Noise - Hazard Information for Farmers

Farms can be very noisy places. Equipment such as tractors, combines, hammermills, grain dryers and chain saws are only some of the noise sources.

Table 1 illustrates some typical examples of farm noise levels.

Working in a noisy environment can destroy your hearing. Noise can also:

• reduce your working ability
• increase your risk of having an accident
• increase stress and fatigue

Farmers who do not protect themselves against noise do suffer hearing loss. Hearing loss is irreversible. Once your hearing is gone, it is lost forever.

Noise Exposure Levels

Under The Occupational Health & Safety Act, 1993, it is law for farm workers in Saskatchewan to be protected from excessive noise. Where possible, eliminate noise at the source. This is accomplished through engineering, design and equipment modifications. Where engineering controls or design modifications cannot be used, workers must be provided with, and must wear, hearing protection equipment. Saskatchewan noise regulations use the dBA noise measurement system. Defined as: the sound pressure level in decibels measured on the "A" scale of a sound level meter.

Legally, workers without hearing protectors may be exposed to an average noise level of up to 85 dBA during an 8-hour day. Most people will not suffer a significant hearing loss under these conditions.

However, some people have very sensitive hearing. Therefore, workers should be encouraged to use hearing protectors if average daily noise levels exceed 80 dBA.

Loudness doubles with every increase of three dBA. The law therefore requires that exposure time be reduced if hearing protectors are not used. This is shown in Table 2.

Something Can Be Done

• Noise induced hearing loss is preventable.
• Protect your family's hearing by reducing or controlling noise at its source.
• When purchasing equipment, consider the long term benefits of obtaining the quietest suitable equipment.
• Make sure that the cabs of your equipment are well lined with sound- insulating materials.
• Minimize vibration in equipment by using rubber mounts.
• Keep exhaust systems well maintained.
• Use mufflers or silencers on motors, air hoses, and other equipment.
• Eliminate direct contact between metal- to-metal surfaces.
• Transfer exhaust noise to remote locations.
• Use barriers, vibration isolators and/or sound-absorbing materials.
• Keep the radio or stereo volume in the cab at a reasonable level; loud music can be as damaging as machinery noise.

If noise cannot be reduced or controlled at the source, take other measures:

• reduce your exposure time (refer to the chart above)
• take longer breaks between exposures
• buy comfortable, high quality hearing protectors and wear them consistently and properly
• encourage teens and young workers to develop a habit of wearing hearing protectors while operating farm equipment

It's Too Noisy If :

• someone standing a metre away from you needs to speak loudly or even shout in order to be heard
• you hear a "ringing" or "buzzing" in your ears after being in a noisy environment
• your hearing seems to be better at the start of the day than at the end
• you return to your tractor after a break and find the radio on full blast

Care For Your Protectors

Thoroughly clean and inspect reusable plugs every day. Check the seals on earmuffs and replace them as required. Remember that ultraviolet light will gradually destroy the plastic and foam components of most muffs.

Protect your Family

Many people do not realize the hazards of noise. Hearing loss occurs gradually. A victim of hearing loss is often unaware of the problem until it is too late. Your entire family is at risk! Anyone can suffer permanent hearing damage.

Take action to protect your family from noise. Farm managers must ensure that everyone knows the dangers and understands the consequences of too much exposure. Encourage all workers to make wearing hearing protectors a life-long habit.

Hearing Protectors

Properly used, high quality earmuffs and earplugs offer about the same level of hearing protection. Manufacturers of hearing protectors indicate the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of their equipment. Depending on the type of hearing protector, NRR values can range from 15 dB to over 30dB. However, in real work conditions, the actual noise protection is approximately half the NRR value or less. Earplugs are often more comfortable and are available in a variety of types, materials, and sizes Most plugs are designed to be used once and discarded. Cotton batting and earphones are not acceptable protectors.

Remember that while no hearing protector can totally protect you from very loud noise, wearing any type of hearing protectors will help to lessen your exposure to the harmful effects of noise.

Resources

The Saskatchewan Farm Safety Program provides information on farm hazard identification, accident and injury prevention, and farm fatality statistics. Audio-visual materials are available free of charge on a loan basis. Video catalogues are available upon request