.

[RobJ]

I also have tenitus. The ringing never stops, I think it would drive most people crazy but I'm use to it now. As a result I and truely deaf in one ear and can't hear out of the other.

Muffs work ok but if you wear glasses(sun or safety) they need to fit tight. On the tractor I have a set of ear muff jelly plugs. They have a head gear that I lean back on my neck but the plugs are jelly. They will form to your ear and keep out the sound. They will also CLEAN your ears when you remove them!!. The foamys for great if you can get them to fit to your ear properly. One side I can twist them and they will stick the first time, the other side it seems I have to touch the other ear (from the inside!!) to get it to stick properly.

[DavidPerry]

I got a pair of Sony over the ear noise canceling headphones for use with an ipod or something similar. I can comfortably listen to music with the volume set to about half.