Who uses hearing protection?

[Vibe Ray]

Who uses hearing protection? If so, what kind? What are your thoughts on hearing protection?

[Groundcover Solutions]

We require all of our employees to where ear protection it saves us form future law suits and such clams. We use 3m earmuff things ( I use the ones with the radio in them makes the other employees jellies though) LOL!!!!

[captdevo]

definately!!!!!! i use foam plugs, seem to work best for me.

[Eric ELM]

Peltor FM stereo hearing protectors. Everyone should wear hearing protection.

[Mowman]

Ear protection, yes. Last year after running a 20HP for a day I got a pair of ear plugs to wear. They are soft rubber with a cord connecting them together. They work very well. Get done and put them back in the plastic case for storage. Would not think of working without them. When I do forget to put them in I know right away that I forgot them. After 20+ years in a factory my hearing is pretty well shot, so now I do everything I can do to preserve what little I have left. The foam ones work well also.
Mowman

[Vibe Ray]

Won't the radio headphones damage hearing even more because you have to turn them up really high to overcome the mower noise or whatever you are using. Another question is WHEN do you use them? What I mean is do you only use them for operating a mower or other times as well?

[Ssouth]

I use the ELVEX FM hearing protection. they work wonderful. Listen to music and cut grass.. I find myself wearing them while raking leaves sometimes. Only had them for 1 year but they have held up great. ( lots of falls and abuse) I have previous hearing loss and would not work without some type of hearing protection. Regular ear muffs work well also and they only cost 5$-10$ a pair. Whatever you choose it will help your hearing due to all of the loud equipment we use.

[65hoss]

I use the foam plugs. They are very comfortable. With the ultra vac I know right away when I forgot to put them in.

Eric Elm--with those peltor's, does it hinder you wearing a cap?

[Eric ELM]

Ray, this is not a regular FM headset. What I have is Hearing protectors that block out most of all sounds that happen to have FM in them. They have a volume limiter on them so you can only turn them up so loud, but you can hear music at half volume while running a 62cc back pack blower. Does that answer this question?

Hoss, after clicking on submit I saw your ? and no, it doesn't bother wearing a cap. I put them on over the cap without any problems. I did have a tree grab my cap one day and jerked it off of my head and left the Peltors on my head, I still haven't figured out how. :)

[Edited by Eric ELM on 02-12-2001 at 10:23 PM]

[pcs]

eric, where did you get those. I was looking for something like that.

[geogunn]

dittos on the hearing protection!

the first three years or so I did not wear hearing protection and now I have a substantial hearing loss. is it as a result of lawn care or is it in addition to pre-existing hearing loss...Idunno.

now, no way do I work without the little foammy things.

hearing loss is cumulative, permanent and in the case of sounds in the 2000-4000 hertz range, imperceptable on a dailey exposure basis to realize the loss.

wear your ear plugs.


GEO

[Eric ELM]

I got them at my Chopper dealer. Peltor has a website http://www.peltor.com/

Here are the ones I have. http://www.peltor.com/html/products/peltor/peltor04.htm

[OBRYANMAINT]

i have some peltor shotgunners (folding)that i used this past year and they worked well but will need to find something different for those many 80 degree plus days they really keep th heat in unfortunately

will try some plugs this year

[lakegastonla]

I can't stand the ear plugs with the cord between them. It feels like spiders or something crawling on mmmmmmme!

I use the walkman-style headphone type earplugs with a head band attached to two small foam earplugs. These are easy to keep up with, and ready to use in just a few seconds.
They are SO much better than the old style foam roly poly plugs.

[Ground Pounder]

Now you're talking my language. As safety officer for a fire department, we have researched various hearing and eye protection.

Any noise over 90dB is dangerous. A commercial mower at full throttle is easily capable of generating noise over 100dB.

Normal radio headsets are not designed for noise attenuation. Make sure they are designed to reduce noise by at least 20dB. These can be found at any gun shop or power equipment retailer.

An eye can never be replaced...don't take the chance. Always wear safety glasses as well.

[Ocutter]

I use them for any machinery operated. I have used the 25db found in mail order catalogs. My first yr I didnt wear them. Now I cant imagine working w/o them.

[Scag48]

I use hearing protection all the time. Not much of a big deal on the mower for me only because I'm only running a 21" but when I use the trimmer or blower, I refuse to run them without hearing protection. I guess I just have sensitive ears. I use earmuffs. They are Silencio brand and they are actully made for shooting. I like them just fine and recommend them. The only alternative is....well, I'll give you a hint.....HUH? WHAT WAS THAT? LOL. Sounds like my dad! LOL. :)

[kermit]

Have you seen the new hearingprotectors/sunglasses at Rittenhouse.ca ? Saw them at the Landscape Ontario Congress show and they looked pretty slick. The lenses are safety-type nonshattering plastic.

[Edited by kermit on 02-13-2001 at 12:04 AM]

[Odie]

I use Radio Shacks closed cup racing head phones, can plug into radio,tape or cd player. Seals out mower, trimmer, noise etc.. They cost $49.99 in the catalog pt. # 33-1198. For $15.00 I would recomend getting the 2 yr extended warranty any Radio shack dealer will replace no questions asked. They get a lot of abuse, I dropped mine on pavement and broke an earcup off, luckly it was under the 90 day warranty.

[KirbysLawn]

I use the Peltor FM with the digital tuning, they are great. If a customer walks up I just touch a button and I can hear everything they say. Volumes stay low so no damage to the ears.

http://www.peltor.com/pics/select.gif

Here are two old threads on this subject:

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=5316

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=4189

[thelawnguy]

Be careful with the foam plugs, they can push the wax deep into the ear canal requiring a trip to the doctor,

I use headphone type protection.

[GroundKprs]

Over the head muffs are sometimes cumbersome and hot, compared to plugs.

Muffs also cut out all noise, while plugs filter the high pitched, more damaging sounds. Have stood and talked to co-worker, both of us wearing plugs, without even idling down either machine - engine noise reduced, while voices were not.

Hard to forget to put muffs on, and easy to see if all workers on site are wearing muffs. (What the heck is wrong with this engine now? Then after 5 min, realize that I forgot to put in one earplug!)

Have to maintain supply of plugs, sometimes need 3 pairs a day - get dirty easily, get lost even easier. Muffs only need new cushions occasionally.

We use both plugs and muffs, if using a backpack blower more than 15 minutes at a time.

[Scott Campbell]

I agree totally with all on this subject. You definitely need the hearing/eye protection. From my own experience I can tell you hearing loss is no light matter. I have been in manufacturing for most of my working life, and over time I have lost my upper frequency ranges. I also have ringing in my ears all the time. Very noticeable when extremely quiet.

This is an issue all should pay attention to. I can't imagine losing anymore hearing and not being able to hear my kids later in life. Once you lose it, you can't get it back. Same with eyesight. Imagine our line of work, not to mention the personal side, and not being able to see. Wouldn't do too well, would we?

It is easy to take something for granted until you don't have it anymore. An ounce of prevention is worth the alternative. Sorry to get on a high horse, but this is a personal subject with me.

Do your research on the equipment that you will be using, and buy the appropriate protection. Any safety supplier can get you protection devices for your application.

[npalomba]

I was purchasing my new mower and they (dealership) threw in ear and eye protection; John Deere Ear and Echo Eye... Can't be to safe.

[bobbygedd]

hearing protection is an absolute must, i use 3m muffs, and dont start any equipment without them on.

[morturf]

I have both the muff and plug type. I always try to keep the muffs in the truck but sometimes they end up in the shop somewhere. For this reason I always keep many packs of the foam disposables in the glove box. I have a slight loss now and with luck will not get worse. I spent the first 15 years in this business with out and the next 25 wearing them. Put them on and make your helpers wear them too!!

[lawman]

If you do not you are not going to hear for long. I use it every day.

[Redmowers]

Never did before last year 2000.But always did when running the chipper and the chainsaw.Tried the push in the ear kind too annoying,went to the earmuff style.Will have to look into the FM version for this year.

[dfor]

I won't go 2 minutes without them. I use a brand called Howard Leightning that has a NR of 30.(noise reduction) Highest nr is 31 i believe. I personally find the ones with a "nr" of 25 too loud. Even with electric hedge trimmers, I wear them.

[mdb landscaping]

i use elvex ear muffs with the radio in them. works awesome.

[CandJ]

Just yesterday I received my present to myself for this year - the elvex earmuffs with the FM radio transmitter. I am looking forward to using them this summer. For the last few years I was using foam plugs. Does anyone feel they need to use the foam plugs IN ADDITION to the radio headsets? Just curious.

BTW - I bought them in a catalog called Gemplers, http://www.gemplers.com and got them for $138 with shipping. That was the best price I'd seen.

[Edited by CandJ on 02-13-2001 at 04:03 PM]

[Scott Campbell]

Hey fellas I just got a Northern Tool catalog, and it has the Elvex battery powered and the Rechargeable FM headsets in it. The battery powered were selling for $115 + around $6-$7 for shipping. (in my area) The recahargeables look pretty interesting, they claim to last up to 50hrs on one charge, and have a slightly better noise reduction than the battery set. (27db for recharge./ 25db for the battery)

The rechargeables are listed at $160.

Just thought I would drop a line for you all. This thread seems to have started picking up steam today.

[CCLC]

Ear protection a must. We use the ear muff type. Some of the employees don't care for them but they understand the reasons. It's like seat belts in the truck. They don't like them but they understand.

[mdb landscaping]

candj- youll love the elvex ear muffs. after working for a local landscaper who made us use the ear plugs, i went solo in the landscaping and decided i must have the elvex with the radio. youll find that it muffles out enough noise to protect your ears, and you can listen to music and still hear what the mower is doing. youll enjoy mowing even more.

[Double D]

Northern tool's website has a generic fm radio/hearing protector for $50. Has anyone tried this product? The site does not give any specifics on the noise reduction. Paste this for a look-- http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=3527&prmenbr=6970

[GLM]

I use Elvex and they are great, no copmlaints what so ever. I've been hard on them to.They pick up so many stations it's incredible. I cannot mow with out them any more. If I leave them at home I must go get them! All my friends use them too. The peltor looks good as well, I think there worth a look also.

[RNH]

Ok Ok you guys have convinced me, I'm gonna get some head phones (Radio) this year. Better Safe than sorry...

[bob]

I wear hearing protection all the time. I even wear them when I sharoen blades or run the shop-vac in the basement.

[Ricky]

Started after I got my diesel Chopper. Never did before, wish I had though. My ears have had a constant ringing for 5 or 6 yrs. now. I wasn't mowing at the time I noticed it, started mowing again last year.

[Eric ELM]

I wear mine for any kind of noisy operations, even around the house when my wife is yelling at me. :D

[skeloo]

Even I wear the foam ear plugs, see I still thought of safety
lol.

Jennifer

[brandy]

Use these and they are nice except when they fall off your head and you have to spend five minutes putting them back together!!

[Bassman]

After reading this thread, I'm getting some ear protection. I have some hearing loss from working without ear protection while fueling jets many years ago. I don't need it to get any worse.
I think I'll also be getting pair of **** up wrist splints B-4 busy season to avert "dead hands", numbness and tingling.

[deinck]

I have the Elvex Fm rechargeable they are fantastic would not have any thing else. They block alot of the mower sounds out. I highly recommend them.
Dave Einck
Pro-Cut Lawn &Hydroseeding Service

[Paradise Yard Service]

Hey Vibe Ray

Check out http://www.labsafety.com as they have all imaginable hearing protection. Saw one with wireless communication up to two miles. That should help cut down the bird doggin. Say What????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha,
P.Y.S.

[Vibe Ray]

Alright, I'm gonna get some muffs w/ FM!!! Now my question is should I go Peltor or Evlex. And also, thanx a lot, guys!!!

[Eric ELM]

Brandy mentioned that if the Elvex falls off your head, it takes awhile to find the pieces. My Peltor's have never fallen apart from falling even on concrete. I've had them knocked off my head many times going under trees. I've had my Peltors for several years now and I have only replaced the batteries, nothing else.

[Vibe Ray]

Thanx, Eric. Any other comments on Peltor vs. Evlex? Which should I go for? Not too woried about price, just which is better to buy.

[KirbysLawn]

I love my Peltor's!! I love the feature that allows you to mute the radio and turn on the mics and hear what people are saying, get funny looks with people trying to figure whw I can hear them. :)

Also, with the blower running full throttle I can barely hear it. It has a control that allows you to still hear the radio and allow outside noise, great for when you are not using the equipment.

[SLC1]

I personally use the Elvex Radio Head phones and love them , we supply all the crew members with foam plugs, we keep a big box at the shop and always have a lot in the trucks, I like to buy the ones with the cord attaching the plugs the guys seem to keep them longer, and only go through one or two pairs a day. I have no problem getting the guys to wear hearing protection but some of them dont like wearing their saftey glasses, we provide both of them they just dont like wearing them, go figure. Just my two cents

[dan deutekom]

I always put on muffs (peltor) b4 i start any engine whether it be a mower, blower, skidsteer or whatever. Eye protection goes on in the morning and dosn,t come off until I am done for the day. (havn,t we all got stuff in our eyes even when walking a property looking at the ground for garbage etc.) I find if I wear ear protection I am not as tired at the end of the day and I can,t understand how people can take the 2 most important senses they have and not protect them

[bababooie]

I USE BOTH ALL DAY,EVERYDAY

[Vibe Ray]

Hey Kirby! You say the Peltors have a mic feature? Can you explain this, please? Do the Evlex's have the same mic feature? What about the protection range (28 db., etc.) and radio reception? Which has the better of those two criteria? Basically what are the pros and cons of the two?

Thanx for the help! I'm gonna research it soon as well and find out which to get, but maybe youguys could help me out......

[Eric ELM]

Here is Peltor's website. http://www.peltor.com

[AVRECON]

I went by radio shack today to look at some of their headphones. I looked at a pair that were $72 bucks and they don't have a built in radio though but considering I'm a race fan they will also work with my scanner. I guess this needs a little more explanation, these are like regular corded headphones but they keep the noise out.

[Eric ELM]

There is a difference between hearing protectors and head phones and/or head phones with FM.

With a unit like Peltor or Elvex, you are getting a hearing protection with or without FM. The ones with FM have a volume limiter on them to keep from turning them up to high to defeat the purpose of hearing protectors.

You can also get hearing protectors with a cord to use on CD players, ect. There are all sorts of possibilities, but get the ones that are designed to protect your hearing, not a set of head phones.

[CommercialCuts]

Always use hearing protection!!! Recently bought ELVEX FM love'em, Kinda pricy but worth the money!!!!!

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by Vibe Ray
Hey Kirby! You say the Peltors have a mic feature? Can you explain this, please? Do the Evlex's have the same mic feature? What about the protection range (28 db., etc.) and radio reception?

http://www.peltor.com/pics/select.gif

If you look at the front bottoms you see a small round object, that's the mic. It amplifies outside sounds when you want it to which allows you to hear on demand without removing the headset. I'm not sure about other brands so I can't help much there.

I got mine at Grainger, I think they sell for $250-$270. Here is a direct link to the model: http://www.peltor.com/html/products/peltor/fmselect.htm

Lab Safety: http://www.labsafety.com/store/product.asp?dept_id=5942&pf_id=38418

[Edited by KirbysLawn on 03-16-2001 at 11:34 PM]

[AVRECON]

The ones at radio shack are no different than my normal hearing protecters, these are really made for race track use at least they are marketed that way. If you have ever herd 43 race cars come by at one time then you know how loud they are but if you haven't try running 43 mowers with out mufflers and you might get close. The hearing protection I use are for use with aircraft, like the guys you see taxiing in jets, I checked these from radio shack out pretty good and I couldn't tell any difference between theirs and the ones I already have.

[Paradise Yard Service]

Hey Vibe Ray,
Maybe this is what you want in a stereo headphone/noise reduct. The Peltor brand.


http://www.labsafety.com/store/dept.asp?dept_id=10439

Aloha,
Kevin

[AVRECON]

Here is a pic of a simular pair, the ones I saw today are a little nicer than these. Hope the link works http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F002%5F001%5F008%5F000&product%5Fid=33%2D1198 P.S. these are made by KOSS

[AVRECON]

Actually I've always wanted some hearing protection headphones with FM and 2 way radio in them or a radio that offers these options. Has anybody seen or herd of these being out there?

[LoneStarLawn]

They have them at Gempler's
http://www.gemplers.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?UID=2001031622261580&GEN2=&GEN3=&GEN9=&T1=10045&FNM=00&UREQA=N

[AVRECON]

COOL! Thanx for the info!

[T-Bone]

Vibe RAY

Check out OPTIMUS at Radio Shack.
$40 but well worth it.


[Edited by T-Bone on 03-17-2001 at 05:55 AM]

[Vibe Ray]

So has anyone else had their Elvex muff radio fall and break apart? How efficient is the mic feature? how far away could you be to hear some one talk at a normal volume?

[Grateful11]

I found some very comfortable ear plugs and they're easy to insert.
EAR Express Plugs (http://www.aearo.com/html/products/hearing/plug03.htm)

[Mike (MLC)]

:D I always make sure I am wearing some sort of hearing protection. I use earmuffs made by stihl. :D

[Mike_6606]

In the Air Force, we are required to have hearing tests yearly. The first few years I thought it was a waste of time and hated wearing hearing protection. That was until I saw a slight loss of hearing over a couple of years of tests. I have worn hearing protection any time I was exposed to loud noise over extended periods for the past ten years. My hearing has maintained and even improved on a couple of tests. Hearing protection works, use the best quality available to you.

Mike

[lawnboykb]

Most of you will freak when I say this but for almost 15 years I have never used hearing protection. As a matter of fact for years I wore headphones. And at times I would turn off the mower and couldn't stand how high the sound was in the headphones.
I get hearing tests every year and everthing has been ok so far. But I did start using plugs this year.....why......I couldnt say.
Has anyone looked at the decibels your mowers are rated? I have and I still have not found one thats over the OSHA limits.

[mowahman]

On a daily basis, we use foam roll up plugs. During Fall clean up, we are running BR 400's for up to 12 hours a day plus 9 hp. leaf vac so then we use foam plug PLUS Peltor muffs. I don't allow anyone to use "radio" muffs as I have seen from past experiences, minds tend to wander. Watched a guy in an excavator wipe out a lazer trasit when he was wearing a walkman and operating the digger. $1500.00 mistake, thankfully, no one was hurt. You can always buy another piece of equipment, but when someone gets hurt, that's different. Play safet out there, accidents take no holidays !!!!!

[Grateful11]

>Has anyone looked at the decibels your mowers are rated? I have and I still have not found one thats over the OSHA limits.

Most dealers will tell you once you fire up the mower deck they all run about 93 db. I've been told that it's the long term exposure that gets you, whether it exceeds the limit not. I personally have a lot of hearing problems. I have Meniere's Disease which causes off and on dizziness and a constant ringing in my right ear. It sounds sort of like holding a conch shell up to your ear. I've had this since 1989. I had an operation in 95 to help correct it. It has helped with the dizziness some but not the ringing. They actually took out part of my skull and installed a tube from my inner most ear part to drain off excess fluid. I almost died from the anthesia. I couldn't wake up. I was suppose to be under the knife for 4.5hrs. and then wake up. I didn't wake up for another 7hrs. I found myself in ICU with a tube up my dick and IV's all over but they had taken me off the respirator. So as you all can see please take care of your hearing and be glad you can live a night in silence. I'm not saying that if you don't wear hearing protection this could happen to you. Just take care of what hearing you all have left. I wish they had a real cure for this but they don't. They don't even know what really causes it. Well I'll stop rambling. I never thought much about my ears until this happened and now I wish I might have done a few things different, who knows maybe I done something to trigger this.:angel:

Menieres Disease (http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/miller_keane_20468)

[lawnfire]

Purchased a pair of gray shaded Radians. Combo eye protection, with built in gel ear plugs. They are great! I have tried different eye, and hearing protection, these feel great.

[jnjnlc]

Hearing protection is a must. I use them all of the time. I grew up on a farm and never used them. I already have some hearing loss. I can't afford to lose more. I use the Lowes 15.00 specials. They work great. I hope to get some radio phones this year.

[CLARKE]

I got ringing in my left ear once you get it there
is no cure at this time. WEAR YOUR EAR PROTECTION!!!!!!!
The ringing is always there even when you got ear protection on.:alien: CLARKE'S TOTAL LAWN CARE.

[Paradise Yard Service]

Where is Vibe at? He started this thread! Well I use Howard Leight that fold up and they were about $15.00 from local supplier.

Wow we are getting pounded by rain! I wish I could send some your way!

Aloha,
P.Y.S.

[summitgroundskeeping]

I personally use earplug thing that look like yellow auger bullets.
I perfer to let my hearing go bad from my stereo.

[R & J LAWN]

ERIC WHAT KIND OF EAR PROTECTORS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AND WHERE DO YOU GET THEM? I PUT A WALKMAN IN MY POCKET AND GET THE SMALL SPEAKERS THAT FIT INTO YOUR EARS. WORKS GOOD I HAVE LOAT A LOT OF MY HEARING FROM WORKING IN A CAN FACTORY FOR 15 YEARS SOME YEARS BACK SO I NEED TO DO ALL THAT I CAN. MY WIFE SAYS THAT I ONLY HEAR WHAT I WONT TO ANWAY.


A CUT ABOVE THE REST [/QUOTE] :angel:

[trimmer]

I use a set of peltors with the sthil logo on them. I am young and could really tell a difference in my hearing before I started wearing them.

[Southern Lawns]

I wear regular OSHA muffs but am thinking on getting the FM type. I see a lot of people talk about wearing protection but around here if I see one a day around town wearing some I'd be surprised. I put them on anytime I start up............ no doubt. :cool: