PROTECTING YOUR EARSA LOOK AT NOISE ON THE FARM

Learning Objectives

• Learn how noise is measured• Recognize how to reducing noise hazards• Understand proper protection and prevention• Realize when to seek medical assistance

What is Noise?

• Unwanted sound is call “noise”

• Sound is created by pressure waves in the air

• Out Ear– Waves strike eardrum

• Middle Ear– Ear drum to nerve by 2 small

bones

• Inner Ear– Vibrations into nerve impulses,

identifies the sound

Measuring Sound

• Sound including noise, is measured in decibels– How loud something is and the

frequency or pitch

• The unit of measurement is shown by the designation dB

• Decibel meter– Application available (Decibel

10th)

Decibel Level Chart

Source: Have you Heard? Hearing Loss Caused by Farm Noise is Preventable. NIOSH CDC

Duration Per Day (Hours) Sound Level, dB(A)

8 90

6 92

4 95

2 100

1 105

½ 110

¼ 115

Length of Exposure

Source: Noise on the Farm Can Cause Hearing Loss, The Ohio State University

Reducing Noise Hazards

• Three ways: – Engineering Controls

• Maintenance• Cabs

– Reduce time spent in environment– Hearing protection

• Ear plugs• Ear muffs

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

• Ear plugs– Formable ear plugs– Premolded

• Earmuffs• Noise Reduction Range

(NRR) – The amount of noise your ears

are exposed to by various protective devices

Ear Plugs

• Pre-molded– Hold stem– Reach over head to straighten ear canal– Insert earplug– To test, perform, tug test

• Formable– Roll gently between fingers– Reach over head to straighten ear canal– Insert and hold for 10 seconds– To test, put hands over ears- should be no significant change in

noise

Ear Muffs (Acoustical muffs)

• Cover the ear and ear canal to provide a barrier to sound.

• Does not block out all sounds

• Used in combination with other safety equipment

Seek Medical Assistance

• Turning up volume on tv or radio• Have a ringing in ears• Asking others to repeat themselves• Audiologist

– Can prevent hearing from getting worse– Specialized hearing tests

Summary

• Hearing loss can happen to anyone• Noise over 85 dB causes hearing loss• Always keep safety measures in mind

– Use engineering controls– Limit time in noisy environments– Use hearing protection

• Seek medical attention sooner rather than later

References:

• Noise on the Farm Can Cause Hearing Loss- http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/AEX_590_08.pdf

• Have you Heard? Hearing Loss Caused by Farm Noise is Preventable. NIOSH CDC

For More Information

OSU Ag Safety & Health

The Ohio State University

Ag Engineering Building

590 Woody Hayes Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43210-1057

Email: jepsen.4@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-6008

Website: agsafety.osu.edu

This project was supported by the USDA’s National Institute of Food

and Agriculture (NIFA) Rural Health and Safety Education Grant

Program- grant number 2012-46100-20144.