noise

Rhino

On one of my jobs I work in a loud environment. Basically I sit on an open floor and these guys have the TVs and other devices blaring crap while I'm trying to work. Turning the devices off or down isn't an option due to lots of reasons I don't want to get into. But I'm wondering if there is a way to block this out (I don't need or care about the noise).

I was thinking maybe a pair of headphones that played whitenoise? Noise canceling head phones? I need to be able to hear if the phone rings, but besides that I don't want to hear all the junk they always got running. I might try to get a light or something for the phone.

I tried both silicon (rubber?) and those foam "ear plugs" and they didn't work too well and was always having to adjust them. I also tried bring up my "shooting ear muffs". But they said firearm and firearm "accessories" weren't allowed in the building (they made me take them back to my car cause they had a gun companies logo on them).

Anyone have any experience with white noise and/or noise canceling head phones? Any other options available?

Szechuanosaurus

How loud is it? Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees from exposure to loud noises. Unless you work in North Korea or something.

Lewisham

I think you need to give more details about your environment before we can make any suggestions. Have you tried listening to white noise? It drives me absolutely crazy. And if you need enough noise to cancel out the rest, you're probably going to miss your phone too (I have done this).

Heliosphan

I think we need to know about the situation more to help.
Szechuan is certainly right though, employer's have a responsibility to it's employee's regarding hazardous equipment and in your case noise. maybe speak to the manager or owner? see if something for you can be arranged? maybe a kind of booth with the phone and a pair of headphones?

Gotr

If you don't have any other options, I'd suggest noise-canceling more than white-noise. And yes, a light on the phone is definite requirement.

Eat_Fire

Bose or another well made brand of headphones have very good sound dampening, usually retail for $75-150

tech_hunter

I got a pair of maxwell Noise cancelling headphones at walmart for like 35$ They work great. I cant hear anything unless someone is screaming right beside me, and even then its very muffled, and that is without the music on. Where I work there can be at times, lots of screaming.

Raiden333

tech_hunter wrote: »

I got a pair of maxwell Noise cancelling headphones at walmart for like 35$ They work great. I cant hear anything unless someone is screaming right beside me, and even then its very muffled, and that is without the music on. Where I work there can be at times, lots of screaming.

Dentist office?

Rhino

Thanks Guess. I'll pick up some noise canceling head phones.

Pheezer

Uh

Dealing with a large volume of sound by drowning it out with a sound source situated even closer to your eardrums is the definition of a terrible idea

Locally we have a workplace health and safety board. It's a government agency. If you call them and say you are concerned about the level of sound in your earplace and that you fear it is having a detrimental effect on your hearing, they will send someone to measure the amount of sound you are exposed to in a working day, and if necessary, mandate either changes on behalf of the employer, or ear protection to be supplied at the employer's expense.

I suspect most civilized places have similar boards, but I've never actually tried living in the USA so who knows.

Burning Organ

I belive that if the work enviroment is above 80 decibel, you have a right for ear protection...

Weretaco

Something like
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

Would probably be great. They just cut down the outside noise and let you still hear. They are also supposed to be great for seeing concerts since you get the same sound quality.. just quieter.

Rhino

Weretaco wrote: »

Something like
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

Would probably be great. They just cut down the outside noise and let you still hear. They are also supposed to be great for seeing concerts since you get the same sound quality.. just quieter.

thanks! Those look even better.

Pheezer

Urgel wrote: »

I belive that if the work enviroment is above 80 decibel, you have a right for ear protection...

It will depend on the nature and duration of the sound, in addition to the sound pressure level.

Werrick

If you wanted to be particularily ostentatious you could go with somethign like this

I used to work on the ramp at the airport and their standard issue ear defenders were very much like this, only actually sligtly bigger and more square and a deep maroon colour. Anyway, they work like a motherfucker, but they're really obvious... which might be part of the fun.