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Noise and Vibration
How the Ear Works
Causes of Hearing Loss
• Hair cells stop sending signals
to the brain
• Chronic exposure
• One-time exposure
Noise Induced Hearing
Loss
• Hearing loss from exposure to
sound
• Time
• Sound intensity
Sound
• Measured in decibels (dB)
• Sounds over 85 decibels can
cause hearing loss
• Equipment with noise levels over
85 dB
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Farm tractors
Skid steers
Chain saws
Grain dryers
Lawn mowers
Intensity and Time
• 85 decibels for eight hours
• For each 5 dB increase in
intensity, the exposure limit is
cut in half
• 90 dB – 4 hours
• 95 dB – 2 hours
• 110 dB – 15 minutes
Protect Your Hearing
1. Eliminate the source
of the noise (or turn it
off)
2. Stay away from the
noise source
3. Use personal
protective equipment
when you have to be
near the noise source
Help your hearing
• Replace old or damaged
mufflers
Vibration
• Equipment vibration passes to
the operator
• Can cause health problems like
back aches, finger numbness
and more
Controlling Vibration
• Keep machines
tuned and running
well
• Replace old and
worn out seats
• Limit the amount of
time of exposure to
excessive vibration
Summary
• Noise and vibration are common
hazards on farms
• Too much noise can cause
hearing loss
• Excessive vibration can cause
back pain and other health
problems