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Protect Your Ears from Damaging Noise

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Protect Your Ears from Damaging Noise Did You Know? Sound Advice: Protect Your How Long Is Too Long? What's That Ringing? It's not just your parent or Ears from Damaging Noise your grandparent whose Exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB) The red bar below shows how long it takes for Have you ever driven an open cab tractor for hearing may be slipping. can cause permanent hearing loss. a particular sound level to become dangerous to several hours or gone to a loud concert, then A 25-year-old farmer the human ear. For example, a chain saw has a heard a ringing in your ears for the next hour or two? How would you feel if that ringing can have the ears of a It can even result from a single nearby sound intensity of about 109 dB. Without proper never went away? 50-year-old and not even shotgun blast, dynamite blast or other very hearing protection, running a chain saw for only know it! loud noise. 2 minutes can cause hearing loss! That's what happens to many people exposed to loud noise. Nothing can restore lost hearing. Too Loud Once it’s gone, it’s gone! 85 It only takes... That ringing in the ears is called tinnitus, and Gunshot while many people hear ringing, some hear BUT hearing loss caused by noise is Firecrackers 112 dB <1 min hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking preventable — and you can choose to sounds. Tinnitus may show up before you even prevent it. Grain dryer 109 dB <2 min notice much hearing loss. Chain saw min Noise-induced hearing loss can result from 106 dB <4 Rock band working around farm noise - even hand 103 dB 7.5 min drills - without hearing protection. Circular saw Squealing pigs 100 dB 15 min If you're exposed to loud noise on the farm you may already be losing your hearing. Tractor, in shop (idling - 6’ away) 97 dB 30 min “My little girl doesn't Hand drill understand why I can't Hearing protection can increase 94 dB 1 hour hear what she is Combine (full throttle - 10’ away) your ability to hear your equipment or 91 dB 2 hours whispering in my ear. others' voices because it cuts down on the Table saw She says…‘Mommy hears background noise. Some earmuffs have Tractor, without cab 88 dB 4 hours me when I whisper’.” amplification circuits that may help even hearing impaired workers communicate Combine (full throttle - in cab) 85 dB 8 hours better in noisy backgrounds. Tractor, enclosed cab You can buy protective earmuffs with Normal conversation built-in radios that allow you to listen 0 25 50 7585 100 125 150 safely to your favorite sports or music dB If you know someone with hearing loss, you know that conversation can be frustrating for while working. They make nice gifts. A "decibel" is the unit used to measure the loudness of sound. “I thought if I lost my Decibel levels for each item shown in the graph may vary. both of you. hearing, it would be People have found that protecting A good hearing aid can help, because it amplifies quiet. But that themselves from noise reduces their constant ringing stress, anxiety and fatigue at the end the sound. However it does not make sound clearer the way glasses make your vision sharp. keeps me awake of the day. If you need to raise your voice to be heard at night and I can't an arm’s length away, the noise is probably Hearing aids do not correct hearing hear my friends very The best way to avoid hearing loss is to loud enough to damage your hearing. the way glasses correct vision. well on my cell phone.” reduce your exposure by using quieter equipment or staying away from noise. Hearing Protection Resources How Can I Protect My Hearing? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute You don’t have to have the hearing of a for Occupational Safety and Health, Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention Resources include this brochure at: 50 year old by the time you’re 25. It’s They’re your ears www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise up to you to protect your hearing! Formable Earplugs Premolded Earplugs National Hearing Conservation Association: Identify noisy tasks around your farm and www.hearingconservation.org shop that may be harmful to your hearing. Protect them National Agricultural Safety Database Wear hearing protection Hearing Conservation: www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/hearing.html at all times whenever you are exposed to loud noise. National Institutes of Health WISE EARS! Campaign Canal Caps Earmuffs Resources: www.nidcd.nih/gov/health/wise/index.asp Make hearing protection convenient. Stash earplugs in your pockets every morning when Dangerous Decibels: www.dangerousdecibels.org you grab your cell phone and keys. Hang University of Kentucky Agricultural Disability Awareness and canal caps or muffs on your tractor steering Risk Education (AgDARE) NIHL Resources: wheel, combine and lawn mower. www.mc.uky.edu/scahip/projects/agdare-2.htm American Tinnitus Association: www.ata.org Reduce equipment noise by replacing worn, loose or unbalanced machine parts. Keep Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers equipment well lubricated and maintained. (a non-profit group that educates young people about the If you have been meaning to replace that loud There are hundreds of different styles of hearing dangers of exposure to loud music): www.hearnet.com protectors to choose from today. Everyone can tractor muffler, do it now. find one that is convenient, easy to use, Hearing Loss Caused Acknowledgments: comfortable and fits his or her budget. Writer/Editor: Barbara Mulhern, Agricultural Journalist Limit your exposure to loud noise. Stay Document Advisory Group: Thomas Bean, The Ohio State University “Hunter's” or “shooter's” muffs may work well by Farm Noise is and NIOSH Great Lakes Center for Agricultural Safety and Health; away from noisy equipment if you don’t for you. Hearing protectors are available on the Deborah Reed, University of Kentucky; Sam Steel, Pennsylvania Preventable State University need to be near it. Keep cab doors and internet and in local home improvement and windows closed. farm stores. For additional copies, questions, or comments related to this brochure, e-mail [email protected] Have your hearing tested by a health care Only trust your ears to products designed as hearing protectors. Cotton balls and other make­ To receive other NIOSH documents or for more information about provider if you or someone else suspects occupational safety and health topics, contact: a problem. Your family or friends may be the shift protectors can let noise pass right through. 1–800–CDC–INFO(1–800–232–4636) first to notice that your hearing is slipping. TTY: 1–888–232–6348 E-mail: [email protected] “Getting used to wearing my earplugs was or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh. Keep children away from like getting used to my favorite boots noisy areas and equipment. For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to even after getting a good fit, NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews. it still took a little time .” DHHS –(NIOSH) Publication No. 2007–175 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES The best protectors are the ones Centers for Disease Control and Prevention you will wear all the time you are National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health around loud noise. TM Fitting Formable Fitting Premolded Fitting Canal Caps Plugs Plugs Canal caps are formable or premolded Size Matters To fit properly, a formable plug Remember, the plug must be rolled down earplugs attached to a headband. should be inserted so that most of the plug fits tightly before you try to insert it into your ear Depending on the design, headbands into the ear canal. While many formable plugs canal. You shouldn’t try to push a formable may be worn over the head, behind the are “one size fits most,” different sizes are plug into your ear if you have not rolled it neck or under the chin. The headband allows canal available. If you can’t get at least half of the tight enough. caps to be hung around the neck when not being plug into the ear canal, or if the plug can’t used. This makes them convenient to use when expand enough to stay firmly seated, you need Correct Incorrect noise is not constant and you are taking your a different size. This plug completely This plug is too large or has not seals the ear canal been fully inserted, leaving gaps earplugs in and out frequently. Fitting and using opening. where noise can leak through. canal caps is otherwise similar to fitting and using formable and premolded plugs. ROLL the formable plug Premolded plugs may come in different sizes or as “one size fits most.” Try out different sizes to find 1 between your thumb and Correct Incorrect forefinger(s) to compress it the ear plug that fits you best. Tips on Using into a small, smooth, round This plug needed REACH to be rolled down over top of your head and pull up Hearing Protection cylinder. more tightly. 1 or back on the top of your ear. This straightens out your ear canal so the plugs REACH over top of your head and pull can go in far enough. When an earplug is properly inserted your 2 up or back on the top of your ear. This voice will sound deeper or louder. straightens out your ear canal so the plugs can go in far enough.
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