Thread: What hearing protection would you have done differently?

Originally Posted by woodPixel

Nice in the winter, terrible right at the moment....

I read some good advice in another thread. The concept was to find the most comfortable solution because that way you will always wear it.

The summer heat here in Queensland is a consideration for me. I'm already searching for an alternative to my safety boots for that reason. I don't like to work in the shed without them but much of the time it is just too hot.
One day when I am rich and famous I'll have an air conditioned workshop. Haha.

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Originally Posted by DaveVman

I read some good advice in another thread. The concept was to find the most comfortable solution because that way you will always wear it.

Comfort and also convenience of use, and it's the inconvenience issue I have with ear plugs.
For folks that enter a workshop and put on hearing PPE for the duration of their stay in their sheds, plugs are fine.
For operators that are constantly removing and replacing hearing PPE, plugs become problematic.

While using the chainsaw mills I'm often cutting for 20 minutes at a time so I wear muffs and ear plugs. It's hot and sweaty work so for the 5 - 10 minutes between cuts when I refuel-roil-sharpen I like to remove hearing protection. Removing the muffs is easy and even though I wear gloves to keep my hands clean they still get dusty, dirty oily, etc so the plugs stay in otherwise the crap would get onto the plugs and into my ears. I'm also covered in sawdust and chips so the plugs have to be stored in a zip lock or they get grubby.
In the workshop the problem gets worse because for one thing I simply don't like working with Masks or hearing PPE unless I have to. I am also constantly switching between machines or operations that need me to be able to hear what is going on so this means hearing PPE needs to go on/off many times in a session. It's far easier to slip on muffs than to have to insert plugs. Again the plugs have to stored cleanly and the constant in-out of plugs especially with dirty hands is unhygienic.

The summer heat here in Queensland is a consideration for me. I'm already searching for an alternative to my safety boots for that reason. I don't like to work in the shed without them but much of the time it is just too hot.
One day when I am rich and famous I'll have an air conditioned workshop. Haha.

Not rich or famous but I have very hot feet and the shed aircon is indeed a bonus enabling me to work in my steel caps.

DaveVman
I would follow Mobyturns advice for hearing protection.
As for exposing neighbors and family to excessive noise you could get a noise measuring app for your phone and check out the noise of each machine in your workshop then get someone to measure the sound levels outside your shed and at the boundary fence while you are using them. This will give you an idea of what noise levels you are dealing with. In WA the maximum sound level is 65 dB at your neighbors boundary fence (not sure about other states but they are probably around the same levels). If your noise levels are above this you need to look at sound insulation for your shed to prevent any complaints about noise. In addition, if your sound levels are greater than 75dB (about the sound level of a busy road when standing on the kerb) in your shed you will need hearing protection for yourself and anyone else that comes into your shed while you are operating machinery. Some people prefer even lower sound levels but this is far below the industrial noise level recognised as causing Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), so its really a personal choice. If you need further information there are National and State Codes of Practice freely available on the web.
Sound insulation can be fairly cheap to install, foam from old mattresses, insulation batts, even lining your shed will work well. The basic principal is to have as many changes of density in the walls and roof as possible so multi layers of whatever you have available will work well. Many woodworking tools operate at fairly high frequencies and it is far easier to insulate against these than the lower bass frequencies (think of the young fellows car that goes past and all you can hear is thud, thud, thud. That's all the high frequencies being attenuated by the body of the car with only the bass noise escaping).
Happy to answer any questions on noise that forum members have
Cheers
Dave

Ear muffs are good but extended use get annoying. The day I got custom moulded ear plugs was the best move I have made for my hearing. I got them for work but ended up getting a second pair for the shed. Washable and far far superior for noise reduction. More expensive but to me, I hear too many stories of 'i wish I just wore ear buds' so why not spend the cash now to save yourself later. Cheers.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Thanks for the reminder about the Peltors Cliff - been meaning to get a pair to add to the stable. Picked them up on eBay for $48.50:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/2614...pid=107&chn=ps

Thanks for that link because it makes it clear exactly which ones you are talking about.
They are $44.51 at SafetyQuip which is practically next door to me.
3Mâ„¢ Peltorâ„¢ Extreme H10 Neckband Earmuff - CL5 - SLC80 34dB(A) - SafetyQuipâ„¢

I suspect one or two other places in the this area stock them as well.

For the last 2 weeks or so it has been too hot to even be in the shed. Hence it's difficult to imagine wearing ear muffs just now. On the other hand, I am happy to take them on and off for cutting. Maybe use plugs for sanding. I suppose I won't know until I try.

Has anyone tried the DIY moulded ear plugs?
https://www.earjobs.com.au/collectio...nt=29163263304

Possibly the style, the design, might be a matter of personal preference but effectiveness trumps them all when you need the closed captioning on the TV.
Do the research, read the tests done by your govt safety agencies. After all, you have already paid them to do it, right?
Spend more than you think you can afford. Start in your 20's. Indoors is far worse than outdoors.
The audiences really want the whomp! from rock concert pyrotechnics. Louder the better. Thank goodness it was electrical not light-it-and-run.

After reading this thread, I bought a pair of Peltor H10A 290 from RSEA. Tried them today and found they were noticeably better from a comfort perspective. They are also an improvement from a noise perspective of my previous ear muffs.

Best thing I have done foe hearing protection !

++ for the Peltor behind the head muffs. Mine are the earlier very dark green and don't have the liquid filled pads. 2 pair in the shed and 1 pair hanging off the steering wheel of the ride on mower.

I still hear of and have seen people who wear muffs at work but when they get home, do the mowing, whipper sniping and or motorised blowers with no ear protection . I can't quite figure it out as to why the difference in at work noise and home noise.

A mate of mine, now sadly passed away, had 2 hearing aids, $2500.00 each ear, believe me, earmuffs are much cheaper.