Scout's Toolbox Talks

Noise levels on the jobsite are measured in decibels (dB), but many workers don’t realize how quickly exposure to high dB levels can cause permanent hearing loss.

Why It Matters:

Just because you don’t feel pain doesn’t mean your ears are safe. Hearing damage is often gradual and permanent — and you might not notice it until it’s too late.

Key Points:

• Normal conversation: ~60 dB
• Busy traffic or vacuum cleaner: ~85 dB (damage begins after 8 hours)
• Power tools: ~100 dB (damage possible after 15 minutes)
• Jackhammers or circular saws: 110–120 dB (damage in under 2 minutes)
• For every 3 dB increase, permissible exposure time is cut in half.
• OSHA requires hearing protection at 90 dB over 8 hours; NIOSH recommends protection at 85 dB.
• Damage from loud sounds is cumulative — the effects add up over time.

✅ Know the numbers. Protect your hearing before it fades.

Ask the Crew:

• How loud are the tools we’re using today?
• Do we understand how exposure time and volume add up to risk?

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