Re: After a 20 month wait, the Cyclone is here!!!!
OSHA's limit for not forcing employeers to provide hearing protection for a impact noise is 140 db. However, the rules on noise on the jobsite are actually pretty complicated on how they figure a daily average and such. So I don't think their regulations really have the best interest of your long term hearing in mind. Trying to peg down a medically safe noise level is impossible because not only the type of sound (continuous -vs- impulse/impact) and the duration of exposure need to be taken into account. It probably also varies by individual, some people are probably more resilient to hearing damage.
The best advice is really simple, use as much hearing protection as you can reasonably do whenever you are around loud noises. Common sense can be used here (by those with it) if you run a rip saw or nail gun 10 hours a day you better wear it.
Hunting really depends on the situation. When the adrenaline is really kicking the ears shut themselves down as part of the flight/fight response in order to preserve hearing somewhat. However, if you are not in the heat of the moment in say a 500 yard shot you've spent 10 minutes setting up, I'd take the extra 15 seconds to stick some earplugs in. If you are startled in the woods by a huge buck that jumps up 25 yards away and snap shoot it you'll never even hear the gun go off, or feel the recoil, and your hearing will probably be fine. If you hunt with a break on, you better find a way to protect your hearing.
I would love to see a test on how effective muffs really are. Personally I think for a lot of people they don't work nearly as well as plugs for a couple reasons. First we have to wear glasses on the range (a good thing) but many times with glasses they compromise the muff seal's effectiveness. I'd be willing to bet that if the noise level could be tested on a shooter wearing glasses muffs are not as effective as their rating would show. The same is true for those of us that can't get a cheek weld without the muff coming into contact with the stock and messing with the seal.
Of course I'm also still not convinced that electronic muffs are as safe for your hearing as the non-electronic models. In all the versions I've used the muzzle blast sound is always louder in the electronic muff than in a high rated non-electronic. Is it enough to enhance hearing damage over long exposure....I have no idea.
People can choose not to wear it if they want, but ask anyone with hearing damage and every one of the wishes they could get it back.