What is the best dB for ear protection?

I have some neighbors with motorcycles....A couple Harleys and some other motorcycle I'm not sure the brand....They start them up....and the instant they press the ignition and the motor starts there is from silence to this sudden loud THUNK which will spook anybody out of their sleep....Then they let the motorcycles idle which is loud in and of itself....And then they just rev rev rev rev.....For as long as 15 to 30 minutes....At the worst times....Early in the morning....really late at night....I have always had super sensitive hearing....And they roll their bikes just outside their garage and start them up....30 feet away is my bedroom window and the wall borders all 3 bedrooms so there is no escaping getting woken out of sleep....I have found some great and comfortable earplugs which I wear pretty much 24/7 because the sound of things such as cars and trucks driving down the road is just so loud to my ears....I wish they had earplugs that were stronger and block out everything....But apparently not....if a person wants complete silence apparently the only option is blast loud music until you go so deaf you need hearing aids to listen to someone talking to you across the table....Anyways....I needed more sound blocking than my really nice and comfortable earplugs because I'm getting blasted with like 120 decibels from these people and their Harleys....which jolts anybody out of deep sleep....I have tried a few of these over the ear muffs and these seem to do a pretty good job, the first pair was I think maybe unbranded....They worked good but soon my ears hurt because they didn't have enough room so the top and bottom of my ears would rub and get sore....I couldn't wear them very long plus they would catch some hair in the side parts that adjust the fit, I tried another brand something like pro for sho.... Or something like that....They work okay....But they were "Made low profile thin" like when somebody buys something to protect their hearing they are going to care about something like that....They worked okay, but before long they seemed to be blocking less and less sound....So I went looking for something else....I decided to try these....They seem to really be doing a good job so far.....Sure they are a tad bulky but I'm not looking for style points....I'm trying to get peace and quiet my hearing vs neighbors Harleys....These so far seem to be doing just what I need....They are also quite comfortable too....They don't make my ears or sides or top of my head sore...They seem to be blocking out noise just like I need if I am going to get sleep....The other brand soon started blocking less and less sound, unfortunately..... Hopefully these will last and won't also start losing sound blocking abilities.....I wonder about how it's listed as 37Db but then it also says it meats the standard max of 34Db.....So is it 37 or 34? It seems to say it's both, which is odd....But so far.....So good.....Peace and quiet even with the jerks next door who make tons of noise with their Harleys at all hours....I like the fact these are so far very comfortable to fit....Even to sleep in..... Hopefully these hold up well over time....At this point, I definitely recommend these, they are big, yes, but they block more sound because they create a good seal and they are comfortable to wear, even for sleep.

Guide to Selecting the Right Ear Muff

When combining hearing protection with safety glasses, face masks, etc., ensure performance is not adversely affected.

Wearing hearing protection can mean the difference between enjoying the sounds of everyday life and a lifetime of disability. Every day, we are exposed to potentially hazardous environmental noise. It is, therefore, critical that workers who must be present where the noise level is high and constant select either a muff or plug protector to reduce the noise level to an acceptable level. We will now discuss the factors you should consider when selecting the correct ear muff for the job.

Step 1: Determining Your Noise Level
Is the noise level and frequency content known (dB and Hz)?

If not, see the list of common noise sources on the next page. On some machines and power tools, you can find the dB level in the user manual or stated on a label on the machine.

If yes, follow this example: It is recommended that the calculated level under the ear muff should be under 85 dB (A). Therefore, subtract 85 dB from the noise level dB to find out the minimum protection level needed. The key is to provide enough attenuation but not enough to overprotect the wearer. Understand your whole-shift noise exposures and select the ear muff on the basis of that exposure, and do not use the highest measured noise level as your guide.

Example:

If you use a chainsaw, and the dB level is 110 dB (A). The recommended level under the ear cup should be below 85 dB (A). Therefore, you need an ear muff with an attenuation of at least 25 dB (110–85 =25).

When to consider selecting an ear muff with a lower protection level:

• Is the exposure time shorter than four hours? The ear muff protection level is based on noise exposure over an eight- hour working day. If the exposure is shorter, you should consider selecting a lower protection level.
• Do you need to hear important information from colleagues, warning signals etc.? Consider selecting a lower protection level or use an electronic level dependent ear muff.
• Are you suffering from hearing loss? If you have a hearing impairment, you may already have difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. If you select the highest attenuation for hearing protectors, you may find it even more difficult to communicate or hear warning alarms.

When to consider selecting an ear muff with a higher protection level:

• Does the noise consist mainly of low-frequency noise? If the noise is mainly low frequency, you should consider selecting a higher protection level because low-frequency noise is more difficult to block out.
• Do you need to wear safety glasses, face masks etc.? When combining hearing protection with safety glasses, face masks, etc., ensure performance is not adversely affected. If you are uncertain, seek additional advice and guidance or select an ear muff with a slightly higher protection level.
• Are there any other noise sources nearby? If there are other noise sources nearby, you should consider selecting a higher protection level.

This article originally appeared in the June 2015 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.