Hearing and Eye Protection - Less Painful

[Burnsy]

The problem with these muffs and a lot of others on Chainsaw operators helmets is they are only rated to 25 dB noise reduction. There are better muffs out there such as the peltor 10HB/A which are 30 dB. I recently bought Stihl Helmets are now available with these types of muffs.

Hmm, not often you get to upstage Bob but after my research tonight (because I lost my Peltors) I can. The new 10HB/A muffs are 33dB their rating is 5+ rather than the old rating of just 5. So if you are buying a set make sure you get the new stock.

[BobL]

Hmm, not often you get to upstage Bob but after my research tonight (because I lost my Peltors) I can. The new 10HB/A muffs are 33dB their rating is 5+ rather than the old rating of just 5. So if you are buying a set make sure you get the new stock.

The only "new" H10As I am aware of are the new High Visibility (HV Muffs) which are lime green as compared to black. Are these the ones you are referring to?

The AS/NZS 1270:1999 H10A HV 290 standard rates the H10A HV at 33 db
While ANSI S3.19-1974 H10A HV rates these at 30

If you compare the H10A HV attenuation specs with the specs of the H10A I bought a couple of years back they are identical.

This can be seen in the following graph


The Symbols to compare are the red (H10A) and green (H10A HV). There are no green symbols showing because they are under the red ones ie they are the same

The blue triangles are the H10B ("behind the head") type muffs. They are not quite as good but work better with a face shield than the A's.

Also shown are the Peltor "Bulls Eye". These are marksman muffs and are superior at middle to higher frequencies to the H10A and H10B but not as good at the lower frequencies.

[Zed]

i recently also got a stihl chainsaw and lashed out on the heavy duty 30 db earmuffs. they work a treat, nice and firm on the head and the bunnies polycarbonate wrap around eye protection sit neatly on top of them. quite comfy.

[Burnsy]

The only "new" H10As I am aware of are the new High Visibility (HV Muffs) which are lime green as compared to black. Are these the ones you are referring to?

The AS/NZS 1270:1999 H10A HV 290 standard rates the H10A HV at 33 db
While ANSI S3.19-1974 H10A HV rates these at 30

If you compare the H10A HV attenuation specs with the specs of the H10A I bought a couple of years back they are identical.

Sorry, looks like I was conned by marketing ploys that list AS/NZS 1270:1999 H10A HV 290 standard rates and compare them to ANSI S3.19-1974 H10A HV rates to try and sell more. Maybe I will get some green ones to match my Lucas and make sure I don't get lost in dry jarrah dust to replace my new old black ones

[BobL]

Sorry, looks like I was conned by marketing ploys that list AS/NZS 1270:1999 H10A HV 290 standard rates and compare them to ANSI S3.19-1974 H10A HV rates to try and sell more. Maybe I will get some green ones to match my Lucas and make sure I don't get lost in dry jarrah dust to replace my new old black ones

Yeah I see various on-sellers have really picked up on the bigger number - bigger is always better, right

As a source I recommend site sponsor Makka - his prices are pretty good even with shipping.

[The Hornet]

When I was at uni studying for my Design tech teachers degree, I had to do a research assessment of hearing protection, and the highest DB reduction any ear protection can give you was about 36db.
The reason the protection stops at that is because your bones carry the noise and vibration into your ears via the small bones inside your ear connected and surrounding the inner ear.
So wearing ear plugs, and 3 pairs of ear muffs, would still only reduce noise to 36db.

[DaveVman]

I had a chat to an expert that has worked for different safety equipment suppliers for years.
He said the ultimate protection is a powered air respirator combined with ear protection of your choice.

I have never tried one but I'm told they can be lithium battery powered, wrap around your chin for visibility and because they are pressurised they work even while wearing prescription glasses and of course never fog up. Apparently the air flow helps to keep your face 'cool'. I suspect by 'cool' they mean not hot.
There is at least one model that replaces the head protection aspect with a washable fabric cap suitable for woodworkers and others that don't need head protection.

Anyone tried one of these?

Just curious really - because these things are outside my budget range.

[BobL]

I had a chat to an expert that has worked for different safety equipment suppliers for years.
He said the ultimate protection is a powered air respirator combined with ear protection of your choice.

I have never tried one but I'm told they can be lithium battery powered, wrap around your chin for visibility and because they are pressurised they work even while wearing prescription glasses and of course never fog up. Apparently the air flow helps to keep your face 'cool'. I suspect by 'cool' they mean not hot.
There is at least one model that replaces the head protection aspect with a washable fabric cap suitable for woodworkers and others that don't need head protection.

Anyone tried one of these?

Just curious really - because these things are outside my budget range.

Air powered respirators won't solve the wood dust on skin allergy problem.
This is a much greater risk than cancer from wood dust.

Once you have worked with respirators and then been able to do the exact same work without them you won't ever want to go back.
Good dust extraction is a much better way to go that respirators.