Hearing protection

[blis]

Hearing loss is cummulative- everyone should wear plugs or muffs when around loud machines.

Unfortunately that isnt always possible...

For example, when i work at construction site i cant put plugs on every time i use chainsaw or circular (or almost any electric machine)... Also, cant wear em all the time since i have to wear what ppl speak too...

 

[Big feller]

Unfortunately that isnt always possible...

For example, when i work at construction site i cant put plugs on every time i use chainsaw or circular (or almost any electric machine)... Also, cant wear em all the time since i have to wear what ppl speak too...

Check out these two:


http://www.britears.com/sonic_valve_ear_plugs.htm



http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=91942


I use the sonic II plugs when using an angle grinder in a confined space like inside a wheel arch. When the grinder stops I can hear people talking to me.

As for the electric ones, we have tried them for working at concerts etc. but haven't bought any. I will have to find out why.

 

[blis]

Check out these two:


http://www.britears.com/sonic_valve_ear_plugs.htm



http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=91942


I use the sonic II plugs when using an angle grinder in a confined space like inside a wheel arch. When the grinder stops I can hear people talking to me.

As for the electric ones, we have tried them for working at concerts etc. but haven't bought any. I will have to find out why.

Those look handy but they cost aLOT more over here, something around 100-200e and since i only work about ~4-5months a year at construction site i find it hard to justify that big investment...

 

[M.R.]

Hearing loss is cumulative, that little bit here & there can & will add up.
Just the natural aging process can/will take its toll.
Lame reasons for not using hearing protection isn't any kind of excuse. :deadhorse:

Tinitus [ringing/buzzing in the ears] will often be there with your hearing loss, do not let this monkey climb up on your back. Use the best money can buy & don't be afraid to double up [plugs/muffs].

Yes, I'm just a little touchy on this subject, I have severe tinitus with hearing loss, I won't bore you with the details or to the degree that it has affected or ruinned my life. Now I hope this makes some kind of sense as the way it bothers the thought process with the delay thru typing this, I just hope it has enough meaning that you would'nt wonder what this guy was smoking or what planet he's on.






http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/26869.html#000000

 

[MikeInParadise]

I don't wear hearing protection because I'm afraid I won't hear my buddy yelling if there's trouble like bees

That is funny because last summer I was clearing with the brush cutter and I must have hit a wasps nest without knowing it. I got stung a whole bunch of times as I realized what I had done and why there was a thousand hornets attacking me. They were in my gloves, in my shirt. Must of gotten a dozen stings that itched like heck for a couple of weeks.

But for hearing I always wear my Stihl Helmet with the Peltor muffs and make sure that I push them in to get that second click so I know that they are on tight.

 

[Rleonard]

Helmet muffs and (foam or silicone) plugs used here. When I buck and split at home, plugs and sometimes a earmuff/radio.

Bob

 

[Big feller]

Those look handy but they cost aLOT more over here, something around 100-200e and since i only work about ~4-5months a year at construction site i find it hard to justify that big investment...

Here are the mechanical ones for less than $13

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sonic-II-Ear-Pl...ryZ10173QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

and electronic ones for $30 plus shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRONIC-EAR-...yZ117142QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[bama]

Tinitus [ringing/buzzing in the ears] will often be there with your hearing loss, do not let this monkey climb up on your back. Use the best money can buy & don't be afraid to double up [plugs/muffs].

Boy, you aren't kidding about Tinitus! I used to hear the sound of crickets and enjoy it. Now, I hear crickets 24/7. I don't hear the real ones anymore. I could handle the hearing loss if I just heard less, but Tinitus really stinks. You not only lose your hearing, but it also gets replaced with constant ringing!

 

[B_Turner]

Boy, you aren't kidding about Tinitus! I used to hear the sound of crickets and enjoy it. Now, I hear crickets 24/7. I don't hear the real ones anymore. I could handle the hearing loss if I just heard less, but Tinitus really stinks. You not only lose your hearing, but it also gets replaced with constant ringing!

That's why I sometimes can't stop preaching in person to cutters about using some sort of hearing pro. I don't let anyone cut with me that isn't using some sort of hearing pro, as I think it shows too casual and attitude to suit me. They can do whatever they want, but not on my job. I feel you can think more clearly for longer with less noise, and whether it's about really smart cutting for my work or safety itself, paying good attention is what it's all about.

I used to drive street cycles pretty hard, and always grimaced when these kids would buy their first crotch rocket and wear shorts and tennis shoes. Can spot who really doesn't know their way around a scooter in part by what they wear for protection.

 

[trimmmed]

Far less tiring for me over the course of a day.

That's an excellent point that doesn't get much discussion, but very true. The tiredness and lack of energy after work, was one of my first clues I had that my hearing wasn't ezactly up to snuff. The second clue was how many times I found myself saying " What?"

I went to the ear doc and he explained that my hearing was that of a 60 year old, problem was, I was only 37 at the time. I ended up having them make custom plugs form fitted to my ears, was about $100 for the pair. While that is more than the foamies, it was one heckuva lot less than the hearing aids., which were $1200 an ear. With the custom plugs in, I can still talk to you on the jobsite and I would recommend anyone to get a pair or two of them. And also I agree with Bill about wearing foamies AND muffs, really a good practice and you will thank yourself later on in your life by using them.

That said, I have foamies, muffs, saftey glasses in my trucks for anyone that works for me and nobody wears them. In fact I know hundreds of guys in the various trades, and NOBODY wears glasses or uses plugs and you can't tell them anything. But I wear mine.

 

[Diesel JD]

Good for us younger gusy to hear I suppose. I sometimes am lazy about hearing protection. I usually use common foam plugs if I am going to cut for any length of time. Understand usually run a saw continuously for less than 15 minutes at a time. When I was younger I was stupid and probably damaged my hearing a lot by cutting without any hearing protection at all. As of now, I'm 25 and still ahve decent hearing, thanks for teh reminder to be vigilant. Does anyone know approximately how loud a stockish 3.7-4.0 cubes chainsaw is at the operators ear?

 

[blis]

Good for us younger gusy to hear I suppose. I sometimes am lazy about hearing protection. I usually use common foam plugs if I am going to cut for any length of time. Understand usually run a saw continuously for less than 15 minutes at a time. When I was younger I was stupid and probably damaged my hearing a lot by cutting without any hearing protection at all. As of now, I'm 25 and still ahve decent hearing, thanks for teh reminder to be vigilant. Does anyone know approximately how loud a stockish 3.7-4.0 cubes chainsaw is at the operators ear?

around 99-105 db if i remember right...

 

[zemmo]

around 99-105 db if i remember right...

101.4 for my 7900, according to the owner's manual...