WORKING in a noisy environment is a fact of life for farmers, but hearing loss need not be. These days, most of us are aware of the insidious effects of noise exposure and take reasonable steps to protecting our hearing. The evidence is often right in front of us, with older family members often ‘hard of hearing’.
Hear no evil: There are plenty of sources of noise on the farm capable of damaging our hearing. Aside from machinery, power tools such as impact wrenches and grinders can generate significant sound pressure levels which can damage hearing with prolonged use. Credit: Ben White.
But noise-induced hearing loss can creep up over time and does not necessarily stem from the loudest noises where we automatically don the earmuffs.
Kondinin researcher, Josh Giumelli, checks out a range of accessories to expand socket sets.
