Can You Hear Me Now?

Quick tip on keeping hearing protection close by

We all know the importance of wearing hearing protection when using particularly noisy tools. But hearing protection doesn’t work if you can’t find it. In this week’s video, I’ll show a clever way to keep hearing protection close at hand at all times. First, buy the type of noise-blocking ear plugs that are tethered together by a long cord. Then, put on a baseball cap, the kind with an adjustable strap in the back. Now, simply feed the cord through the strap. When it’s time to block out noise, reach behind your head, grab the ear plugs and put them in. To ensure the plugs fit tightly into your ear canal, pull your ear up and out before inserting them. Then, release your ear and hold the plug in place for a few seconds, allowing it to expand in your ear.

When you no longer need hearing protection, simply pull out the ear plugs and toss them over your shoulders, where they’ll hang at the ready for the next time you need them.

By the way, you should avoid prolonged exposure to any noise louder than about 80 decibels. I’m sure you’re thinking, “Okay, that’s good to know, but what the heck is 80 decibels?” Here are a few common noise ratings:

Washing machine — 70 decibels

Vehicle traffic — 80 decibels

Lawn mower — 80-85 decibels

Motorcycle — 90-110 decibels

Electric drill — 100 decibels

Circular saw — 100-115 decibels

Chainsaw — 110-120 decibels

Hammer drill — 115-120 decibels

Remember, any hearing loss is permanent loss, so be sure to protect yourself whenever you’re working in a noisy environment. And the easiest way to determine if a noise is too loud is with a battery-power sound meter, which you can purchase for less than $20. Now doesn’t that sound good!