Loud noise is one of the biggest causes of permanent hearing loss and tinnitus (noise in your ears or head).
Noise is measured using the decibel (dB) scale, which reflects the sensitivity of human ears to different levels and frequencies of sound.
Here are some examples:
85dB is the threshold level at which your hearing can become damaged over time.
Sounds under 85dB are safe to listen to – you don’t need to use any hearing protection. But if you work in a noisy environment and the sound levels reach 80dB, your employer should assess the risk to your hearing and give you information about this.
Noise is measured using the decibel (dB) scale, which reflects the sensitivity of human ears to different levels and frequencies of sound.
Here are some examples:
- 0dB: the quietest sound a healthy human ear can hear
- 40dB: a quiet library
- 60dB: ordinary spoken conversation
- 85dB: a food blender
- 88dB: heavy traffic
- 91dB: a pneumatic drill
- 97dB: an industrial fire alarm
- 100dB: a nightclub
- 110dB: a live gig or concert
- 130dB: an aeroplane taking off 100m away.
- 140dB is the level at which noise causes pain for most people, although some people may find lower levels painful too.
85dB is the threshold level at which your hearing can become damaged over time.
Sounds under 85dB are safe to listen to – you don’t need to use any hearing protection. But if you work in a noisy environment and the sound levels reach 80dB, your employer should assess the risk to your hearing and give you information about this.
The safe exposure time for 85dB is up to eight hours a day. Remember that you’re exposed to lots of different sounds that are 85dB or over throughout the day, and this exposure time adds up. As sound intensity doubles with every increase of 3dB, the safe exposure time halves.
Ear protectors – earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps – protect your ears from loud noise by reducing the level of sound reaching your ears. If you’re exposed to unavoidable noise, you should use earplugs or earmuffs.
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