PDA

View Full Version : Hearing Protection



GardenGuy
08-04-2012, 08:29 PM
What do you guys and gals prefer for hearing protectionon the job?

I've tried the soft plugs on a frame (looks like a stethoscope headset with chunky plugs that sit outside the ear canal). There can be some health issues with things that plug up the ear canal, so I'm looking for something better.

There are lots of low cost options available just about everywhere, and some of them have amazing claims about how much they can attenuate ambient noise (although it's probably at 40 kHz at 1000 metres...).

I'm kinda thinking about going the Peltor path, so am looking at the H7 and H10 gear, which is available in a neck band. They seem to have enough attenuation, especially as some of my machinery claims 98 dB++ noise. I like to wear my old straw hat when I'm working in the sun, so something with a neck band suits me better.

What do you use and prefer? Any hints, experts? ;) My ears are open (pun intended).

Cheers - GardenGuy.

Mrs HMS
08-04-2012, 08:36 PM
Here are some old threads on the subject that might be worth a read :)


http://www.indmowing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?8400

http://www.indmowing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?10354

http://www.indmowing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?9485

http://www.indmowing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?1932

Redeye
08-04-2012, 09:26 PM
these are great with hats http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PELTOR-Ear-Muff-H7B-Class-5-Neckband-Earmuff-/270945095540?pt=AU_ISafety&hash=item3f15960f74

GardenGuy
09-04-2012, 01:07 AM
Thanks, Mrs HMS and Redeye. I appreciate your help and mighty search-fu.

I'll feed back a result as and when it happens.

Cheers - GardenGuy.

imoww
09-04-2012, 03:29 PM
I bought a pair of radio earmuffs last year from Bunnings for around $20. They are still working well. Ive used the iphone / mobile phone plugs but their cord catches onto stuff and pulls out when im working.

cadase
09-04-2012, 05:56 PM
I have to start wearing ear protection, between the snipper in my ear all day, and my guitar amp modeller in my ear at night, it's a wonder i can hear anything.... i have noticed though, when the wife is speaking, i have periods of total deafness

Scooby Steve
09-04-2012, 06:04 PM
I use to buy the dearest earmuffs i could get but while they kept the noise out they didn't last so now i buy the cheapest i can most comply to Aus standards and have the info on the box as to db protection etc check out the Indi store first to see what they have.

Mrs HMS
09-04-2012, 06:15 PM
i have noticed though, when the wife is speaking, i have periods of total deafness

Gotta watch that domestic deafness....it can be lethal! ;)

courty
09-04-2012, 06:22 PM
I use the Stihl Comfort Max ear muffs with the neck band.
Comfortable
Cheap
Keep the decibels down but allow me to still hear the engines which I like.
Can still wear any type of hat.

Chris B
09-04-2012, 06:25 PM
i found the difference between the H10 pelters and others (including another peltor that had a lower db rating)
is that the higher quality ones dont have that annoying muffled echo and you can still hear a normal conversation but it turns down the volume on the louder sounds

geoff
09-04-2012, 06:26 PM
i to have the domestic hearing but also have the domestic blindness one as well...pretty well stuffed my mrs reckons hahahahaha

geoff
09-04-2012, 06:28 PM
usually wear a good quality ear muff , bunninngs sell good ones but my secret is that i wear ear plugs from the mobile iphone so i can listen to radio tunes and also get all the calls.....have to watch the battery life of the iphone though if a long day...

South East Mowing
10-04-2012, 09:44 PM
I use an "ear plug"in my right ear together with ear muffs as the whippy gets very close sometimes and generally too close for comfort most of the time I use it.
We shall see if it has done any good whenever I get a hearing test

GardenGuy
26-04-2012, 09:04 PM
Ended up grabbing the Peltor behind the neck H10. Amazing. The silence is deafening. It certainly makes you aware that you have to keep an eye out when you're working a on busy stretch as even oncoming buses are silenced.

The house-keeper at a client site today was saying something to me at 10m away. I didn't hear a word. :) Even using the rough brush cutter (>98 dBA 33cc donk), the suppression is really pleasing. With little Miss Tanaka (the light trimmer I use for edges and some stuff, 72 dBA?), it's almost quiet enough to listen to good opera - not that I would, that often. :D

I only went this way because I like to wear my old straw hat, otherwise, the nice hats in the Indy Store (http://www.indmowing.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=573) and a good pair of ear muffs would be excellent.

While I'm at it, hey Dean - how about some nice anti-vibration gloves for the Indy Store? Breathable synthetic mesh (tricot?) or similar carcass in bright colours (not even hi-vis), velcro wrist closures, well-constructed leather palms and finger-gripping-areas and thinner finger tips and some meaty gel pads in the 'gripping area'. The ones from the usual suspects are OK, but I'm on the look-out for a few pairs of something better for the sake of good health and the usual safety reasons. Any chance?

Cheers - GardenGuy.

Mick
27-04-2012, 08:30 AM
While I'm at it, hey Dean - how about some nice anti-vibration gloves for the Indy Store? Breathable synthetic mesh (tricot?) or similar carcass in bright colours (not even hi-vis), velcro wrist closures, well-constructed leather palms and finger-gripping-areas and thinner finger tips and some meaty gel pads in the 'gripping area'. The ones from the usual suspects are OK, but I'm on the look-out for a few pairs of something better for the sake of good health and the usual safety reasons. Any chance?

Cheers - GardenGuy.

Look into Decade Summer Weight anti vib gloves or Decade drivers style (more like riggers gloves but cheaper than summer weight)
Anti vib gloves can make holding the trimmer etc difficult at the throttle.

Just to show what they look like...
http://www.amazon.com/Decade-52103-Summerweight-Anti-Vibration-Goatskin/dp/B0019D4ENQ
http://www.saf-t-glove.com/product.cfm/29632/

PaulG
27-04-2012, 08:35 AM
These are what I've used too and I agree with Mick about making the machine hard to grip.

DavidS
02-06-2012, 06:31 AM
I was looking for some radio earmuffs, I came up with these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Zero-Turn-Mower-Wright-Scag-eXmark-Encore-Grasshopper-/260785606545?_trksid=p3907.m8&_trkparms=algo%3DMW%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D12%26po%3D LCA%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8834826296205051406 they look the goods to me. My only concern is Digital Radio, I will have to check if I can get that out here.

Mick
02-06-2012, 08:15 AM
They are not digital radio but tune digitally, they pick up just the same as regular radios. If you have half decent reception for a normal radio then they will be fine.

Redeye
02-06-2012, 10:41 AM
they're the pick David

ian
02-06-2012, 11:05 AM
these are what i use as mick said they are digital tune not digital reception so if you can listen to the radio now they should work

DavidS
02-06-2012, 12:34 PM
Doh!!! a bit thick today. I will order a set now.

Redeye
02-06-2012, 12:52 PM
I posted somewhere else about these, I took the rubber knob off the volume pot as it would get turned on accidentally and flatten the batteries, also def worth using lithium batteries

DavidS
02-06-2012, 01:00 PM
Yeah I found a few threads on Hearing Protection, just went with the latest. I will remember that when I get my set, Thanks. Yes I have lithium for all my Mp3's and cameras, I always used to run out of sound about half way through a boring job or when I wanted to take photo, now I don't as I carry spare charged batteries.

South East Mowing
02-06-2012, 06:27 PM
I was looking for some radio earmuffs, I came up with these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Zero-Turn-Mower-Wright-Scag-eXmark-Encore-Grasshopper-/260785606545?_trksid=p3907.m8&_trkparms=algo%3DMW%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D12%26po%3D LCA%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8834826296205051406 they look the goods to me. My only concern is Digital Radio, I will have to check if I can get that out here.

I got some after Redeye recommended them. The only problem I have with them is sometimes I am taking the things off and realise I never turned them on:o other than than they will be fine