Occupational hearing damage is a serious problem. This is why the European Union places hearing damage in the highest category (III) of occupational risks. Indeed, hearing damage is a chronic condition, which has a great impact on your personal life.Â
You can safely hear a noise of 80 decibels for up to eight hours a day (or 40 hours a week) but as soon as it increases, it quickly becomes dangerous. With every 3 decibels, the noise and thus the impact doubles. As a result, in 83 decibels, you may only work for four hours a day (or 20 hours a week). Noise at 103 decibels can damage your hearing in less than five minutes. Therefore, hearing protection is necessary to reduce the impact and danger of noise.
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Decibels | Duration | Machine |
110 dB | immediate | stud gun, circular saw, electric hand drill  |
100 dB | 5 min | grinder, leaf blower, motorcycling (100 km/h) |
90 dB | 1 hour | drum kit, cutting torch, bulldozer |
80 dB | 8 hours | vacuum cleaner, city traffic |
70 dB | > 8 hours  | blender, shaver, car, busy office |
60 dB |  – | piano playing, conversation, washing machine |
Trapezium 400
3364 DL Sliedrecht
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