Why You Need The Best Ear Protection For A Chainsaw.

We all know that chainsaws are dangerous! They have a metal chain capable of cutting limbs off in seconds and bring trees crashing to the ground that weigh a ton! That is a lot of power and a lot of timber crashing to the ground.

All of this power makes a lot of noise. Chainsaws are probably one of the noisiest tools that can be used by a person. Loud noises are also damaging to your hearing. You have probably seen many people in their middle/older age, who have hearing problems (Me included – Tinnitus).

A lot of these problems could have been avoided if more care was taken with ears and hearing at a younger age.

If you are going to be using a chainsaw, you must get the best chainsaw hearing protection!

How Loud Is A Chainsaw?

A chainsaw will vary in volume from 90-110dB. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommend that hearing protection be worn when the noise level reaches 85dB.

This means that when operating a chainsaw, that hearing protection must be worn, and protection for the head and eyes.

Without hearing protection, you good run a 90dB chainsaw for approximately 2 hours without risking hearing damage. When the volume reaches 110dB, that time is shortened to under 2 minutes. So it is just not worth the risk. Always use chainsaw earmuffs when it is running.

How Do You Know When Noise Is Too Loud.

If you are using a chainsaw, then you need to be wearing ear muffs or similar to protect your hearing! But if you are near someone who is using a chainsaw, how do you know if the volume is at a safe level?

Well, there are a couple of ways to tell. A health and Safety Officer will have a device to measure the noise, but I assume you do not have one of these.

Here are two methods that you can try.

• If you are standing at arm’s length from someone, and you have to raise your voices to understand each other, then you need to be wearing ear protection.
• You can also download a decibel measuring application for your smartphone. These are not wholly accurate, but will give you an approximation of the noise in a particular place. If you are in any doubt, use earplugs.

Chainsaw Safety Equipment (For The Head).

When you are using a chainsaw, a lot of protective equipment should be used. But thinking about the head, you need protective gear that provides the following essential functions.

• Protects the head from falling debris. The whole point of a chainsaw is to cut trees down, then to cut them into pieces. If you get hit on the head by a falling branch, it can do considerable damage. So the head needs protecting.
• Protects the eyes from woodchips. When a chain cuts through wood at a very high speed, it does this by ripping through the wood that it is pressed against. This wood is turned in to flying wood chips. If it hits the eye, then it can blind you. So the hard hat needs a transparent visa that covers the eyes and face.
• Protect the ears. As talked about earlier, chain saws are loud. So the ears need to be covered too. The helmet also needs ear muffs attached to it!

Ear Protection And Employment.

If you employ people that work in noisy environments, you look after their hearing. Do not neglect this often overlooked responsibility. It is estimated that over $240 million is spent annually on compensation for hearing loss. (2017 – U.S. Department of Labor)

Myths about hearing When Using a Chainsaw

If you use a chainsaw for a living you know they can be loud machines. But how much noise is too much and what is “safe”? There isn’t an easy answer to this question, and as a result there are many myths floating around.

Myths 1 - Build Up A Resistance

No, you cannot build up a resistance to noise. NIOSH has found that just a single day of noise exposure can cause temporary hearing loss. In other words, working in a loud environment day after day does not make you immune to damage.

Myths 2 - Noise Can Hurt Me Unless Its Loud

No, even if noise is not that loud, it can still cause permanent hearing damage. Noise that is well below the pain threshold doesn’t matter because you can’t hear the pain when your ears are ringing from the noise.

Myths 3 - I Can Duck In And Out Of A Noisy Place Before It Can Effect My Ears

No, this is a common mistake. According to NIOSH, it takes about a minute for an exposed worker to reach the pain threshold from noise. Also, by the time you get to dangerous level of hearing loss in the workplace it will be too late for additional protection – you'll already be too deaf to do your job.

Myths 4- My Hearing Will Come Back If I Avoid Noise

No, if you listen to a sustained blast of noise long enough, you can’t avoid hearing it forever – and once you do, your ears will never come back.

The bottom line here is that there is no cure for this condition (hearing loss), and no amount of protection will protect you from it. Only dedicated ear protection can keep your ears safe from damage caused by noise.

Chainsaw Hearing Loss Caused By 3 Things

If you are a chainsaw welder, you probably know how loud the noise of chainsaws can be. However, most people don’t think about the potential long-term effects this kind of noise can have on hearing.

Do you ever notice a ringing or muffled sound when you first wake up in the morning? This may be an indicator of hearing loss caused by noise.

1) Decibel Level

The hearing threshold is the level of sound that can be heard without causing damage to the ear. If you are exposed to an environment containing a noise level that exceeds your hearing threshold, you may experience temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Most people have a minimum threshold of 82-85 decibels (dB). Noise levels at this level are typically found in loud places such as bars and construction sites.

How Loud Is It?

The decibel scale measures sound intensity or volume and is logarithmic. The higher the decibel number, the louder the noise is perceived to be. Since we tend to hear sounds accurately at decibels no lower than 30, all other numbers are in reference to this measure.

2) Distance

The further you are from the noise, the less sound energy will reach your ears. This is because the velocity of sound decreases with distance. The inverse square law states that each doubling of the distance from a sound source halves the intensity.

3) Time

The longer you are exposed to noise, the more damage it will do to your hearing. This is because the intensity of noise drops off with time and long-term exposure can result in permanent hearing loss or even total deafness.

Your body protects itself from noise by making many physiological changes, including:

•  The decreased ability to hear low-pitched sounds due to the inability of your outer hair cells to respond effectively with lower intensity sounds. If this happens, tinnitus or ringing in the ears may occur.
•  Increased blood flow that carries more oxygen and nutrients than normal in an attempt to compensate for the lower threshold level in which you will be able to hear normally and efficiently.

Please Note: Just because an ear defender is marked, for example, "Gunshot" - it will still cover other things, like "explosions"

Review Chainsaw Helmets

Protective helmets are built to shield the head from the effects of dropping trees, among other harmful things. Helmets protect the brain from injuries. The aluminum safety helmets are the official version. Although sturdy aluminum hats are still used, currently, the large percentage of safety helmets is plastic. Irrespective of the material you buy, it is essential that helmets are sturdy and durable.

By compressing it with your hands, you can evaluate your plastic safety helmet design. If not, consider replacing your helmet soon. Take into consideration the following protective equipment that provides security when using chainsaws, brush cutters, and trimmers. They are suitable for any form of work in forestry.

TR Industrial TR88011 Hard Hat Forestry Safety Helmet & Ear Muffs

Product Review

TR Industrial Combination Safety covers a 5-in-1 Forestry Safety Helmet Hard Hat framework and an adjustable earmuff. The headgear secures solidly and has a practical dial stick that allows the range of 20-24.5 inches to be adjusted easily. It has helmet airflow slots where warm air can pass, keeping the head in the helmet cozy.

It is ideal in any climatic conditions with a specific airflow oversight. It features an adjustable steel mesh and a plastic visor that sits perfectly on your head to secure you from debris.

There are no jutting sections in this structure that traps particles. You may use the shield or plastic visor to secure each task dynamically. It is easy to see through the wire mesh; it is breathable, even on warm days like you're wearing shades. It also contains a support mechanism, including a 6-point ratchet. The use with a conveniently customizable fit device means the helmet is correctly balanced on the head. It has an audible material filtering high-density sound, which reduces noise.

The adjustable sound aid eliminates noise quickly. It does not come with a sweatband, but it has a removable thin pad that extracts sweat. The padding is small, and you can strap over your unique headband inside.

Oregon 563474 Chainsaw Safety Protective Helmet With Visor Combo Set, Yellow

Product Review

Shield your head with an Oregon safety helmet or a hard cap. The helmet is designed with extra protective measures, including a face mask. Face shields may also protect you from getting hacked by falling trees, wood chips, and sawdust. This features a built-in, lightweight, supportive ear muffs for ear protection from noise.

It is sleek with a more comprehensive, durable stainless steel mesh visor, with solid flip-up and down features. This is an impact-resistant helmet with six intake vents for maximum breathability and a conveniently flexible 6-point strap for an accurate tight fit. The product has a removable sun peak and adjustable ear cups that are sturdy enough to support the entire device without a chin strap.

Husqvarna Pro-forest Chain Saw Helmet System

Product Review

This is a fantastic brand for excellent yards. Good yards need such committed and secure machinery. Luckily, the Husqvarna selection of lawn and garden equipment includes everything from farm machinery and roll-over mowers to clippers and chainsaws, enabling you to enjoy our outdoor activities.

Both you and Husqvarna can create a neighborhood's admiration. The Husqvarna Pro-Forest Helmet Chain features a UV hard cap, an interchangeable 6-point support device, ear protection cups, a face shield, and a rain collar guard. The updated orange Hi-Viz is built for better protection. This helmet provides the most reliable hearing protection. If you want to speak without removing the mask, the muffs can quickly be pulled off. The inner straps are slightly flexible since one size can suit most people. 

Husqvarna Technical Forest Helmet with Ratchet 588646001

Product Review

With a metal mesh face shield, the Husqvarna Forest Technical Helmet is equipped with a ratchet which straps the rear head strap for great fitting. The positioning of the ratchet secures the head excellently in the helmet. Without using the ear shield, the helmet can remain secure.

The flexible headband ensures the helmet is solid and fits perfectly. The earmuffs operate well to reduce the chainsaw noise. You can still adjust the ear protector. The helmet is well ventilated and includes a lightweight and transparent neck guard that ensures support via a plastic securing loop. There is an attached cloth shield hanging from the back. This always allows the ventilation to reach the helmet.

Pfanner Protos Integral Arborist Helmet

Product Review

The Pfanner Protos Integral Arborist Helmet is licensed and is the first integral safety helmet of its type. The manufacturer developed the product over 12 years to combine the security of the head, face and back, chinstrap, and rear airflow through internal and external shells. Also, in inclined or elevated conditions, the helmet suits well.

To avoid snags on branches, the manufacturer incorporated the sound and face support in the head security shield. This enables refreshing air to pass into the ventilation entrance in both directions. The earmuffs can be changed.

Forester Chainsaw Safety Chaps 35" Leg plus Deluxe Safety Helmet

Product Review

The Forester Chainsaw Protection Chaps 35 " Leg is an all-in-one kit that complies with the regular leg safety specifications for chainsaw customers and is recognized by the US Forest Service guidelines for approved sawyers. The orange apron chap comes in several styles with pocket-packs. It is water-resistant and has an oil-resistant impact. The chap legs go to the boots, so if you're taller, they will go down a little to your legs.

There are just two straps on the legs, not four. At least the strap has 16 additional inches enough to extend it. The chainsaw chaps are of outstanding quality and have an ergonomic frame to ensure a tight fit. The chaps provide the side of both legs and the most common areas for damage. The shield and the helmet match and function well with the earmuffs. This product is best while sawing, grinding, chiseling, or doing other forestry activities, which could create dangerous sounds and materials.

However, it is not appropriate to use electric chainsaws since they have a high speed, which will break through the fibers. The sound protectors may be changed and used or taken off course.