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    Hearing Protection: Measuring Sound

    Loudness is measured in decibels (dB). As decibels rise, loudness quickly increases. A 10-dB rise is a 10-time leap in loudness. That means an 80-dB sound (a vacuum cleaner) is 10 times louder than a 70-dB sound (a telephone ringing). And it's100 times louder than a 60-dB sound (normal conversation).

    When you need protection

    At the workplace, your employer measures noise with sound level meters and dosimeters. If the average noise exposure over an 8-hour work shift is 85 dB or higher, you need protection. OSHA requires your employer to have a hearing conservation program. From 85 dB to 125 dB, you can lose hearing painlessly. Over 125 dB, you may feel pain. As loudness and pitch rise, you may get acoustic trauma. That means a single exposure can cause permanent hearing loss.

    Barely audible

    0-9 dB

    Weakest sounds you can hear

    10-19 dB

    Rustle of leaves

    Soft sounds

    20-29 dB

    Quiet bedroom at night

    30-39 dB

    Whispered conversation; milk poured on dry cereal

    40-49 dB

    Soft music; average suburban home during the day

    50-59 dB

    Large business office; light freeway traffic

    Daily sounds

    60-69 dB

    Normal conversation; household washing machine

    70-79 dB

    Ringing telephone; alarm clock; noisy restaurant; moderate freeway traffic; light assembly plant

    Harsh sounds

    80-89 dB

    Vacuum cleaner; shouted conversation; busy city streets; welding equipment

    90-99 dB

    Small woodworking shop; portable sander; automatic screw machine; drill press; subway train; 20-ton truck; newspaper printing press

    Intense sounds

    100-109 dB

    Lawn mower; outboard motor; snowmobile; bulldozer; chain saw; circular saw; weaving room; riveting machine; helicopter

    110-139 dB

    Motorcycle; loud music; 120-watt stereo system at high volume; car horn; thunderclap; ship engine room; punch press; sand blaster; turbine generator; .357 magnum gun

    Deafening sounds

    140-149 dB

    Jet engine at takeoff; high-powered shotgun blast

    150+ dB

    Intense explosion; rocket liftoff

    Online Medical Reviewer: Ashutosh Kacker MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN
    Online Medical Reviewer: Tara Novick BSN MSN
    Date Last Reviewed: 12/1/2022
    © 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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