Safety Messages

This section of the web site is devoted to safety information. Some messages will be relevant to all types of solid waste professionals; while others will be aimed specifically at field staff. If you have a safety tip that you would like to share with chapter members, please send it to the web administrator.

How Loud is Loud?

Most of us take our sense of hearing for granted – we assume that we hear what everyone else hears. Loss of hearing may not be realized until a friend or spouse screams in frustration, “Why don’t you ever listen to me?!” This is because hearing loss is usually gradual. Normally, it doesn’t hurt, so we don’t know it’s happening. It doesn’t annoy us like losing our eyesight. In fact, it is sometimes a blessing to tune out all the clatter and noise of the city and workplace.

Yet our ability to hear when we want to is precious and must be protected. Some people consider wearing hearing protection to be a nuisance. The more you know about hearing, the more likely you will be to take responsibility for protecting your hearing.

Noise exposure off the job can also damage your hearing. The critical sound level when hearing protection should be worn is 85 decibels (dBA), established for an 8-hour time weighted average. The louder and longer your exposure, whether at work, at home, or during recreation, the more likely your hearing will be damaged. If you want to have a sense of “how loud is loud,” the following examples, along with their decibel rating, will give you an idea:

Wear your hearing protection!

Many disposable or reusable plugs are available and most of these reduce noise by about 20-30 decibels. The noise reduction rating (NRR) is usually marked on the package or on the box if they come in bulk. However, since the NRR is established in a laboratory with perfectly fitted plugs, experts recommend that the true rating is generally about 7 decibels less than indicated. Hearing protectors of the ear muff type are usually closer to the actual NRR.

Some degree of hearing loss is part of the normal aging process; but young people should also be warned about the dangers of a rock concert, boom box or loud car engine. Of course, they may not listen to you –but if they have permanent hearing loss, they won’t be able to listen to anyone, will they. Hearing protection…Use it!