ear protection

[SPman]

Totally agree. I reckon everyone should wear them. Cause in 40 or so years time it will be ACC paying the $4000 bill for you to get hearing aids..

$7000 and it took 25yrs! ACC paid! Industrial deafness!

work related loss (ie noisy environment) doesn't count

well, it worked for me - ACC paid OK

[marty]

I think people worry too much about not being able to hear warning sounds etc with ear plugs in. How much sound do you think you can hear in your car with the windows up?? quite a bit less than if you have just your helmet on and are outside so the relative difference with ear plugs added would be less than you think.

)

good point. try driving a convertible MG or something that's a bit windy, and see what you can (and can't) hear. I wear plugs most of the time (if i remember to take them out of my helmet - i tuck them under the lining so i don't lose them.

[BugSplat]

Any ride more than 20 Min I use the orange 3M disposables $0.60 from placemakers Porirua.

[k14]

Any ride more than 20 Min I use the orange 3M disposables $0.60 from placemakers Porirua.

Those are the same ones I use, except I *ahem* "aquired" them from work. Have to be "safe" riding to work and all that stuff, so I made sure I took enough incase I lost some or something

[Coldkiwi]

hehe , my excuse for using work plugs is that if I loose my hearing through biking, i'm no good to work as an acoustics engineer so its in thier interests! (besides the box has got hundreds of plugs in it and no one else uses them)

[Kickaha]

I don't ride without them,I did find like Boris I tended to ride faster when I first started using them,but once used to the noise difference and checking the speedo a lot I soon got that sorted,the difference at the end of a long ride was huge with no ringing in the ears.

On the road I have mirrors to see if there's someone behind me on the track I don't bother checking behind or care if I can hear where they are,because the focus should always be where I'm going and not bothering about anything else.

I used to use a AGV helmet which I didn't think to bad noise wise,but after going to a BMW systems 3 the reduction in noise was huge,I now use a Lazer which I find fairly good,but found on the XJ550 the small fairing directs the wind straight onto the helmet and make it a lot noisier than on a unfaired bike and the earplugs are a must

[pete376403]

$7000 and it took 25yrs! ACC paid! Industrial deafness!
well, it worked for me - ACC paid OK

What industry?
I had a degree of deafness (not much, but apparently enough) before I started work, so everything after that was an "existing condition, not related to work," etc.

[Coldkiwi]

What industry?
I had a degree of deafness (not much, but apparently enough) before I started work, so everything after that was an "existing condition, not related to work," etc.

yah, to prove industrial related deafness, you really need to have an audiological test BEFORE you start work there (or right now if you're worried about it in the future) so that when you do go to ACC, you can take your first test report and have it compared to a new one so it shows further hearing loss.

But the real solution if you're worried about it now is to get your employer to provide you with suitable hearing protection right now and use them. Construction sites are terrible for this sort of thing where guys assume because they're not using the grinder/concrete cutter/jackhammer that their hearing isn't getting damaged.. even when they're standing next to it. Happens ALLLLLL the time in NZ.

[Milky]

yah, to prove industrial related deafness, you really need to have an audiological test BEFORE you start work there (or right now if you're worried about it in the future) so that when you do go to ACC, you can take your first test report and have it compared to a new one so it shows further hearing loss.

But the real solution if you're worried about it now is to get your employer to provide you with suitable hearing protection right now and use them. Construction sites are terrible for this sort of thing where guys assume because they're not using the grinder/concrete cutter/jackhammer that their hearing isn't getting damaged.. even when they're standing next to it. Happens ALLLLLL the time in NZ.

My dad is a terrible culprit for that - he will mow lawns, use the belt sander, grinder, circular saw, engraver etc etc or stand near one of us doing the same thing and not use earplugs/muffs I think my constant nagging and the fact that he cant hear the radio or dinner conversation if it is at a slightly lower level than normal is getting him to slowly make a change. Unfortunately when you get to that age it is a bit late to prevent the damage from being done I used to use ear plugs for motorcycling, but when I started commuting I stopped, probably because i am generally more rushed in preparing to leave...

[Coldkiwi]

yeah, the older generations are terrible for being ignorant about hearing loss. So many guys over 50 (my dad included) have an attitude of 'well it doesn't sound loud to me anymore since I've already lost my hearing so whats the point?'. (err... you might still be living for another 30-50 years!?) Closely followed by 'well, we didn't know we where damaging our hearing when we were young so its not our fault.'
Seems to be hard for them to change their ways... despite the fact that I'm sure most guys want to be able to hear their grandchildren when they get old

[White trash]

yeah, the older generations are terrible for being ignorant about hearing loss. So many guys over 50 (my dad included) have an attitude of 'well it doesn't sound loud to me anymore since I've already lost my hearing so whats the point?'. (err... you might still be living for another 30-50 years!?) Closely followed by 'well, we didn't know we where damaging our hearing when we were young so its not our fault.'
Seems to be hard for them to change their ways... despite the fact that I'm sure most guys want to be able to hear their grandchildren when they get old

Not if they're anything like my kids

[toads]

Not if they're anything like my kids

nor mine mate!!

[Motu]

I am using the Alpine ear plugs,they work great but are hard to fit right.I have some hearing loss,quite bad actualy,but as they say it's done now.I don't like normal ear plugs,make me feel like I'm underwater,feel a bit disorientated and can hear even less than normal,which is not good.With the Alpine plugs only the wind noise is taken out,I don't feel stuffed up,can hear my bike,traffic noises and people talking,so that means I put them in,not leave them out because they irritate me like normal plugs.

But....they are hard to fit and remove,if you don't get them in right the hard filters press on the outer ear and it's murder when you pull the helmet off.If they go in too far you can't get them out...the filter pulls off,bad news.I think I'll take a small pair of needlenose pliers next time to pull them out with.But they work so well I'm prepard to put up with the hassles.

[Coldkiwi]

good on ya for persevering Motu. Hearing loss is one of those things that most people don't think about preventing till its too late.

[Motu]

My work enviroment is quite noisey,but as mechanics we just take it as our job,never a thought to our ears.But my wife has acute hearing and covers her ears when she comes into the shop - putting on wheels with a hammer gun is painful to her,just blowing something out with the air gun has her upset...ain't she wierd?

So being exposed to her she made me try and wear ear muffs at work - at the time I was working on compressors,standing beside a diesel motor and compressor,setting up the regulators,or going into a large factory with half a doz or more compressors in a row - I would shut one down,then crawl in beside it to do the work,another compressor working hard right beside me.When I put on my ear muffs the other guys would laugh at me and say what a wanker,sad eh? So the damage was done before I knew it was gone - at least I found out,those of the generations before me never did.