- Thread starter Shox Dr
- Start date
madkayaker
Pro sparkey Pro Welder
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the red peltor are great used them in mining (blasting)
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We use the red peltors, although i have a fancy pair that are electronic so you can hear people speak, but blocks out loud noises. Not cheap!
I hardly ever used to wear hearing defenders even when taking day long trips on the bike etc, but there again, Ive had tinnitus since birth I think. I remember being at school at they were talking in english about total silence, and I said "what, like a quiet version of the noise the telly makes when its not on channel?" (its called white noise sparkey). Ive started to wear defenders when doing stuff with cutting saws, and when Im going to be driving the jcb for a while (because um... er.. some of the silencer innards blew out a few months back and a perkins diesel breathing through a open pipe directly at you isnt fun) but I think thats partially because its just started to sink in that I am not completely indestructable, its only taken 37 years 
I suffer with tinnitus, got used to it a bit now. For years I didnt realise I had it, I thought I had a noisy central heating boiler to realise I didnt have central heating. I bought a decent pair of ear defenders from screwfix, they keep your ears warm in winter as well as protection.
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
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As regards 'claims', is it any wonder that employers are quick to dump staff at the first opportunity?...think about it, put the shoe on the other foot
weldequip
And you know soooooooooo much about me. Let me tell you I had been self-employed for 20yrs, working within a workshop with little noise at all. (Yes it can be done, at least in my line of work) 3yrs ago I had to pack it in, managed to get a job, for the same money I was getting 20yrs ago, (well paid for round here
) I put up with the working conditions until I found a better job, unfortunately that took 2 yrs, and a drop in wages. They didn't want me to leave, but I did, now I have poor hearing why shouldn't I look to some form of compensation of that loss.So before you go ASSuMEing. You think
Bullyterrier
So Mote It Be
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How would you be able to prove the hearing loss was a result from the 2 years in that job and not from the 20 years previously in a workshop?
Sparkey
Bouncing along!
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"(its called white noise sparkey)"
Thanks mr Fluffy!
Ok guys, take it easy now...
You are both right about this! Shox dr you're absolutely right you want your hearing-loss compensated! Our ears are very important, and once you've lost the ability to hear properly it'll never come back!
Steve you're right too but unfortunately there are employees that spoil things for people that really have somethig important to claim....which results in the bosses getting fed up with it and start firing people instead...
Now it's become even more complicated, with the economic crisis the employers unfortunatly don't wait for anything anymore...one c*ck up and you're history...we are all in the same boat guys!
Thanks mr Fluffy!
Ok guys, take it easy now...
You are both right about this! Shox dr you're absolutely right you want your hearing-loss compensated! Our ears are very important, and once you've lost the ability to hear properly it'll never come back!
Steve you're right too but unfortunately there are employees that spoil things for people that really have somethig important to claim....which results in the bosses getting fed up with it and start firing people instead...
Now it's become even more complicated, with the economic crisis the employers unfortunatly don't wait for anything anymore...one c*ck up and you're history...we are all in the same boat guys!
Obviously there are many cases where compensation is justly deserved. Unfortunately there are many more where it's not. The ambulance chasers quite often secure a few grand of compensation just by writing a few letters; it's easier for companies and/or their insurance to cough up than fight it. The problem is that it's us who pay in the end. People start suing companies left, right and centre, their legal department's and insurance bills skyrocket and we're left picking up the tab when it's added onto the products we buy. 
Oh, and that's not a comment on this particular case. Just some of my thoughts on compensation as a whole.
Oh, and that's not a comment on this particular case. Just some of my thoughts on compensation as a whole.
How much noise is too much?
I have some experience of noise measurement and noise surveys, including power station ambient noise levels and problems like high pressure steam leaks.At its simplest, all noise is bad for your ears, so the less exposure, the less damage. Once the damage is done, that's it. They don't get better.
Noise levels in the workplace have been reduced in recent years and it is the employers responsibility and legal duty to ensure that employees are not exposed to damaging levels of noise.
You don't need to measure the noise level to find out if it is causing damage. If you need to raise your voice to be heard above the background, then it is already too noisy and hearing protection should be worn. Although you then have to raise your voice even more to be heard.
It might seem obvious, but sharp, percussive sounds are more damaging than those which are constant or gradually increasing in volume.
Compensation for occupational hearing loss is much easier to sort out if there is a union presence on site.
I have some experience of noise measurement and noise surveys, including power station ambient noise levels and problems like high pressure steam leaks.
At its simplest, all noise is bad for your ears, so the less exposure, the less damage. Once the damage is done, that's it. They don't get better.Noise levels in the workplace have been reduced in recent years and it is the employers responsibility and legal duty to ensure that employees are not exposed to damaging levels of noise.
You don't need to measure the noise level to find out if it is causing damage. If you need to raise your voice to be heard above the background, then it is already too noisy and hearing protection should be worn. Although you then have to raise your voice even more to be heard.
It might seem obvious, but sharp, percussive sounds are more damaging than those which are constant or gradually increasing in volume.
Compensation for occupational hearing loss is much easier to sort out if there is a union presence on site.
Seano
Member
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Oooops ... that comment reminded me malcolm, I am also the H&S man at work, nothing harder than trying to convince people to wear or use their PPE, when you try to get them to understand how hard fought for this gear was to get (some companies) mine being one of them!!!!!! and that you are only looking after their welfare they can be complete arrisholes, got a feeling I may be out of a job soon when the HSE walk in and close down the welding / grinding shop....anything up to 5 people at a time in there welding, from mig, gas brazing, tig and grinding in a room approx 30x15' with one sad little extractor that vents straight to atmosphere, well you can imagine the noise, dust, and fumes that build up, I have been trying since june 08 to get this place sorted...got all the quotes in for doing the work ie, fresh air feed and extraction via PlymoVent units, £36,000 and they refused to pay it out, I could go on and on but I have already hijacked the thread....SORRY....
I just feel VERY STRONGLY about H&S ( coming from the oil industry) and these ******'s are going after another investors in people award.... give me a break....
rant over.Sean.
Hi Hitch,
You are correct. The steady drone of the drill is only damaging as a constant level of noise, depending on how loud it is. Hammering and centre punching are not only loud noises but also sudden loud noises. You can walk across the room, cross your arms and gently lean against a wall while you watch someone else work and very relaxing it is too. It is a different story if you cross your arms and run across the room straight into the wall. You will still acheive a resting state but the affect will be considerably more dramatic and a bit messier.
Hearing starts to deteriorate from a relatively early age and too much noise speeds up that deterioration.
Ear defenders are not expensive. Hearing is priceless.
You are correct. The steady drone of the drill is only damaging as a constant level of noise, depending on how loud it is. Hammering and centre punching are not only loud noises but also sudden loud noises. You can walk across the room, cross your arms and gently lean against a wall while you watch someone else work and very relaxing it is too. It is a different story if you cross your arms and run across the room straight into the wall. You will still acheive a resting state but the affect will be considerably more dramatic and a bit messier.
Hearing starts to deteriorate from a relatively early age and too much noise speeds up that deterioration.
Ear defenders are not expensive. Hearing is priceless.
