SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stick9]

I saw a grasscutter today and he was NOT wearing ANY type of ear protection ... (No, not even the foam ear plugs) ... I find this totally unbelievable that somebody would knowingly use these obnoxiously loud machines and not have something to protect their hearing. When I first began cutting, my boss didn't use any .. but now, he has 'seen the light' .. so to speak.

How many people out there do NOT use ear protection? And, if you don't, why not?

StICK-nINe

[Nathan]

I totally agree with you. I have been in the industry for about ten years and for the longest time didn't use any pro. One day after using the blower for an extended leaf blowing session I noticed my ears wouldn't stop ringing. The ringing continued for the rest of the day and night, since then my ears are very sensitive to loud noises, especially blowers. Needless to say, I never go a day without my headphones. We lost a set one day and instead of going without I wadded some TP to stick in my ear. Don't lose your hearing buy some headphones.

[bob]

I have 2 friends that don't where any type of ear protection. One of them uses a walkman type radio, I guess the music is louder than the machines. I have offered both if them ear plugs, but both have refused. If I take my hearing protection off while useing the machinery, every thing seems loud!

[stick9]

We have an enclosed trailer and the NoiZe is 10 times worse inside there (just moving the mower in or out) .. I can't even stand to simply pull the DC out of the trailer without headphones .. let alone work without them all day!

sticK-NINe

Come on everybody Ed TYLL, eD tyLL!!!!!!!

[gene gls]

Some people are more sensitive to noise levels than others. The hot rod kids with thier big base speakers are louder than my equipement.I had to wear ear muffs a t the saw mill years ago and had lots of problems from sweat and wax build up in my ears.If you need it wear it.

[stick9]

So get one of those ear cleaners and clean out your ears. Is it really worth it to LOSE your hearing?!? Just squirt some warm water in there with one of those rubber bulbous things. Do you get waxy build up with the muffs or the plugs? I use plugs (with a radio) and have NO problems!

stICK-ninE

Come on Everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ED TYLL .. ED TYLLLLLLL!!!

[jasonp]

I use earplugs now but im would like to later get the muffs with fm radio.

[TLS]

This is the first year with protection! Ever since I started with the double blades on my Dixie, I had to! For 10 years I just used in the ear stereo headphones. They do block out some of the harmonics, which is the cause of the aforementioned ringing of the ears. Ever since I got my Elvex FM's my ears are thanking me!! Dixie makes a LOUD mower in my opinion. My JD 318 and F935 were quiet compared to my Dixie. Cant wait for my new 27hp Lazer to come in! Those things are very quiet. But I will continue to use the muffs.

[eslawns]

Huh?

Sorry, couldn't resist that. You are right. My hearing is damaged beyond repair. After 13 years playing with grenades, machine guns, and artillery, I don't think there's much the mowers will do. However, I don't take chances so I wear my stereo headphones or a gun muzzle (mickey mouse ears)

[Scag48]

I bought a pair of Silencio ear muffs. They are actually gun earmuffs but they are real big and have lots of foam in them, kinda like Sthil's earmuffs. I paid $15 for them but I know in the end they will be well paid for. Sometimes I use them when I mow, but I always use them when I'm running the trimmer or blower. Gotta love that 2 cycle sound, but it's really loud!

[TLS]

Scag48,

I'm just the opposite. If ever I skip wearing them its when edging or weedwacking, sometimes blowing for a minute or two. BUT, the real noise maker is the big mowers with multiple blades spinning at 'near subsonic speed'!! Have to wear them with that Dixie!

[Charles]

Ringing in the ears is a sign that you have already suffered some nerve damage and loss of hearing however slight. Hearing loss due to noise is subtle and takes many years to lose your hearing completely. It maybe hard to detect and will be noticed alot of time when you family tells you stop saying "huh? WHAT DID U SAY????". I didn't wear hearing protection when I first got into this business until at night all I could hear was ringing in my ears. Weedeater, mowers, blowers, etc will all cause hearing loss. No matter how old or young you are. Turn that music up so you can hear it over the equipment and you will go deaf sooner or later. I have been wearing ear muffs for many years now while using and equipment. Keeps the sun off my ears too. WE all need hearing protection. No matter if you have earwax or not lol

[TGCummings]

I have ear protection (Stihl), but never wear 'em. My intention was to put them on when I got my larger machine, but the noise just wasn't loud enough to warrant it.

I need to make a point of putting them on, because as we all know the noise is loud enough whether I think so or not.

I've been wanting a pair of FM headphones and have been on the lookout for a pair, but I've always figured a loud stereo in your ears is at least as bad as loud equipment so I'd be changing one for the other, right?

-TGC

[parkwest]

One of the advantages of wearing ear protection, I have found, is at the end of the day the workers are not as tired and irritable. The constant noise without protection just wears you down.

[KirbysLawn]

Myself and anyone who helps always wears ear and eye protection!

After reading the thread about listening to the radio while working I learned that there are good quality headphone made, I'd never seen anything but the cheap ones.

I looked for the Peltor and found them at Grainger here is the link: http://www.grainger.com/cgi-bin/item_detail?4937736Y4YZ61. These are cool, they even have small mics on the front so when someone needs to talk to you just tap a button and the radio mutes, after talking just tap it again to resume music. You can also select how active you want the mics while working.

Protect your ears or this is the link you will be needing: http://www.miracle-ear.com

Ray

[stick9]

Hey kirby ..

Those headphones are using a digital tuner.. Do you know if they have any open presets? (And if so, how many) ..

Thanks alot!!!

stICk-niNE

[KirbysLawn]

Stick, it has 4 pre set stations. These are great, I love'em!

[jaclawn]

I have yet to see another LCO wearing hearing protection. What fools. That type of hearing loss in not reversable.

[Edited by jaclawn on 10-13-2000 at 01:29 AM]

[gene gls]

This is an interesting thread: Half of you guys have sensitive ears to equipement noise but you turn around and stick a radio in your ear.Thats also noise pollution.And probely most of take your gards off your trimmers,another unsafe act.

Just my $.02

[SMB]

Gene_gls, I have my trimmer guard off and have only got dirty (big deal, I'm not afraid of grass) and 1 busted lip(due to a piece of fence wire)! I also either mow with deflectors UP or OFF. I gotta admit, I need to wear my Hearing Protection more, but I almost ALWAYS wear eye protection while trimming. I also have several older mowers with no safety switches! :D I guess that I'm not too safe!
Remember guys, it's not worth losing an eye over some weed-eatin', wear your safety glasses!

[TLS]

Gene,

The FM Headset hearing protectors that we are talking about, cancel out all noise and only let the volume go only so high. It is enjoyable, but by no means is is loud or unsafe.

[stick9]

Hey Gene gblahblah..

When you purchase a GOOD set of muffs, you don't have to turn the radio up very loud. They're designed to keep the NOizE out. You're not trying to cover the loudness with an even louder sound, you're simply adding some music to your day.


SticK-NINE

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by gene gls
This is an interesting thread: Half of you guys have sensitive ears to equipement noise but you turn around and stick a radio in your ear.Thats also noise pollution.And probely most of take your gards off your trimmers,another unsafe act.

Just my $.02

Gene, the radio I have and link to above blocks out as much or as little outside noise as I want it to. The radio will only go up so loud which really is not that loud. I agree with you if we are talking about a walkman trying to drown out a mower, that's not the case here.

Ray

[Eric ELM]

Amen Kirby, you can have the Back Pack at full revs. and listen to music at a very low volume. BTW Kirby, the ones I have have been dropped, jerked off my head by branches, you name it, and they have never broken or fallen apart. They still work like they did when new and this is the 4th season on my Peltors. Enjoy them, but can your buddy get me a set of them digital tuning for the same as you paid? The digitals sound nice.

[Mr.Ziffel]

I'm a competitive shotgunner and 99.9% of the ranges and all competitive shooting organizations require eye & ear protection of both competitors and spectators. When I first started up the JD with the 23HPYanmar revved up high I realized right away that I was missing something and reached for some ear muffs. In warm weather I wear soft plugs. I just drove a 25HP ZTR and was amazed at how quiet in comparison it is and thought wow, I can forget the muffs, but instead I think I'll order a pair of the radio headphones. Remember you only have one set of eyes and one set of ears.

[KirbysLawn]

Eric, I wish I could. I've had a couple people here ask me and I can't, it was a favor from a friend and I would not want to take advantage.

Ray