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I did a research project on noise exposure in industrial settings and some of it extended to looking into the PPE for ears in these environments. Most do not p

I did a research project on noise exposure in industrial settings and some of it extended to looking into the PPE for ears in these environments. Most do not provide employee’s with adequate PPE for the level of noise in their workplaces. Nor do they educate their staff on the permanent damage they could experience if they don’t wear correct PPE. They grossly underestimate the level of sound, and the time employee’s are exposed to harmful levels of sound. They also do not understand that sound = vibration so it doesn’t just impact hearing, it can also cause nerve damage ie, “whitefinger” - especially with power tools etc. The other thing often overlooked in factories is the acoustics of the actual environment. Sound waves bounce off surfaces etc… it’s been ages since I did study the physics of it, so I’m not explaining it well but yeah - too much noise = bad. Factory work probably is the culprit.

I_Am_Nous 3y ago
Edit: I believe the best foam earplugs are usually around -32 dB. There was recently a lawsuit against a foam earplug manufacturer where the plugs were well below their stated protection level. Maybe I used them at some point, who could say! From what I've read, pressurized air is one of the worst offenders for causing damage, such as when a pressure valve is released and it suddenly vents. Related anecdote, while my wife was pregnant with our son I was using a small air tank and a finishing nailer. I didn't need the tank pressurized anymore so I pulled the over-pressure emergency valve and it dumped all the air immediately. So loudly that it made my son jump in the womb and startle my wife twice - once for the sound, once for the kick :)