in cab noise levels

Ulrich · November 28, 2007, 12:00pm

Are there regulations regardling acceptable in cab noise levels? From the outside anyway modern locomotives are so much quieter than earlier models.

ndbprr · November 28, 2007, 12:19pm

There didn’t used to be. My wife is nurse for an ear doctor who regularly sees IC employees with hearing problems. Most of us nearing retirement age who worked in heavy industry put up with noise levels early in our careers that were unbelievable. Working in a steel mill I had times where the ringing in my ears would last for 2-3 days. OSHA has done a lot in that regard as has cab isolation on diesels. Forty years ago if you asked for hearing protection you would have been laughed out of the office. Today earplugs and micky mouse ears are used all the time. Engines will never be Cadilacs so smart people take precautions in addition to what has been done to minimize the noise levels.

Murphy_Siding · November 28, 2007, 12:34pm

Micky Mouse ears? What are they?

Ulrich · November 28, 2007, 12:38pm

Yes, I’ve noticed that some train crews wear ear defenders…great idea. Reduction in noise pollution is one of those good news stories one never hears about. Heavy machinery was alot noisier 20 or 30 years ago. Maybe the higher horse power ratings also have something to do with it…a pair AC4400CWs to move a train instead of a pair of GP9s beating themselves to death at wide open throttle with sparks flying.

oltmannd · November 28, 2007, 1:13pm

Yes. FRA limits to 85dB. Isolated cabs are actually closer to 80dB max.

al-in-chgo · November 28, 2007, 7:49pm

Ulrich, your term “mickey mouse ears” shows a link but it isn’t connecting for me.

Is it slang? Is it in particular RR slang??

al

n012944 · November 28, 2007, 8:04pm

There didn’t used to be. My wife is nurse for an ear doctor who regularly sees IC employees with hearing problems. Most of us nearing retirement age who worked in heavy industry put up with noise levels early in our careers that were unbelievable. Working in a steel mill I had times where the ringing in my ears would last for 2-3 days. OSHA has done a lot in that regard as has cab isolation on diesels. Forty years ago if you asked for hearing protection you would have been laughed out of the office. Today earplugs and micky mouse ears are used all the time. Engines will never be Cadilacs so smart people take precautions in addition to what has been done to minimize the noise levels.

Micky Mouse ears? What are they?

Ulrich, your term “mickey mouse ears” shows a link but it isn’t connecting for me.

Is it slang? Is it in particular RR slang??

al

They are earphones like the ones you would see an airline ramp worker wearing. They have hard plastic sides and fit over the ears.

RudyRockvilleMD · November 28, 2007, 9:07pm

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s maximum allowable noise level for an 8 hour exposure without ear protection is 90dBA. However, other agencies can set lower noise levels as the FRA has done.

Murphy_Siding · November 28, 2007, 10:02pm

There didn’t used to be. My wife is nurse for an ear doctor who regularly sees IC employees with hearing problems. Most of us nearing retirement age who worked in heavy industry put up with noise levels early in our careers that were unbelievable. Working in a steel mill I had times where the ringing in my ears would last for 2-3 days. OSHA has done a lot in that regard as has cab isolation on diesels. Forty years ago if you asked for hearing protection you would have been laughed out of the office. Today earplugs and micky mouse ears are used all the time. Engines will never be Cadilacs so smart people take precautions in addition to what has been done to minimize the noise levels.

Micky Mouse ears? What are they?

Ulrich, your term “mickey mouse ears” shows a link but it isn’t connecting for me.

Is it slang? Is it in particular RR slang??

al

Al-it’s not a link. I added the blue for emphasis.[:I] If it was a link, would it have a picture of Annette Funicello? [(-D]

al-in-chgo · November 29, 2007, 12:47am

There didn’t used to be. My wife is nurse for an ear doctor who regularly sees IC employees with hearing problems. Most of us nearing retirement age who worked in heavy industry put up with noise levels early in our careers that were unbelievable. Working in a steel mill I had times where the ringing in my ears would last for 2-3 days. OSHA has done a lot in that regard as has cab isolation on diesels. Forty years ago if you asked for hearing protection you would have been laughed out of the office. Today earplugs and micky mouse ears are used all the time. Engines will never be Cadilacs so smart people take precautions in addition to what has been done to minimize the noise levels.

Micky Mouse ears? What are they?

Ulrich, your term “mickey mouse ears” shows a link but it isn’t connecting for me.

Is it slang? Is it in particular RR slang??

al

Al-it’s not a link. I added the blue for emphasis.[:I] If it was a link, would it have a picture of Annette Funicello? [(-D]

Hey, as far as I’m concerned anything goes – just don’t try to get me to watch Bobby and Cissy dancing on the old Lawrence Welk show. [#ditto]