Power tools when in use make a whole lot of noise. So much so that the person who is using one of those tools can suffer ear damage. In other words, the repeated use of power tools that make a whole lot of noise can cause a person who is exposed to that noise to suffer a loss of hearing.

Power saws, bench saws and routers make the most noise. Then again, power drills, power sanders, belt sanders and grinders can also produce ear damaging noise.

If you hear a ringing within your head after the particular machines is turned off there is a good possibility that you did cause some kind of damage to one or both of your ears. Like it or not, those intense sound waves do damage some of those little hairs within your ear canals. Those little things are what transmit waves of sound to the nerves that in turn send the signal to your brain.

Be that as it may, it is important for you to wear a device that covers both ears and thus reduces the intensity of those sound waves. You should also know that even if you do not completely lose your hearing such repeated exposure to the loud noises created by your wood working tools might certainly cause you to require the use of a hearing aid as you grow older.

Believe it or not, the money you spend for hearing protection head gear today can save you a whole lot of money in the long run. Some people insert ear plugs into their ears. In so doing that does lessen the intensity of some of those sound waves.

However, such ear plugs do not cover the entire ear. Those protrusions on the sides of your head also collect sound waves that are transmitted into the ear canal. That skin covered cartilage also sympathetically vibrates just like those little hairs within your ears. As a matter of fact, some intense sound waves can actually be felt on ones skin just like the feeling you perceive when a burst of air hits the surface.

One who operates a jackhammer or is within hearing range of or discharges a firearm, fireworks and/or explosives is in no less danger of losing ones hearing. It is far better to be safe than sorry. I certainly would like to continue to hear what people are saying to me and I certainly do not like to read subtitles when I am watching the television.

I love to hear music and that would certainly come to an end, causing my overall quality of life to be less than it should rightly be. You better believe that I do wear ear protecting each and every time that I use my power wood working tools.

Learn more about this author, Joseph Malek.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The importance of sound protection in the workshop?
We want to hear your view. Write now!