Hearing protection

Jarod

Jarod

Location
Wisconsin
I was viewing another post on the new petzl hat and noticed a subject brought up that might make an interesting topic. So I performed a quick search on the web to find some information. I picked up these two sites:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/

http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/hearing/noise_hearing.cfm

The first is the OSHA site and the second is the American Academy of Otalaryngology

The second site states that earplugs are most effective against low frequency sounds while muffs are better for high frequency. It also says both should be used when sound levels are higher than 105 dB.

But it does confirm Tom's statement that glasses reduce the effectiveness of muffs.

-Jarod Faas
 
So what you're saying...if I heard you right...is that I shouldn't be wearing my safety glasses?

Seriously though, I was just looking at a catalog today that had a bunch of earplugs in it, and noticed they all tend to have a NRR of right around 30.

How high would you be willing to go? I've seen others (and have tried myself) using both plugs and muffs. I didn't liek muffs, so naturally I didn't like using both either, but how much is too much?

At that NRR of 30, you can still pretty much hear whats going on, but it's the right level that if you want to ignore someone, you can just blame it on the earplugs!

love
nick
 
The issue of muffs and glasses makes me wonder why companies havent developed a combination of both...the fram of the glasses could be used as the spring for the muffs, that way those who like muffs can wear muffs. As for me, I have prescrip glasses so I use plugs, although I would probably switch to muffs if I could get some that work with prescription glasses.

-Jarod Faas
 
The things that muffs have going for them is that they are faster. In a split second you can flip 'em up, hear what the boss has to say, then put 'em back on and get to work. With the plugs it takes a few seconds because you have to take off the gloves (sometimes I can't get plugs out with gloves on), pop the plugs, chat, then re-roll the plugs and reinsert.

But I'll take that over clunky plugs any day.

I saw some a while back that might be better that what I currently use. The NRR is 29, so not bad at all. They are foam, but if you check out the link, you'll see that you don't have to roll them! I don't know if it really works, but sure sounds nice.

http://www.howardleight.com/single.html#

The plugs of which I speak are called "Matrix"

love
nick
 
I like muffs.

And I can't wear glasses with them, cause it's too loud then. So (ought oh!)I don't wear glasses, just use the hardhat's screen. Yes, I do get sawdust in my eyes, I just leave it there till lunch or the end of the day.

We flip up our muffs to talk quite often. (but not for rigging talk, that's all hand signs). Ear plugs would be a pain for conversation and we would then tend to leave them out for those short bursts of noise. Not like the muffs.

I also like the muffs for physical ear protection. Nothing like a sucker wipping your ear in the cold winter. Course, right now I wear a ski mask too. -those thin warm ones you can wear under the hardhat/helmet can't be beat!

Muffs hold the helmet on good too and there's no strap needed.
 
Ouch! That needle hurts...

Something that I read that, at first, didn't make sense was that you can't add the NRR rating of muffs to the NRR rating of earplugs and get a really high NRR. Let's say each, alone, were good for 25dB NRR. Combined you'd only get about 35 maybe a little more. It must be because the plugs work at full rating and take off the highest dBs leaving only a percentage of the lower dBs for the muffs.
 
The attenuation numbers aren't directly additive. SPL (sound pressure level) is on a decibel scale, which is logarithmic. If two systems that had the same rating were used simultaneously, I'd expect the difference to be an additional 10dB, which represents half (or twice) relative SPL.

I like the plugs on a head-band that I leave hanging below my chin. Much like these. One-handed and quick, and they'll ride on your neck when not in use, plus you don't lose one or both plugs. The ones on a string are hardly more convenient than the untethered ones.

Glen
 
i'm with Glen, but don't tell him, the shock might be too much /forum/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif!

Preferring the lighter, sherrill CaboFlex, with non porous, more cone shape ear plugs. i think they are a great option. 'Stethescoping' occasionally vibrations on the connective band about the only real comentary and of not real consequence. They can get tangled ever once in a while, but not like chorded (and not totally as light so resist being carried off some by weight and siffness), and lower profile than earmuffs.

Though docs say to use muffs, not to have anything in ear, it is my happy medium, that is easy enough to actually use and have available all the time.
 
I always get razzed for having my earplugs in. I don't believe in putting em in and pulling em out all day. It's not healthy, they get dirty and debris gets pushed deeper into your ear each time you do it. I only use mine once and then I wash em. I always put fresh plugs in, each time. I usually have at least 4 or 5 pairs in my toolbox. I wash em in a lil laundry bag with my whites.

If I'm running a big saw for any length of time I will also wear a headset.

I wish I would have done this 25 years ago. /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
This past Fall I started having hearing problems more in my right ear than in my left. Two months ago, I went to see an Audiologist and she ran the full gamut of hearing tests on me including listening to extreme highs and extreme lows. She asked if I always wore proper hearing protection with the obvious reply. In the past, I've generally worn safety glasses with muffs and thought that maybe this was finally catching up with me! However, my hearing is still 100 percent! An ENT checked out my ears and discovered that my canals are really narrow and that popping my ears by holding my nose, this deafness can be alleviated. As a precaution, since then, especially while groundcutting, I'm using as face shield to keep the muffs more snug around my ears.
 
I rarely take the plugs out to hear what people have to say. If they don't understand, while we're standing next to a running chipper, that we're on a noisy jobsite and they are going to have to speak up....well then maybe what they have to say is not all that important. The plugs are in for a reason.

Cockiness aside, I've had quiet bosses in the past, and that can be a difficult situation to deal with. You just can't tell the boss to speak up!

love
nick
 
That's funny Nick :)

I've had groundies say that I hollar too much. Then I explain that there's a difference between hollaring when we're face to face and projecting my voice when I'm forty feet off the ground and they're not looking at me.
 
Heres (hears) a subject I know a little about. I work around jet engines and rivet guns. Use the most ear protection you can stand. Ear muffs are great and they work over eyeglasses, just not as well. Better than nothing. I prefer the soft foam plugs. They come in several styles and shapes cuz everyone is different. Earplugs help you hear conversation better in a noisy environment. Earmuffs aren't all equal either. My company has supplied me with several different earmuffs over the years and there is one set that is the best in my opinion, The Bilsom L3($20). The edges are soft so they cover eyeglass frames nicely, and they are QUIET! NRR31 One last thing, sound is also transmitted through bone. The muffs are best at reducing sound transmission of this type. If you double the power of a 30 dB sound, it equals 33 dB, so increasing your hearing protection by 3 dB, you have cut the sound by 1/2.
 
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