Hearing Protection

[peter d]

Do you use it? If so, what type?

I hardly see any electricians using hearing protection, even though I consider this just as important as safety glasses and a hard hat.

Hearing loss is almost totally avoidable in the construction industry.

 

[petersonra]

Re: Hearing Protection

I have seen electricians wearing ear plugs before. its not unheard of, but it may be that where there typically work its not all that loud.

 

[charlie b]

Re: Hearing Protection

Originally posted by peter d: Hearing loss is almost totally avoidable in the construction industry.

I trust you will allow me to echo your statement?

Once any amount of hearing capability is lost, it can never be recovered. There is no cure, no reversal. There are only compensatory measures (e.g., hearing aids). I am often tempted, when I notice a nearby car with its stereo blasting, to inform its driver that no matter how long he or she might live, they will never again, in their entire lives, be able to hear as well as they did when the got up that morning. But I don?t think they would listen. :roll:

I bring my own ear plugs, when I go out on a field assignment. I even wear them when I mow the lawn. Hearing loss is completely avoidable.

[ December 02, 2004, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: charlie b ]

 

[rbalex]

Re: Hearing Protection

Hearing protection transcends the electrical industry. FedOSHA already has some fairly comprehensive Standards and most State's regulations follow or exceed the Federal guidelines.

The "basic" rule:

29CFR1910.95(b)(1)

When employees are subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of Table G-16, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.

As usual, the problem is employer/employee education that such rules exist.

 

[peter d]

Re: Hearing Protection

Charlie,

I agree with you 100%. I too wear my hearing protection when mowing the lawn.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why someone would operate a chop saw or "ramset" gun all day without hearing protection.

 

[iwire]

Re: Hearing Protection

Peter I wear hearing protection when I will have long term exposure.

I have a very comfortable set of ear muffs I where when working around running generators, or stuck in a compressor room all day or even if I am stuck running a hammer drill for a long time.

We dry core up to 4" holes and that may take 30 to 60 minutes.

My hearing is already poor from to many concerts if you think the shows are loud be there at sound check.

 

[peter d]

Re: Hearing Protection

My hearing is already poor from to many concerts if you think the shows are loud be there at sound check.

I have only been to one extrememly loud concert in my life and that was enough for me. Van Halen, when Mike plays his bass solo.

In fact, the reason I don't go to concerts anymore is to preserve my hearing.

 

[rattus]

Re: Hearing Protection

While in college, I worked for a company making audiometers which were sold mainly to the Air Force so they could monitor the hearing loss of guys working on the flight line. Some, with some hearing loss, would try to cheat in order to keep their positions. We had to add a feature for the operator to catch the fakers.

I see few tradesmen using ear protection, it just isn't macho. One fellow, who is a framing contractor, took all the safety features off his nail gun, and then nailed his toe and shoe to a 2x4. Wouldn't let the docs cut the shoe off--paid too much for them! Removed the nail with no anesthetic!

 

[apauling]

Re: Hearing Protection

what? did you say somthing

still recovering from Janis and BB at the Fillmore.

paul

 

[midget]

Re: Hearing Protection

I definently wear ear protection for long term exposure...my dad complained a few times when I didn't, and now I do it whenever I'm using a chopsaw, tile saw, rotohammer, etc...

 

[charlie]

Re: Hearing Protection

I was introduced to shooting when I lived in North Carolina and since it was outside, I never wore hearing protection. I was firing 38 Spl to 44 Mag and 30-30 to 30-06 and am paying for it today. I have a constant ringing that sounds like locus or crickets except it never backs off.

 

[ron]

Re: Hearing Protection

Has anyone tried the noise cancelling headphones, that generate an equal but opposite sound, to leave the resultant noise at 0dB. This works well with continuous noises like a generator or compressor running, and allows speach to come through as the processor in the headset is set to permit the frequencies of speach. (at least that is my understanding from the commercials I've seen).
http://www.bose.com/controller;jsessionid=Bx25fSLVK73L2JyRNZRwL17hVz1VMGg9psLF81Rh9VcKf2XgftvS!1340131019!-1842638463?event=VIEW_STATIC_PAGE_EVENT&url=/learning/noise_reduction.jsp &linksource=avb_txt_nrtlearningcenter&pageName=/home_entertainment/headphones_headsets/index.jsp
http://www.bose.com/controller;jsessionid=Bx25fSLVK73L2JyRNZRwL17hVz1VMGg9psLF81Rh9VcKf2XgftvS!1340131019!-1842638463?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=qc2_headphones_index&pag eName=/learning/noise_reduction.jsp

[ December 04, 2004, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: ron ]

 

[clayton]

Re: Hearing Protection

i wear my hearing protection very often,
i get alot of ribbing for it though,

 

[tom baker]

Re: Hearing Protection

Please wear your hearing protection. I spent 6 years in the navy in engine rooms, that ruined my hearing. With hearing loss, you become more sensitive to loud noises, as the small hairs in the inner ear are damages and they don't attenuate the sounds.
You can get custom molded ear plugs, this would be a good opion over the over the ear muffs.
I have a set of sony noise cnaceling headphones I use on a plane when flying, they work very well. These are the type used with portable cd players and such.