Noise-induced hearing damage is still a major concern, especially in construction. One in five construction workers suffers from hearing damage and 13 per cent have been diagnosed with noise-related deafness. But even if you're not on a job site, your ears could still be at risk. Common do-it-yourself (DIY) projects around the house or yard can expose you to damaging levels of noise if you’re not careful.
Below, we explain when you are at risk of hearing damage while doing home improvement tasks. We will also share a list of 10 tools and yard equipment, including the noise level and risk of hearing damage. How many dB does a hand saw produce, for example? Finally, we provide tips on how best to protect your ears while doing DIY projects.
When are you at risk of hearing damage during DIY jobs?
If you are doing DIY jobs, hearing protection should be part of your standard safety equipment. But during which jobs are you at risk? The danger of hearing damage from noise begins at 80 dB(A). After 8 hours of exposure to this noise level, you are at risk. For every increase of 3 dB, the safe exposure time is cut in half. Sanding a door or window frame with an electric sander produces around 95 dB(A). At this noise level, the tiny hair cells in your inner ear can damage in just 15 minutes.
You don't notice that damage immediately. In fact, hearing damage is cumulative - it happens very gradually, without you even realising it. Once you notice that you have suffered hearing damage (for example, by experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus), it is already too late. The damage is irreversible and beyond repair.
How many decibels of noise tools produce
The list below shows the average noise level for commonly used tools and after how much time hearing damage occurs:
|
TOOL |
NOISE LEVEL |
RISK OF HEARING DAMAGE |
|
Lawnmower |
85 dB |
2 hours |
|
Hand saw |
85 dB |
2 hours |
|
Drill |
95 dB |
15 minutes |
|
Belt sander |
95 dB |
15 minutes |
|
Angle grinder |
98 dB |
5-10 minutes |
|
High-pressure cleaner |
108 dB |
Immediately |
|
Electric saw |
110 dB |
Immediately |
|
Leaf blower |
110 dB |
Immediately |
|
Chainsaw |
120 dB |
Immediately |
|
Hammering a nail |
120 dB |
Immediately |
How can you properly protect your ears while doing DIY projects?
As you can see, DIY projects can get loud, fast. Fortunately, there are good hearing protection options you can buy that are comfortable and provide optimal protection for your hearing. Find out below which hearing protection for DIY jobs is right for your situation.
Alpine WorkSafe earplugs
Attenuation: 23dB
Suitable for: lighter DIY tasks in and around the house.
Benefits: Alpine WorkSafe earplugs are made specifically for DIY projects. The soft, flexible material shapes itself to your ear canal completely due to body heat, assuring you of proper protection. Thanks to the filters, warning sounds and conversations are still sufficiently audible. The extended stem makes inserting and removing the earplugs easy. In addition, they come as standard with a lanyard to hang them around your neck if you take them out for a while.
Alpine Defender earmuffs
Attenuation: 26dB
Suitable for: working with heavy tools that produce more than 110 dB, such as chainsaws, circular saws and drills.
Benefits: Alpine Defender earmuffs provide high-quality hearing protection. Thanks to the adjustable headband, the earmuffs always fit and leave nothing to be desired in terms of comfort. By the way, Alpine Defender earmuffs are also highly suitable as hearing protection in other situations!
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Have questions about your health? Contact a doctor or healthcare provider.