Well looked after equipment performs better and runs smoothly, exposure the user to lower levels of noise and vibration. Wet grass can collect on the blades of a mower which drastically increases the noise it makes. Don’t forget that electric-powered alternatives are available, which have a much-reduced maintenance regime than the petrol-powered equivalents. Service all tools in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations to prevent avoidable increases in noise. 3. Consider varied work schedules. Have the correct level of protection, that does not over-protect and cause a risk of undue audio isolation. As headphones, these have a pretty incredible runtime that can keep you jamming for most of the week without needing to recharge. The actual sound quality could be better, but for working outside with loud equipment, we don’t see clarity as a primary concern. Ear defenders are suitable for all types of work, both indoors and outdoors. They can also be used in all types of weather. In cold temperatures, this form of hearing protection also offers the advantage of keeping the ears warm as you work. It’s clear from the equipment noise assessments above that petrol-powered equipment has the highest levels of noise and action should be taken to reduce the risks of hearing damage. Don’t forget that you need to take action for all daily exposure above 80dB and in general you need to reduce noise exposure as far as is reasonable. Action you can take to reduce noise exposure.

Filtering can be used to dampen noise from other machinery, allowing you to work with high levels of sound insulation and noise protection. Further steps you can take to ensure the noise exposure limits are not exceeded. 1. Consider noise levels when purchasing new tools. We all have different ideas of what's comfortable, what fits and what works. If ear defenders are uncomfortable, we aren't going to use them. Fortunately, there are a few main categorifies that ear defenders for use in the garden fall into. As hearing protection, the Dynamic BT has some decent noise reduction, particularly at the higher frequencies and they feel durable enough to take a beating.

The high quality microphone allows for clear communication. This is important when working on challenging tasks as a team. Regardless of your approach to risk assessment, just being aware of the risks you and your employees face from the noise created by lawnmowers, strimmers and blowers can help you to understand why it’s so important to wear hearing protection. What are the official noise exposure limits at work? The Stihl Dynamic BT Ear Protection falls on the expensive side, which is pretty true-to-form for Stihl. But what is also pretty standard for the brand is a quality product. Ear plugs are usually made of conically shaped PU foam and can be inserted easily into the ear canal. Thanks to their deep seat within the ear, they offer good sound protection. As they are not worn on the outside of the head, earplugs are also usually more comfortable than ear defenders if you wear glasses too.

It may be worth creating an activity sheet you can fill in to log your equipment usage and any concerns you experience. For example, if you have spent all day on one particular mower and have ringing ears at the end of the day, it could be an indicator that you need to take further steps to reduce your exposure or perform some maintenance on that piece of equipment. What do I listen to whilst mowing lawns? To use them, you simply roll each earplug between your finger and thumb to reduce the size slightly, then gently insert one into each ear until it expands and fills the gap.Mount the ear defenders together with the visor onto the helmet shell. The connecting cable for the ear defenders initially hangs loose below the helmet shell.

Between the noise reduction qualities and the limited volume, you shouldn’t need to worry about damaging your hearing, which is the whole point of the Dynamic BTs. Stihl Dynamic BT Ear Protector Specs In the instance that this is a heavy or awkward parcel to return, it may prove beneficial for us to collect the item instead.Traditional wireless devices can be integrated into the ADVANCE ProCOM communication system, so users without ear protection can also be included in the communication. SNR stands for Sound Noise Reduction, which is simply a measurement that explains the reduction in decibels the user is exposed to when wearing hearing protection. For example, if an operator is exposed to 86dB without ear defenders, SNR 14 ear defenders would take the exposure down to 71 dB and SNR 24 ear defenders would reduce the exposure even further to 62 dB. ADVANCE ProCOM headset acts as ear protection and a communication tool, tailored specifically to the needs of professionals working in forestry and tree maintenance. It’s important to limit the time that you are exposed to noise as much as possible. Therefore, it’s worth considering planning work to avoid being exposed to noise for long, continuous periods – several shorter periods are preferable. Equally, where tools require continual or frequent use, if you are working as part of a team, you can introduce employee rotas to limit exposure times – avoiding operators being exposed for periods that are long enough to put them in the high-risk group. 4. Record your exposure and any health impacts.