Generators and their noise pollution – how bad is it for your hearing?
Danielle Pienaar, a Clinical Audiologist at Robinson Hearcare explained that loud noise exposure can cause permanent hearing loss but there are ways to protect your hearing.
With generators practically running 24/7 because of the country’s current electricity crisis, the Herald spoke to a Clinical Audiologist about what this could mean for your hearing.
Danielle Pienaar, a Clinical Audiologist at Robinson Hearcare explained that loud noise exposure can cause permanent hearing loss but there are ways to protect your hearing.
“Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) occurs when you listen to loud sounds either at work or other events. Some of these sounds can last a long time, like listening to a concert, or they can be short, like from gunfire.”
She said three factors put you at risk for NIHL:
• How loud the noise is
• How close you are to the noise
• How long you hear the noise
“We use sound-level meters to measure noise levels. We can record noise levels in decibels, the higher the noise level, the louder the noise. You can listen to sounds at 70 decibels A (dBA) or lower for as long as you want. Sounds from 80dBA and up can lead to hearing loss if you listen to them for more than eight hours at a time.”
Danielle explained that the safe listening time should be cut in half for every 3dB rise in noise levels over 80dBA. For example, you listen to sounds at 85dBA for up to eight hours. If the sound goes up to 88dBA, it’s safe to listen to those same sounds for four hours and if the sound goes up to 91dBA, your safe listening time is down to two hours.
Examples of dangerous and safe noise levels:
• Painful impulse noise – not safe for any period:
• 150dBP – fireworks at 3 feet, firecracker, shotgun
• 140dBP – firearms
• Painful steady noise – not safe for any period:
• 130dBA – jackhammer
• 120dBA – jet plane take-off, siren, pneumatic drill
• Extremely loud – dangerous to hearing:
• 112dBA – maximum output of some MP3 players, rock concert, chainsaw
• 106dBA – gas leaf blower, snow blower
• 100dBA – tractor, listening with earphones
• 94dBA – hair dryer, kitchen blender, food processor
• Very loud – dangerous to hearing; wear earplugs or earmuffs:
• 91dBA – subway, passing motorcycle, gas mower
• 80 to 85dBA – generators
• Moderate – safe listening for any period:
• 70dBA – group conversations, vacuum cleaner, alarm clock
• 60dBA – typical conversation, dishwasher, clothes dryer
• 50dBA – moderate-severe rainfall
• 40dBA – quiet room
• Faint – safe listening for any period:
• 30dBA – whisper, quiet library
The Herald has approached Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa for comment about the laws around generators and the noise it makes where he explained that generators fall under noise pollution and the process of enforcing requires a noise pollution machine.
The municipality was also asked about the by-laws but did not respond at the time of going to print.
