Prevent Hearing Loss
Just as you would take preventative measures to protect yourself from heart disease or diabetes, or your head from injury if you cycle or ski, it pays to protect yourself from occupational hearing loss and hearing problems caused by exposure to loud music, motors and gun shots.
Sounds That Can Damage Your Ears
Industrial workplace noises, gunfire, loud music and other common, everyday sounds that are louder than 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss. Just how loud is 85 decibels?
Take a look at these decibel ratings and permissible exposure times provided by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NIOSH/CDC).
Intensities of Common Sounds in Decibels
| Sounds | Intensities | Permissible exposure time |
| City Traffic, inside the car | 85 dB | 8 hours |
| Bulldozer | 88 dB | 4 hours |
| Jazz Concert | 91 dB | 2 hours |
| Power Mower | 94 dB | 1 hour |
| Nightclub | 97 dB | 30 minutes |
| Ambulance Siren, inside driver window down | 100 dB | 15 minutes |
| Rock Concert, Leaf Blower | 115 dB | 30 seconds |
For a complete listing of over 1700 noises and their corresponding decibel levels, check out this list of Exposure Time Guidelines from Dangerous Decibels.
Benjamin Franklin got it right when he said “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
