HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD?
Ear protection is vital. Hearing loss may be permanent, but it can be stopped from worsening.
HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the louder the sound, the less time it takes for hearing damage to occur. OSHA limits noise exposure levels in the work environment to about 90 decibels for an 8-hour period.
But many believe OSHA’s numbers are too high.
These are the maximum exposure before it is believed hearing damage occurs:
90 decibels: 8 hours
92 decibels: 6 hours
95 decibels: 4 hours
97 decibels: 3 hours
100 decibels: 2 hours
102 decibels: 1 1/2 hours
105 decibels: 1 hour
110 decibels: 1/2 hour
115 decibels: 15 minutes or less
Sources: The National Institutes of Health and The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, OSHA, www.headwize.com
