When practical, arrange work schedules so that farm workers do not exceed the allowable exposure limit to a high noise source. For example, for a tractor that produces a noise level of 95 dBA, the safe exposure is four hours per day per person. Try to arrange work schedules to let farm workers exchange work activities so that no one person is exposed to the noise for more than four hours. Personal protection equipment is the final alternative for farm workers who wish to cut down on noise exposure. The two basic types of hearing protection are ear muffs and ear plugs.
Ear muffs are the most effective.
Some may attenuate sound by as much as 40 dBs. To get good quality muffs, deal with a reputable firm. Examine them for comfort, construction, seal and attenuation. Manufacturers supply attenuation data for their product, so you can evaluate their effectiveness. Ear plugs are available as pre-formed inserts made of rubber, plastic or foam and handformed inserts of disposable materials such as wax or Swedish Wool.