Who do you think suffers from noise more, a teacher or a bulldozer operator? Well, personally I’d rather listen to a bulldozer all day than screaming children, but I didn’t really think teaching would be listed as the noisiest job.
Apparently, I was wrong. In one study, 70% of teachers claimed they were disturbed by schoolhouse noise whereas only 60% of employees in the lumber and mechanics industries claimed to be bothered by the noise. (more…)
I found some interesting statistics and facts about deafness I thought you might be interested in reading.
Nearly 1 in 7 people in the UK are affected by deafness or significant hearing difficulty. That’s around 9 million people. Of these, 35,000 are children and young people between the ages of 0 and 25. Around 840 babies are born every year in the UK with impaired hearing in both ears. The majority of children end up with hearing problems due to chronic infection of the middle ear.
At the other end of the spectrum, age-related deafness is seen in 55% of adults over 60 and 70% of adults over the age of 70.
Nearly 87% of hearing damage is sensorineural deafness. Sensorineural deafness results when the tiny sensors in the ear canal are damaged. This happens due to a number of reasons: exposure to loud noise, viral or bacterial infections, genetics, medicines or aging. (more…)
We sure have an awful lot to worry about these days. It seems if it isn’t a toy with lead then it’s something else going down on the list of “scary substances.” Radon, mold, free radicals, UV rays… scary world!
One of the latest hot topics in the world of “what man-made thing” to avoid is PVC or polyvinyl chloride, and being a highly popular plastic, it is tough to avoid. You can find PVC in pipes, siding, roofing and a number of other plastic products.
(more…)
How important is your hearing or that of your loved ones? Surprisingly (or perhaps not) more than 40% of music lovers (those that listen to iPods or attend concerts/venues frequently) do not feel they have the time or money to bother with hearing protection.
I’m a music lover (yes, I know I’ve mentioned this a time or two), and the way I view hearing protection is akin to the way I view protecting and appreciating any gift. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t hear my music or other important sounds such as my children laughing, singing or even telling one of those incessant knock-knock jokes. (more…)
Keeping up with safety measures and ensuring your employees comply can be tricky. You need to make sure you have plenty of safety products such as eye protection, first aid kits and work earplugs. You also have to figure out how you can encourage your employees to comply and have a system in place to check. Without these ingredients to a successful safety program, you may find yourself in a bad spot if an employee is injured or an inspector should happen to stop by.
One key to a successful safety program is to appoint one or two employees to manage the system. Rather than having safety products a part of normal purchasing, have an employee take regular inventory on safety products and submit their order through purchasing in plenty of time to ensure supply doesnt run low. Certain items such as foam earplugs can be kept in large bulk amounts. (more…)
We’re all looking for ways to save money these days. I’m tired of hearing about the economic crisis, recession, down-turn or whatever you choose to call it, but we can’t ignore the fact that it’s crucial to save money both at home and in the workplace. Earplug Dispensers can help cut costs by purchasing your earplugs at a lower bulk cost AND by preventing waste. (more…)
Health concerns are abundant and the media tends to inundate us with advice on health and wellness such as weight loss, nutrition and exercise. One area that they seem to neglect is how to protect our hearing. Our ears are abused on a daily basis and most of us experience some amount of hearing loss, even as early as our teens and twenties. Children are very susceptible to hearing loss.
When do you need to protect your ears with earplugs? Noise at 85 decibels or higher can cause hearing damage, sometimes permanently. What sounds are you exposed to on a regular basis and for how long?
If you love music, chances are you go dancing or to concerts. Blaring music at either a club or a concert arena (especially if you get the good seats!) can cause hearing damage in less than 30 seconds at 115 decibels. You can purchase inexpensive earplugs or invest in custom earplugs if you are a professional or an avid concert/club attendee. Only the damaging sounds are filtered, so your hearing is protected, but the music still sounds fantastic!
You can damage your hearing in as little as 15 minutes after continuous exposure to 100 decibels. Your iPod set at volume level 5 can produce 100 decibels. If you listen to your tunes regularly, you might consider purchasing high-end earphones that protect your hearing while accentuating the music to recording studio quality.
How about the workplace? Do you work in a factory? How about an office? Though we tend to think of noisy machinery as being the only need for earplugs, even an office setting can produce moderate hearing damage, or at the very least, distraction from your work.
In an industrial setting, noise levels can reach more than 100 decibels. Employers are to provide earplugs for employees and make sure that they are compliant.
Even the low hum of busy city traffic that you might hear out your office or bedroom window can cause hearing damage when you are exposed to it for 8 hours a day. Background noises in an office can be distracting. For better concentration and a more peaceful workday, you can purchase inexpensive earplugs that are soft, safe and comfortable.
Think about all the things you do at home, work or at play that are noisy. Are they damaging? Remember that hearing damage can occur at 85 decibels.
Lawn mower = 95 decibels
Leaf blower = 115 decibels
Cinema = 94 decibels
Children’s Toys = (up to) 150 decibels (Check out these tot-sized ear muffs in pink or green)
Sporting event = 127 decibels
Health club = 120 decibels (And you thought only your wicked personal trainer was dangerous!)
Cheers!
Meghan
