Hearing Protection

[newbury]

Does anyone use hearing protection?
If so, what kind?
I tried the sponge rubber squishable ear plugs and they work a little bit. Nice and light and non-intrusive but not quite enough noise reduction.
Then I tried my shooting headset - A Swiss "Thunder 29" and it seemed to amplify the low frequency noises. So no-go on that idea.

This noise thing hasn't been a problem for me with older tractors, but recently we got a new TLB with a canopy and the exhuast right by the front wheel. That combo makes it sort of loud for the operator.
rScotty

I've gone just about thru 2 pair Thunder 29's - over the LAST 24 YEARS. They always worked fine for me, I generally tuck an ear bud in each and put on my tunes,

Realizing I needed another pair I ended up buying another shooting brand, with the same rating.

Most of my wife's family blame their poor hearing on genetics. Totally disregarding that the genetical problem may be that they don't like to wear hearing protection.

Luckily I went about totally deaf a few years ago, due to the fact that my ears grow enough wax to make candles, and that the doctors thought they got them cleaned the first time. After they finally pulled about 2 inches of wax out I could hear ants walking on the carpet. I'm trying to not repeat the experience!

 

[Botabill]

I use noise supression earmuffs everytime I crank up a significant noise source. I have tinitus caused by not avoiding loud noise. Motorcycles, Rock music, loud machines, gun fire. What hearing I have left I'm trying to keep.

 

[EddieWalker]

I always carry a pair of ear plugs in my pocket. Anytime I do something that is loud, from sawing, drilling to mowing and weedeating, I wear my ear plugs. Since they are always in my pocket, it's second nature to just put them in for a second, or all day. I've been laying tile this week, so I've had the ear plugs in all day long.

I tried head phones, which work, but they squeeze my skull after awhile.

Eddie

 

[Hematite]

Because of the extremely high noise level of my chipper/ shredder, I always wear ear muff type sound reduction devices. I don't like the type that you put in the ear canal, they're uncomfortable to me.

I really like the new pair of 23db reduction muff type hearing protectors that I bought recently, made by SAS. They are model 6105 and are very lightweight, comfortable, and effective.

 

[Ozark Hollow]

I also buy the large economy jar of foam ear plugs (noise reduction rating 31). My old Cub is MUCH louder than my Kubota, but I still use the plugs. I also have a set of headphones that I wear in colder weather, in the summer they are too hot, but in winter they make good earmuffs!

 

[jimmyj]

I hate to admit it but I rarely use hearing protection. I know I should and when I do I like the sound reduction. For me the ones that are most comfortable are Peltor ear muffs that are attached to a hard-hat (like the ones you get for chainsaws).

I tend to use them for chainsaw work or when I'm hammering on steel of stuff but never when I am on the tractor or riding mower.

I know I should use protection more but I find the foam ones uncomfortable and the hard hat is a nuisance. Ear muffs without a hard hat don't work as they interfere with my glasses and end up hurting my ears. Feel free to give me heck, it worked with the chain saw chaps!!

Good thread, a bit of a sober reminder of what lazy habits can do!

 

[srjones]

... Feel free to give me heck, it worked with the chain saw chaps!!

Good thread, a bit of a sober reminder of what lazy habits can do!

To start off the heck giving...

1. Have you ever had conversations with elderly gentlemen that have been around machinery (automotive, agricultural, industrial, etc) most of their life? Did you need to speak up to be heard? Do you think think he heard most of what you're saying?

2. I don't know how old you are, but do you want to be 'that guy' when you get older?

3. If you have (or will have) kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, etc. in the sunset of your life, would you like to hear them well enough to understand what they're saying?


Here are a few links on Noise Induced Hearing Loss.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lusk/sallynihl.htm
Noise-induced hearing loss - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the analytical types out there:

HF Analog Sound Level Meter
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Combined with following,
Exposure action value - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[jimmyj]

Yowsa. Thanks for the links.

Sigh, another thing I do that is not too bright that I really should correct..............

 

[Fast Eddie]

Years ago when I worked for the Air Force, a Dr spoke to us about hearing loss and told us that once your hearing deteriorates from exposure to loud noise, it doesn't come back. So these days I use both ear covers plus ear plugs.

About a year ago I tried JD noise canceling headphones and they actually worked fairly well. After about a month, a small, but crucial plastic part broke so I returned them. I still may buy another pair if I can find a pair that is more sturdy.

By the way, there is an earlier post about the dB scale, which is worth reading. The point is that if the dB level increases by just 3 dB, the intensity doubles. So a sound level of 100 dB is twice as intense as 97 dB.
Fast Eddie

 

[mjncad]

I use both plugs and muffs. The 33db reduction plugs get used mostly for long term usage (e.g. seat time) and I keep a bunch in the tractor's and truck's glove boxes. My preferred muffs Leightning 33db reduction headband doesn't fit under my hat. The cheap AO Safety 25db has a headband that rotates out of the way and I use those when weed-whacking for noise and debris protection.

I use the muffs mostly when I'm working in the shop when I put them on and take them off fairly often.

I find the muffs uncomfortable for long term use.